B20736:204
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.
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?
Answ. The text is plain, that Eunuchs, Moabites, and Ammonites, were separated from the Church or Congregation of Israel for ever, without exception of godliness or ungodliness. Some indeed make a doubt whether the Law against Moabites and Ammonites reached to the women of those Nations; but against men the Law is clear. But if the Law had excluded them only upon point of their own ungodliness, that was no singular curse to them. No Nation under heaven could expect admission into the Church of Israel, unless they believed in the God of Israel. What reason God might have for excluding the Eunuchs, we leave to his sovereign wisdom. But yet himself giveth a plain reason for it against the Moabites and Ammonites, taken from their malignant enmity against Gods people, Deut. 23.4, 5, 6. Against the Eunuchs he giveth no express reason; the authority of the Law-giver is reason sufficient; who can tell whether God would not thereby type out the debarring of barren Christians from Church-fellowship?
Answ. The text is plaine, that Eunuches, Moabites, and Ammonites, were separated from the Church or Congregation of Israel for ever, without exception of godlinesse or ungodlinesse. Some indeed make a doubt whether the Law against Moabites and Ammonites reached to the women of those Nations; but against men the Law is cleare. But if the Law had excluded them onely upon point of their own ungodlinesse, that was no singular curse to them. No Nation under heaven could expect admission into the Church of Israel, unlesse they beleeved in the God of Israel. What reason God might have for excluding the Eunuches, wee leave to his soveraigne wisdome. But yet himselfe giveth a plaine reason for it against the Moabites and Ammonites, taken from their malignant enmitie against Gods people,