B20727:203
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. 2. Against the argument from this Text, it is objected; That by the Church is meant the Bishop, or his Commissary?
Answ. 1. One man is not the Church.
If it be said, one man may represent a church; the reply is ready: one man cannot represent the Church, unless he be sent forth by the Church; but so is neither the Bishop nor his Commissary. They ⟨p. 41⟩not for them, but they come unsent for, (like water into a Ship) chiefly for the terror of the servants of Christ, and for the encouragement of the profane. And though some of Christs servants have found some favour from some few of Bishops, (men of more learning and ingenuity) yet those Bishops have found the less favour themselves from their fellow-Bishops.
If it be said, one man may represent a church; the reply is ready: one man cannot represent the Church, unlesse he be sent forth by the Church; but so is neither the Bishop nor his Commissary. They ⟨p. 41⟩not for them, but they come unsent for, (like water into a Ship) chiefly for the terror of the servants of Christ, and for the incouragement of the prophane. And though some of Christs servants have found some favour from some few of Bishops, (men of more learning and ingenuity) yet those Bishops have found the lesse favour themselves from their fellow-Bishops.