B20736:203
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 4
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 joining (there spoken of) is not their joining to the Lord and his people as Proselytes of the Church; for though they were joined to the Lord, yet they complained of their disjoining and separating from the Lords people, but the Lord comforteth them with this promise, that such as are joined to the Lord, he will hereafter bring them to his house; no bodily infirmity, (as that of the Eunuch) nor national pollution (as that of some strangers) should hinder their admittance into his Church, only this the Lord requireth both of the Eunuchs, ver. 4. and of the strangers, ver. 6. who had joined themselves to the Lord before, that they do also take hold of his Covenant (as antecedent to their entrance into Church-fellowship,) to wit, take hold of it by solemn profession of their acceptance of it, and of their subjection to it.
The joyning (there spoken of) is not their joyning to the Lord and his people as Proselytes of the Church; for though they were joyned to the Lord, yet they complained of their disjoyning and separating from the Lords people, but the Lord comforteth them with this promise, that such as are joyned to the Lord, he will hereafter bring them to his house; no bodily infirmitie, (as that of the Eunuch) nor nationall pollution (as that of some strangers) should hinder their admittance into his Church, onely this the Lord requireth both of the Eunuches, ver. 4. and of the strangers, ver. 6. who had joyned themselves to the Lord before, that they doe also take hold of his Covenant (as antecedent to their entrance into Church-fellowship,) to wit, take hold of it by solemne profession of their acceptance of it, and of their subjection to it.
Object. 2. It is not credible that the Lord would ever separate or debar such from Church-fellowship as were joined to himself by faith, who can think it? what reason can you give for it?
Object. 2. It is not credible that the Lord would ever separate or debarre such from Church-fellowship as were joyned to himselfe by faith, who can thinke it? what reason can you give for it?