B20736:103
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.
Our answer consisteth of three points:
First, Lay Elders we disclaim, but ruling Elders, though not attending to preaching, as they have their election from the people who are the body of the Church; so are they ordained & set apart from amongst the people by imposition of hands of the officers of the Church, who are the Presbytery, the company of Elders: for by Presbytery, we conceive cannot be there meant the office of an Elder; for he speaketh of such a Presbytery, as laid on hands: now it is not the office of an Elder, but the company of Elders, that lay on hands.
First, Lay Elders wee disclaim, but ruling Elders, though not attending to preaching, as they have their election from the people who are the body of the Church; so are they ordained & set apart from amongst the people by imposition of hands of the officers of the Church, who are the Presbyterie, the company of Elders: for by Presbyterie, we conceive cannot be there meant the office of an Elder; for hee speaketh of such a Presbytery, as laid on hands: now it is not the office of an Elder, but the company of Elders, that lay on hands.
Answ. 2. When it is said, no man can give what he hath not received; the light of Nature, the law of Moses, the Gospel of ⟨p. 27⟩Christ, do all of them make a ready answer for us. The law of Nature tells us, It is not necessary, that they that give should always formally have before-hand received that power which they give; it is enough if they have received it virtually: For instance, a multitude of free people may elect and ordain a King over them, and yet none of them had before hand received Kingly power; it is enough they have a virtual power, to set up and to submit unto any lawful form of government, which they see good for themselves in the land. The people of Israel (to wit, some in the name of the rest, for all could not at once) impose their hands upon the Levites,