B20736:330
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 5 › 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.
Our first Reason is taken from the royal rule of Love and Wisdom, in healing offences, given by our Saviour, Matth. 18.17. where he directeth a Brother offended, for the healing of the spirit of an offender, finally to refer the matter to the Church. Tell (saith he) the Church. Now we cannot find throughout the new Testament, that ever the word Church is taken any otherwise then for the Society and Congregation of the faithful; unless it be once, where it is taken for a civill Assembly, Act. 19.41. But never for one Bishop, or Counsellor, or Archdeacon; for neither doth the Scripture acknowledge any of these offices in the Church at all, (as hath been showed above) taking a Bishop, as now they stand; nor can the Church, which is a word of multitude, hold forth a Bishop or his Commissary, who is but one person: For, though one person may represent a whole Church when he is sent forth in the Churches name, with instructions from the Church; yet such is not the case ⟨p. 97⟩here: The Bishop cometh in his own name, and the Commissary in the Bishops name, but neither of them in the Churches name, nor with instructions from the Church; but rather with destructions, or at least with disturbances to the Church. Neither is the word Church taken throughout the new Testament for an Assembly of Presbyters: the Consistory is a word unheard of there. Nor are any complaints directed thither, unless it be to prepare them for the hearing & judgement of the Church; As all the Elders are said to be assembled in the house of James, to prepare and instruct Paul for the carriage of his matter before the Church. Nor are any Censures of the Church committed to the Presbyters alone, to be administered by them; though they be to be administered by them in the presence, and with the consent of the Church. And therefore when the Angels of the Churches in Asia are blamed for neglect of proceeding against offenders, (whether Balaam, or Jezebel, or the Nicholaitans) the charge is given not to the Angels of the Churches only, but to the Churches also themselves; Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, Rev. 2.17.29. And though the word Congregation, which is all one with Church, be sometimes put in the old Testament for Elders or Judges of the Congregation; yet