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…

That the Church which Christ in his Gospel hath instituted, and to which he hath committed the keys of his kingdom, the power of binding and loosing, the tables and seals of the Covenant, the Officers and censures of his Church, the administration of all his public Worship and Ordinances, is, Coetus fidelium, a Communion of Saints, a Combination of faithful godly men, meeting for that end, by common and joint consent, into one Congregation; which is commonly called a particular visible Church. For the Church to the which Christ committed the power of binding and loosing, was a company of such (as whereof Peter was one,) Believers professing that faith on Christ, whereon (as on a rock) the Church is built, Mat. 16.18, 19. and such as unto whom Peter, or any brother offended, might (in due order) tell the offence which any brother had given him, & persisted in, Mat. 18.17. ⟨p. 2⟩And the Church of Corinth, to which the Apostle commendeth the casting out of the Incestuous Corinthian, (1 Cor. 5.) was such a Church, of which the Apostle saith, They were Saints by calling, sanctified by Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1.2. and all of them, even the whole Church, did meet together every Lords day, in one place, for the Administration of the holy Ordinances of God, to public Edification,