B20736:278
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.
Now though we rather choose to cover in silence, and to mourn in secret, for any corruptions found in other Churches, especially in these so dear and near unto us, as the Churches of England be; yet in this case, faithfulness to God and them, and the necessary defence of our own due proceedings here, constraineth us to confess sundry public offences, under which our English parish Churches lie, and wherein our selves also were defiled, whilst we lived in them, and our Country-men are defiled that come over to us from them.
Now though wee rather choose to cover in silence, and to mourne in secret, for any corruptions found in other Churches, especially in these so deare and neare unto us, as the Churches of England be; yet in this case, faithfulnesse to God and them, and the necessary defence of our own due proceedings here, constraineth us to confesse sundry publick offences, under which our English parish Churches lie, and wherein our selves also were defiled, whilest we lived in them, and our Country-men are defiled that come over to us from them.
1. It is a public offence, that they come over not as members of any particular visible Church, (for they leave that relation where they left their habitation) but of a National Church, whereof Christ hath given us no pattern in the new Testament; and in which he hath appointed no national Churches, nor any national worship to be performed by them.
1. It is a publick offence, that they come over not as members of any particular visible Church, (for they leave that relation where they left their habitation) but of a Nationall Church, whereof Christ hath given us no patterne in the new Testament; and in which he hath appointed no nationall Churches, nor any nationall worship to be performed by them.