B20736:366
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 6 › Section 2
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.
SECT. II.
BY way of Recommendation, we communicate one with another in this wise; When any of our members by occasion of business is called to reside and continue for any time in another Town, we give him Letters of recommendation unto the Church in that place, giving testimony of him as of a Brother approved, and entreating them to receive him in the Lord, (as becometh Saints) unto holy Communion with them, and to watch over him in Brotherly love, to his building up in fellowship with the Lord Jesus: The pattern whereof we take from Pauls recommendation of Phoebe (a Deaconess of the Church of Cenchrea) unto the Church of Rome, Rom. 16.1, 2. Of which Letters he maketh mention also to the Church of Corinth, though not as needful for himself, but for others, 2 Cor. 3.1. But if a Brother have necessary occasion to remove himself and his family for all together unto another Church, and there to take up his settled habitation, for the necessary employment of ⟨p. 104⟩his calling, or for other just ends, he acquainteth the Elders of the Church, and some of his intimate friends and brethren, and it may be (if conveniency permit) the whole Church with the grounds of his removal; which if they do appear to them to be just and weighty, they then write more ample Letters of recommendation unto that Church in his behalf; wherein they do recommend him wholly to their charge; now not as one of themselves, but as one of theirs, to whom they do resign him, and entreat them to receive him as a Brother, beloved in the Lord, unto all those Christian liberties, and holy duties, wherein they are wont to Communicate with their own members, unto all spiritual growth in Christ Jesus. Which Letters, because they do so fully recommend a Brother unto another Church, are to dismiss him from his own; we therefore for distinction sake, call them Letters of dismission; which indeed do not differ from the other, but that the former recommendeth him to another Church for a time, these for ever.