B20736:235
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.
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 Mat. 5.23, 24. The members of any Church, if any be present, who bring Letters testimonial with them to our Churches, we admit them to the Lords Table with us, and their children also (if occasionally in their travel they be borne with us) upon like recommendation we admit to Baptism. The prayers we use at the administration of the seals, are not any set forms prescribed to us, but conceived by the Minister, according to the present occasion, and the nature of the duty in hand. Ceremonies we use none, but are careful to administer all things according to the primitive institutions. The Father presenteth his own child to baptism, as being baptized by the right of his Covenant, and not of the Covenant unto God-fathers & god-mothers, (for there is no such covenant of God unto them and their god-sons) and therefore we have no use of them, but omit them in Baptism; as the Apostle cast out love-feasts from the Lords Supper, being both of them alike superadditions to the Lords institutions, 1 Cor. 11.23, 24. The Lords Supper we administer for the time, once a month at least, and for the gesture, to the people sitting; according as Christ administered it to his Disciples sitting, (Mat. 26.20.26.) who also made a Symbolical use of it, to teach the Church their majority over their Ministers in some cases, and their judicial authority, as co-sessors with him at the last Judgement, (Luk. 22.27. to 30.) which maketh us look at kneeling at the Lords Supper, not only as an adoration devised by man, but also as a violation by man of the institution of Christ, diminishing part of the Counsel of God, and of the honour and comfort of the Church held forth in it.
Both the Sacraments wee dispense, according to the first institution, Baptisme 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