B20736:57
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 2 › 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.
Reas. 2. Though Office be one thing, and gift to discharge an office another, and the actions or exercise of every several gift doth not always argue a several office; yet in this place it is the scope of the Apostle to express the different offices, or functions of Pastors and Teachers by their different and proper acts; for here he speaketh of the divers members of the Church, as of divers members of the natural body, who having divers offices, or functions in the body, are to perform different proper actions, according to their different functions; as we having many members (saith he) in one body (ver. 4, 5.) and all the members have not one office, (as the translator turneth it when the Original saith, have not one action, or practise, but both expressing the same meaning;) ⟨p. 12⟩so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another, having then (saith he, ver. 6.) different gifts (gifts comprehending both offices and grace) whether Prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith, or ministry, let us wait on our ministry, whether he that teacheth on teaching, or he that exhorteth on exhortation. And look then, as in the natural body, it being the action of the tongue to speak, it is his function and office to speak, and not to see: and it being the action of the eye to see, it is his function to see, and not to hear; So it is in the members of the body of Christ, it being the action of the teacher to teach, he is to attend unto teaching, not unto exhortation; and it being the action of the Pastor or Exhortor to exhort, he is to attend on exhortation, not on teaching.
Reas. 2. Though Office be one thing, and gift to discharge an office another, and the actions or exercise of every severall gift doth not alwayes argue a severall office; yet in this place it is the scope of the Apostle to expresse the different offices, or functions of Pastors and Teachers by their different and proper acts; for here he speaketh of the divers members of the Church, as of divers members of the naturall body, who having divers offices, or functions in the body, are to performe different proper actions, according to their different functions; as wee having many members (saith he) in one body (ver. 4, 5.) and all the members have not one office, (as the translator turneth it when the Originall saith, have not one action, or practise, but both expressing the same meaning;) ⟨p. 12⟩