B20727:70
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.
If it should be further objected, Yea, but give the people this power and liberty in some cases, either to cast off their teachers, or to cut them off, the people will soon take advantage to abuse this liberty unto much carnal licentiousness. The Apostle preventeth that with a word of wholesome counsel: Brethren (saith he) you have been called unto liberty: only use not your liberty as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another, v. 13. and thereupon seasonably pursueth this counsel with a caveat to beware of abusing this liberty to carnal contention, (an usual disease of popular liberty) and withal dehorteth them from all other fruits of the flesh, to the end of the Chapter.
If it should be further objected, Yea, but give the people this power and libertie in some cases, either to cast off their teachers, or to cut them off, the people will soon take advantage to abuse this libertie unto much carnall licentiousnesse. The Apostle preventeth that with a word of wholsome counsell: Brethren (saith he) you have been called unto libertie: onely use not your libertie as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another, v. 13. and thereupon seasonably pursueth this counsell with a caveat to beware of abusing this liberty to carnall contention, (an usuall disease of popular liberty) and withall dehorteth them from all other fruits of the flesh, to the end of the Chapter.
Evident therefore it is, that there is a key of power or liberty given to the Church (to the Brethren with the Elders) as to open a door of entrance to the Ministers calling; so to shut the door of entrance against them in some cases, as when through corrupt and pernicious doctrine, they turn from Shepherds to become ravenous wolves.
Evident therefore it is, that there is a key of power or libertie given to the Church (to the Brethren with the Elders) as to open a doore of entrance to the Ministers calling; so to shut the doore of entrance against them in some cases, as when through corrupt and pernicious doctrine, they turn from Shepherds to become ravenous wolves.