B20736:335
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.
Answ. 2. When a whole multitude is assembled in a body, any offence may be orderly and ordinarily told unto them, by a complainant; especially in case any Officer amongst them shall call him forth to tell his complaint: As the Levite orderly told his complaint to the whole multitude of the Congregation of Israel assembled at Mispah, Judg. 20.3, 4, &c.
Object. 2. The Church Christ directeth unto, he presupposeth to be the ordinary Executioners of all Discipline and Censures, which the multitude is not: And the reason ratifying the Censure of the Church, doth show the number of them to be small, Mat. 18.20. where two or three, &c.
Object. 2. The Church Christ directeth unto, he presupposeth to be the ordinary Executioners of all Discipline and Censures, which the multitude is not: And the reason ratifying the Censure of the Church, doth shew the number of them to be small, Mat. 18.20. where two or three, &c.
Answ. The multitude of the Church doth ordinarily execute all Discipline and Censures by the Presbyters, and the Presbyters by their Consent. The promise made to two or three (ver. 20.) respecteth not the Judges of the cause when it is brought to the Church; but the two or three Brethren who dealt in the Cause before it came to the Church: As in like sort, the promise of binding in heaven, what the Church bindeth in earth, (ver. 19.) pertaineth to the ratifying of the Censure of the whole Church, mentioned in the verse before, to wit, in vers. 17.