B20736:411
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 ...
London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1645
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.
9. Let the Lords Supper be administered only to such, as have so professed their faith and repentance publicly, and are received & approved members of the Church, endued with sufficient knowledge, to examine themselves, and to discern the Lords body: free from scandal, and of good conversation.
9. Let the Lords Supper be administred onely to such, as have so professed their faith and repentance publickly, and are received & approved members of the Church, endued with sufficient knowledge, to examine themselves, and to discerne the Lords body: free from scandall, and of good conversation.
10. Let Officers in the Church be redressed, and removed, not by presentments to Officers of other Churches, but according to the order of the Gospel, described above, Chap. 5. sect. 1, 2, 3.
11. Where the Ministers of the Congregation are ignorant or scandalous, meet it is that they were removed, and better chosen in their room by the people; according to the counsel & direction of the godly Ministers and brethren of neighbour Churches, Hos. 4.6.
11. Where the Ministers of the Congregation are ignorant or scandalous, meet it is that they were removed, and better chosen in their roome by the people; according to the counsell & direction of the godly Ministers and brethren of neighbour Churches, Hos. 4.6.
12. Where the people in a Congregation are generally ignorant and profane, it were necessary godly Preachers were sent forth with countenance from the King and State, to preach unto them, till they were brought on to knowledge, and to some measure of gracious reformation. Thus Jehoshaphat sent forth Priests and Levites, to teach in the Cities of Judah, and certain Princes and Nobles with them, to countenance the good work in their hands, 2 Chron. 17.7, 8, 9.
12. Where the people in a Congregation are generally ignorant and profane, it were necessary godly Preachers were sent forth with countenance from the King and State, to preach unto them, till they were brought on to knowledge, and to some measure of gracious reformation. Thus Jehosaphat sent forth Priests and Levites, to teach in the Cities of Judah, and certaine Princes and Nobles with them, to countenance the good worke in their hands, 2 Chron. 17.7, 8, 9.
13. Till the people be in some sort duly prepared, and grown up to some measure of knowledge, and grace, it were neither meet to receive them to a renewing of their Covenant formerly made at their Baptism, or to the seals of it. But after they have been wrought upon by the Ministry of the Word, to lament after the Lord; as the Israelites did when the Ark had been long absent from them, 1 Sam. 7.29. then let them proceed as other godly Christians were directed to do, Propos. 2, 3, &c. for renewing of their Covenant, for choice of their Ministers, and Officers, and for Communication in all the liberties of the Church of God.
13. Till the people be in some sort duly prepared, and growne up to some measure of knowledge, and grace, it were neither meet to receive them to a renewing of their Covenant formerly made at their Baptisme, or to the seales of it. But after they have been wrought upon by the Ministery of the Word, to lament after the Lord; as the Israelites did when the Arke had been long absent from them, 1 Sam. 7.29. then let them proceed as other godly Christians were directed to doe, Propos. 2, 3, &c. for renewing of their Covenant, for choice of their Ministers, and Officers, and for Communication in all the liberties of the Church of God.
14. For the help of the Universities (of the whole Kingdom, and of all the Churches in it) it were necessary, that some experienced godly learned Nobles and Ministers were deputed, to visit and reform the Universities; That subscriptions to Ceremonies and prescript Liturgies were removed; That degrees in Divinity were not abused unto qualifications for pluralities, and non-residency, nor allowed in the Ministers of Churches, to put a difference between brethren of the same calling, whence Christ hath removed it, Mat. 23.8, 9, 10. The [Greek or Hebrew] there mentioned, is not to be translated Master; for it is a Title common to all Ministers, but Doctors; and the Academical title of Doctors, is fitter for Masters of Colleges, & Readers in the Schools, then for Church-officers. Here also special care would be taken for setting up of such Preachers in both the Universities, as whose spirit, and gift, and Ministry, might be exemplary patterns to young Students.
14. For the helpe of the Universities (of the whole Kingdome, and of all the Churches in it) it were necessary, that some experienced godly learned Nobles and Ministers were deputed, to visite and reforme the Universities; That subscriptions to Ceremonies and prescript Liturgies were removed; That degrees in Divinitie were not abused unto qualifications for pluralities, and non-residency, nor allowed in the Ministers of Churches, to put a difference between brethren of the same calling, whence Christ hath removed it, Mat. 23.8, 9, 10. The 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 there mentioned, is not to be translated Master; for it is a Title common to all Ministers, but Doctors; and the Academicall title of Doctors, is fitter for Masters of Colledges, & Readers in the Schooles, then for Church-officers. Here also speciall care would be taken for setting up of such Preachers in both the Universities, as whose spirit, and gift, and Ministery, might be examplary patterns to young Students.
15. For the effectual and orderly expedition and transaction of all these things, it were requisite, that as King Jehoshaphat did, so the King and State should depute some choice persons to do the same, to wit, to go throughout all the Kingdom, to see the people returned, and all the Churches restored to a true state and course of Reformation, 2 Chron. 19.4.
15. For the effectuall and orderly expedition and transaction of all these things, it were requisite, that as King Jehosaphat did, so the King and State should depute some choice persons to doe the same, to wit, to goe throughout all the Kingdome, to see the people returned, and all the Churches restored to a true state and course of Reformation, 2 Chron. 19.4.
All which things are humbly presented by us, not as if we would undertake to give Counsel to them that are wiser then our selves, much less, Injunctions; But as Subjects who desire to approve our faithful service to the Lord, and our King and Country, hold them forth as true Consectaries from the Rules of the Gospel, which should rule us all.
All which things are humbly presented by us, not as if we would undertake to give Counsell to them that are wiser then our selves, much lesse, Injunctions; But as Subjects who desire to approve our faithfull service to the Lord, and our King and Countrey, hold them forth as true Consectaries from the Rules of the Gospel, which should rule us all.
FINIS.
A OF Addition of members to the Church, page 52. chap. 3. Sect. 1. Sect. 2. Of communion of Churches by way of Admonition, pag. 108. Sect. 6. The Antiquity of the Church way intimated in the Bishops Common-prayer book. p. 12 Of disclaiming Advocations by Patrons to livings. p. 113. Sect. 2.
B Whether all Baptized are fit for Church-fellowship? p. 9 Why by the same reason that believers children circumcised, were admitted to the Passover, now they are baptized, may not be admitted to the Lords Supper? p. 9 All Baptized by virtue thereof are not members of a particular visible Church. p. 9. No place in Scripture for succession of Diocesan Bishops after the Apostles, p. 46. Sect. 8. p. 49. Sect. 9. Whether unbelievers giving up their infant to be educated in the house of a godly member of a Church, it may not according to Gen. 17.12, 13. be Baptized in the right of that household? p. 115
B Whether all Baptized are fit for Church-fellowship? p. 9 Why by the same reason that beleevers children circumcised, were admitted to the Passeover, now they are baptized, may not be admitted to the Lords Supper? p. 9 All Baptized by vertue thereof are not members of a particular visible Church. p. 9. No place in Scripture for succession of Diocesan Bishops after the Apostles, p. 46. Sect. 8. p. 49. Sect. 9. Whether unbeleevers giving up their infant to be educated in the house of a godly member of a Church, it may not according to Gen. 17.12, 13. be Baptized in the right of that houshold? p. 115
C. The part of all true Christians to join themselves into some particular visible Church. p. 2. Joining into a particular visible Church, cannot be but by Covenant. p. 2. 3. 4, &c. Particular visible Churches to be gathered, must have the concurrence of other Churches gathered, p. 4. Propos. 5. The manner how. p. 6. Sect. 2. How the Church is the subject of power, p. 43. Sect. 7. The Church not to consist of good and bad, as far as they can discern, p. 56. Sect. 3. The necessity and grounds of Church-covenant. p. 59. Sect. 4. The first and second Commandments excellently opened, p. 71. last line, & p. 72, 73. Of dispensation of Censures, p. 89. chap. 5. Sect. 1. What Common consent is requisite in Church proceedings, p. 94. Sect. 3. Of the peoples power in Church Censures, p. 96. Sect. 4. Of the sevenfold Communion between several Churches, p. 102. Chap. 6. Sect. 1. ⟨image 62⟩Of Communion of Consultation between Churches p. 105. Sect. 3. Sect. 4. Of Contribution, p. 107. Sect. 5. Of Reformation of Congregations in old England. p. 111. chap. 7. Sect. 1. There are many things in the Common-prayer book, which intimate the antiquity of the Church-way. p. 112
C. The part of all true Christians to joyne themselves into some particular visible Church. p. 2. Joyning into a particular visible Church, cannot be but by Covenant. p. 2. 3. 4, &c. Particular visible Churches to be gathered, must have the concurrence of other Churches gathered, p. 4. Propos. 5. The manner how. p. 6. Sect. 2. How the Church is the subject of power, p. 43. Sect. 7. The Church not to consist of good and bad, as farre as they can decern, p. 56. Sect. 3. The necessity and grounds of Church-covenant. p. 59. Sect. 4. The first and second Commandements excellently opened, p. 71. last line, & p. 72, 73. Of dispensation of Censures, p. 89. chap. 5. Sect. 1. What Common consent is requisite in Church proceedings, p. 94. Sect. 3. Of the peoples power in Church Censures, p. 96. Sect. 4. Of the sevenfold Communion between severall Churches, p. 102. Chap. 6. Sect. 1. ⟨image 62⟩Of Communion of Consultation between Churches p. 105. Sect. 3. Sect. 4. Of Contribution, p. 107. Sect. 5. Of Reformation of Congregations in old England. p. 111. chap. 7. Sect. 1. There are many things in the Common-prayer book, which intimate the antiquity of the Church-way. p. 112
D. Of the office of Deacons, p. 38 Election, not ordaining of Deacons, p. 42. Sect. 5.
E Why the members of Old England are not presently and immediately admitted, they to the Communion, their children to baptism in New England p. 76. Sect. 5. Of Elders who to be elected and ordained, p. 10. chap. 2. Sect. 1. That Ruling Elders are jure divino, p. 13. Sect. 2. How all Elders are to be elected and ordained, p. 39. Sect. 4. Ruling Elders are not mere Lay Elders, p. 26. The Fathers mention Ruling Elders, p. 30, &c.
E Why the members of Old England are not presently and immediatly admitted, they to the Communion, their children to baptisme in New England p. 76. Sect. 5. Of Elders who to be elected and ordained, p. 10. chap. 2. Sect. 1. That Ruling Elders are jure divino, p. 13. Sect. 2. How all Elders are to be elected and ordained, p. 39. Sect. 4. Ruling Elders are not meer Lay Elders, p. 26. The Fathers mention Ruling Elders, p. 30, &c.
F. Against set Forms of Liturgies, p. 70. Sect. 4.
F. Against set Formes of Liturgies, p. 70. Sect. 4.
