B20736:268
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 5
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.
2. We do not admit the Members of other Churches to fellowship of the Lords Table, if either the persons themselves, or the Churches from whence they came, lie under any offence before the Church.
2. Wee doe not admit the Members of other Churches to fellowship of the Lords Table, if either the persons themselves, or the Churches from whence they came, lie under any offence before the Church.
Now the grounds upon which we thus walk, are these.
Now the grounds upon which wee thus walke, are these.
1. From the power requisite to the administration of the Sacraments, viz. to administer a Sacrament, is not an act of Christian liberty, that every Christian may dispense to whom he please, but an act of power, which Christ hath given to them who are called to be Ministers of the Word, and by them to be dispensed unto the Church, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers. They then over whom we have no ministerial power, unto them we may not dispense an act of power; but they who are Members of no Church, we have no ministerial power over them; and they who are Members of other Churches (not of our own) we have no power over them, further then they are recommended to us from their own Churches, either by Letters, or by word of mouth, and such are all the members of the Churches in this Country, ⟨p. 77⟩whom we do admit to communion with us at the Lords Table.
1. From the power requisite to the administration of the Sacraments, viz. to administer a Sacrament, is not an act of Christian libertie, that every Christian may dispense to whom he please, but an act of power, which Christ hath given to them who are called to be Ministers of the Word, and by them to be dispensed unto the Church, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers. They then over whom wee have no ministeriall power, unto them wee may not dispense an act of power; but they who are Members of no Church, wee have no ministeriall power over them; and they who are Members of other Churches (not of our own) wee have no power over them, further then they are recommended to us from their own Churches, either by Letters, or by word of mouth, and such are all the members of the Churches in this Countrey,