B20736:256
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 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.
The reason whereof is taken from the perfection of the wisdom of God revealed in Scripture, to make the man of God perfect to every good work, 2 Tim. 3.17. No wisdom of mans device, as any other worship, or any other helps or means of worship, or any forms or manners of worship, acceptable to God, but what the wisdom of God hath directed us in his Word. Besides, the Church is complete in Christ, (Colos. 2.10.) so as we need no other Priest to make atonement but him, nor other spiritual King but him to rule our consciences, no other Prophet to teach us but himself, and such as he hath appointed to that end; thus the sum and substance both of Law and Gospel, lead us to rest in the ordinances of God, and not to help our selves by the inventions of men, for the administration of the worship of God. To apply this then to set-forms ⟨p. 74⟩of prayer, devised by man, and prescribed to be read out of a brook, and so taken up by one Church from another, as the forms of their worship, and as the means and help of their devotion, we find no command or pattern for them in the Word, nor any promise of their acceptance. They are enjoined for means and helps of Gods worship, which he hath not sanctified, and for forms of worship which God hath not acknowledged. What difference is there between the carrying of the Ark upon a Cart, and our prayers upon a Book? whereas both should be carried, the one upon the shoulders of the Levites, the other upon the gifts of the Ministers.
The reason whereof is taken from the perfection of the wisdome of God revealed in Scripture, to make the man of God perfect to every good worke, 2 Tim. 3.17. No wisdome of mans device, as any other worship, or any other helpes or meanes of worship, or any formes or manners of worship, acceptable to God, but what the wisdome of God hath directed us in his Word. Besides, the Church is compleate in Christ, (Colos. 2.10.) so as wee need no other Priest to make atonement but him, nor other spirituall King but him to rule our consciences, no other Prophet to teach us but himselfe, and such as he hath appointed to that end; thus the sum and substance both of Law and Gospel, lead us to rest in the ordinances of God, and not to helpe our selves by the inventions of men, for the administration of the worship of God. To apply this then to set-formes