B20736:234
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 4 › 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.
The seals of the Covenant (to wit, the Sacrament of Baptism and the Lords Supper) are administered, either by the Pastor or by the Teacher; and though with some godly learned Divines, it be a question whether the Teacher may dispense the seals, yet the question doth rather concern School-Doctors, then the Teachers of a particular Church, but we who have only the Teachers of particular Churches, do believe that they to whom the preaching or dispensing of the Gospel (or Covenant of grace) unto the Church is committed, to them is committed also the dispensing of the seals of the Covenant; but to the Teacher as well as to the Pastor, is committed the dispensing of the Gospel (the Covenant of grace) unto the Church, and therefore to him (as well as to the other) is committed the dispensing of the seals of the Covenant.
The seales of the Covenant (to wit, the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper) are administred, either by the Pastor or by the Teacher; and though with some godly learned Divines, it be a question whether the Teacher may dispense the seales, yet the question doth rather concerne Schoole-Doctors, then the Teachers of a particular Church, but wee who have onely the Teachers of particular Churches, doe beleeve that they to whom the preaching or dispensing of the Gospel (or Covenant of grace) unto the Church is committed, to them is committed also the dispensing of the seales of the Covenant; but to the Teacher as well as to the Pastor, is committed the dispensing of the Gospel (the Covenant of grace) unto the Church, and therefore to him (as well as to the other) is committed the dispensing of the seales of the Covenant.
Both the Sacraments we dispense, according to the first institution, Baptism to Disciples, and (who are included in them) their seed. The Lords Supper to such as neither want knowledge nor grace to examine and judge themselves before the Lord. Such as lie under ⟨p. 68⟩any offence publicly known, do first remove the offence, before they present themselves to the Lords Table; according to