B20736:102
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches walking in brotherly equality, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bight golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches walking in brotherly equalitie, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bythe golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...
London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1645
THE Way of the Churches of Christ in NEW-ENGLAND, Measured by the G… › Chapter 2 › Section 2
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.
The second Reason why lay Elders, (as they miscall them ruling Elders (as we with Paul call them) are not meant in Pauls Text, is because Paul mentioning the Presbyters but once in all his Epistles, excludeth all lay Elders from that Presbytery, Neglect not (saith he) the grace which is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with impositions by the hands of the Presbytery, 2 Tim. 4.14. This Christian Presbytery gave imposition of hands to ordain Ministers; but lay Elders had no right to impose hands to that purpose; therefore Lay-men were none of this Presbytery; for if the Presbytery be taken for the company of Elders, none were of that company but such as might give imposition of hands; or, if Presbytery be taken for the office of an Elder, then none might take that function on him, but must receive imposition of hands, as Timothy did, then Lay-men which neither give nor receive imposition of hands, are wholly debarred both from the degree, and from the society of the Presbytery, that was in Pauls time.
The second Reason why lay Elders, (as they miscall them ruling Elders (as we with Paul call them) are not meant in Pauls Text, is because Paul mentioning the Presbyters but once in all his Epistles, excludeth all lay Elders from that Presbytery, Neglect not (saith he) the grace which is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with impositions by the hands of the Presbyterie, 2 Tim. 4.14. This Christian Presbyterie gave imposition of hands to ordain Ministers; but lay Elders had no right to impose hands to that purpose; therefore Lay-men were none of this Presbyterie; for if the Presbyterie be taken for the company of Elders, none were of that company but such as might give imposition of hands; or, if Presbyterie be taken for the office of an Elder, then none might take that function on him, but must receive imposition of hands, as Timothy did, then Lay-men which neither give nor receive imposition of hands, are wholly debarred both from the degree, and from the society of the Presbyterie, that was in Pauls time.
Our answer consisteth of three points: