B20727:58
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.
4. A fourth defect (but yet the least, which we observe in this distribution) is, that order is appropriated to the Officers of the Church only. For though we be far from allowing that sacrilegious usurpation of the Ministers office, which we hear of (to our grief) to be practised in some places, that private Christians ordinarily take upon them to preach the Gospel publicly, and to minister Sacraments: Yet we put a difference between Office and Order. Office we look at as peculiar to those, who are set apart for some peculiar function in the Church, who are either Elders or Deacons. But order (speaking of Church-order properly taken) is common ⟨p. 7⟩to all the members of the Church, whether Officers or private brethren. There is an order as well in them that are subject, as in them that rule. There is a [Greek or Hebrew] as well [Greek or Hebrew], as [Greek or Hebrew]. The maid in Athenaeus is said [Greek or Hebrew], as well as her Mistress. Yet if any man be willing to make office and order equipollent, we will not contend about words, so there be no erroneous apprehension wrapped into the matter.
4. A fourth defect (but yet the least, which we observe in this distribution) is, that order is appropriated to the Officers of the Church onely. For though wee be far from allowing that sacrilegious usurpation of the Ministers office, which we heare of (to our griefe) to be practised in some places, that private Christians ordinarily take upon them to preach the Gospel publickly, and to minister Sacraments: Yet we put a difference between Office and Order. Office we looke at as peculiar to those, who are set apart for some peculiar function in the Church, who are either Elders or Deacons. But order (speaking of Church-order properly taken) is common ⟨p. 7⟩to all the members of the Church, whether Officers or private brethren. There is an order as well in them that are subject, as in them that rule. There is a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 as well 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. The maid in Athenaeus is said 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as well as her Mistresse. Yet if any man be willing to make office and order aequipollent, we will not contend about words, so there be no erroneous apprehension wrapt into the matter.