B20727:198
The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…
The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word of God / by Mr. John Cotton ...The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word of God / by Mr. Iohn Cotton ...
London: printed by M. Simmons for Henry Overton, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. 1. By Church in Mat. 18.17. is not meant the Christian Church (for it was not yet extant, nor could the Apostles then have understood Christ if he had so meant) but the Jewish church, and so he delivereth their censure, in a Jewish phrase; to account a man as an Heathen and a Publican.
Answ. 1. The Christian Church, though it was not then extant, yet the Apostles knew as well what he meant by Church in Mat. 18.17. as they understood what he meant by building his Church upon the Rock in Mat. 16.18. It was enough the Apostles looked for a Church which Christ would gather, and build upon the confession of Peters faith; and being built, should be endued with heavenly power in their censures, which they more fully understood afterwards, when having received the Holy Ghost, they came to put these things in practice.
Answ. 1. The Christian Church, though it was not then extant, yet the Apostles knew as well what he meant by Church in Mat. 18.17. as they understood what he meant by building his Church upon the Rock in Mat. 16.18. It was enough the Apostles looked for a Church which Christ would gather, and build upon the confession of Peters faith; and being built, should be indued with heavenly power in their censures, which they more fully understood afterwards, when having received the Holy Ghost, they came to put these things in practice.