B20736:237
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 3
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.
SECT. III.
IN the afternoon after public prayer offered up to God, either by the Pastor or Teacher, and the Word read and expounded by them who preached in the morning (if there be time) and preached by the other, and the Sacrament of Baptism administered, (if any of the Church do offer their children thereunto) the Deacons (who sit in a seat under the Elders, yet in sundry Churches lifted up higher then the other pews) do call upon the people, that as God hath prospered them, and hath made their hearts willing, there is now time left for contribution: presently the people from the highest to the lowest in sundry Churches do arise, the first pew first, the next next, and so the rest in order, and present before the Lord their holy offerings. For in the old Testament at their solemn feasts none was to appear before the Lord empty, Deut. 16.16. And the Lords day is only unto Christians the ordinary solemn feast of the Lord: in the new Testament the Christians laid down their oblations at the Apostles feet, (Acts 4.35.) into whose place, for that service, Deacons were substituted, Acts 6.3.
IN the afternoone after publick prayer offered up to God, either by the Pastor or Teacher, and the Word read and expounded by them who preached in the morning (if there be time) and preached by the other, and the Sacrament of Baptisme administred, (if any of the Church doe offer their children thereunto) the Deacons (who sit in a seate under the Elders, yet in sundry Churches lifted up higher then the other pewes) doe call upon the people, that as God hath prospered them, and hath made their hearts willing, there is now time left for contribution: presently the people from the highest to the lowest in sundry Churches do arise, the first pew first, the next next, and so the rest in order, and present before the Lord their holy offerings. For in the old Testament at their solemne feasts none was to appeare before the Lord empty,