B20727:98
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.
2. Excommunication is one of the highest acts of Rule in the Church, and therefore cannot be performed but by some Rulers. Now where all the Elders are culpable, there be no Rulers left in that Church to censure them. As therefore the Presbytery cannot excommunicate the whole Church, (though Apostate) for they must tell the Church, and join with the Church in that Censure: so neither can the Church excommunicate the whole Presbytery, because they have not received from Christ an office of rule, without their Officers.
2. Excommunication is one of the highest acts of Rule in the Church, and therefore cannot be performed but by some Rulers. Now where all the Elders are culpable, there be no Rulers left in that Church to censure them. As therefore the Presbytery cannot excommunicate the whole Church, (though Apostate) for they must tell the Church, and joyne with the Church in that Censure: so neither can the Church excommunicate the whole Presbytery, because they have not received from Christ an office of rule, without their Officers.
If it be said, the twenty-four Elders (who represent the private members of the Church, as the four living Creatures do the four Officers) had all of them Crowns upon their heads, and sate upon thrones (Rev. 4.4.) which are signs of regal authority: The answer is, The crowns and thrones argue them to be Kings, no more then their white raiments argue them to be Priests, ver. 4. but neither Priests nor Kings by office, but by liberty to perform like spiritual duties by grace, which the other do by grace and office: As Priests they offer up spiritual sacrifices: and as Kings they rule their lusts, passions, themselves, and their families, yea, the world and Church also after a sort: the world, by improving it to spiritual advantage: and the Church, by appointing their own Officers, and likewise in censuring their offenders, not only by their officers, (which is as much as Kings are wont to do) but also by their own royal assent, which Kings are not wont to do, but only in the execution of Nobles.