B20736:397
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 7 › Section 1
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.
Four things we observe in the estate of the Churches in England, which make way for Reformations amongst them.
Foure things wee observe in the estate of the Churches in England, which make way for Reformations amongst them.
First, The efficient instruments of their first plantation, which were either Apostles, or Apostolical men, whether Philip, or Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zealots, as any of our Countrymen may read in Mr. Foxes book of Acts and Monuments, in the beginning of it, next after the story of the ten Primitive Persecutions, out of Gildas, Tertullian, Origen, Bede, Nicephorus. Which being so, we cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered, and planted according to the Rule of the Gospel; and all the corruptions found in them since, have sprung from Popish Apostasy in succeeding ages, and from want of through and perfect purging out of that leaven in the late times of Reformation in the days of our Fathers. So that all the work now is, not to make ⟨p. 112⟩them Churches, which were none before, but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution.
First, The efficient instruments of their first plantation, which were either Apostles, or Apostolicall men, whether Philip, or Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zelotes, as any of our Countrymen may reade in Mr. Foxes booke of Acts and Monuments, in the beginning of it, next after the story of the ten Primitive Persecutions, out of Gildas, Tertullian, Origen, Beda, Nicephorus. Which being so, wee cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered, and planted according to the Rule of the Gospel; and all the corruptions found in them since, have sprung from Popish Apostasie in succeeding ages, and from want of through and perfect purging out of that leaven in the late times of Reformation in the dayes of our Fathers. So that all the worke now is, not to make ⟨p. 112⟩them Churches, which were none before, but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution.