B20727:208
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. 3. To tell the Church, is to tell the Presbytery of the Church.
Object. 3. To tell the Church, is to tell the Presbyterie of the Church.
Answ. 1. We deny not, The offence is to be told to the Presbytery; yet not to them as the Church, but as the guides of the church, who, if upon hearing the cause, and examining the witnesses, they find it ripe for public censure, they are then to propound it to the Church, and to try and clear the state of the cause before the church, that so the church discerning fully the nature and quality of the offence may consent to the judgement and sentence of the Elders against it, to the confusion of the offender; and the public edification of them all, who hearing and fearing, will learn to beware of the like wickedness.
Answ. 1. We deny not, The offence is to be told to the Presbyterie; yet not to them as the Church, but as the guides of the church, who, if upon hearing the cause, and examining the witnesses, they finde it ripe for publike censure, they are then to propound it to the Church, and to try and cleer the state of the cause before the church, that so the church discerning fully the nature and quality of the offence may consent to the judgement and sentence of the Elders against it, to the confusion of the offender; and the publike edification of them all, who hearing and fearing, will learn to beware of the like wickednesse.
Answ. 2. The Church is never put for the Presbytery alone (throughout the new Testament) though sometime it be put expressly for the Fraternity alone, as they are distinguished from the Elders and Officers, Act. 15.22. and therefore Tell the Church, cannot be meant Tell the Presbytery alone.