B20736:175
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 3 › Section 1
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.
SECT. I.
The Church being thus gathered and furnished with such Officers, in such manner as the Lord hath appointed; look as in the first Primitive Church the Lord added to ⟨p. 53⟩them daily such as should be saved, Acts 2.47. so do we admit and receive from the Lord such as he sendeth and addeth to us. The first and lowest number of a Church, to which the other members are added, is not expressly limited in the Word, only it is not so low as some have conceived, to consist only of two or three, it is a mistake of that place, Mat. 18.20. where a promise of Christs presence is made to two or three, to conceive it made to the lowest number of a Church-body; for those two or three, are not considered there as a Church-body, but as a sufficient number of witnesses, to join with a brother offended, in convincing and admonishing the brother that gave the offence; against whom, if he do not hearken to them, they are then further to proceed, and to tell the Church. Which argueth that they themselves are not a Church, but a smaller company agreeing in a duty of brotherly love, either to heal an offending brother by their own admonition, or to witness against him before the Church; and yet they have a special promise of Christs presence with them in the duty, lest they might think such a labour of love undertaken in vain.
THe Church being thus gathered and furnished with such Officers, in such manner as the Lord hath appointed; looke as in the first Primitive Church the Lord added to ⟨p. 53⟩them daily such as should be saved, Acts 2.47. so doe wee admit and receive from the Lord such as he sendeth and addeth to us. The first and lowest number of a Church, to which the other members are added, is not expresly limited in the Word, onely it is not so low as some have conceived, to consist onely of two or three, it is a mistake of that place,