B20736:84
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 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.
Object. 4. But it may be the Church, in which the Apostle saith all these members are set, is not meant every particular Church, but the Catholic Church; for every particular Church had not Apostles and Prophets.
Object. 4. But it may be the Church, in which the Apostle saith all these members are set, is not meant every particular Church, but the Catholick Church; for every particular Church had not Apostles and Prophets.
Answ. It is true, every particular Church had not several Apostles, apart by themselves, nor was it needful they should, after that Churches were once planted, but every particular Church had need of his own Governors within it self, or else we shall make one Church subordinate to the Government of another, which is incompatible to the Church of the new Testament. The Lord having instituted and ordained no particular Church, but the Church of a Congregation for the administration of his Ordinance, unto which Congregational Church he hath also appointed the same sort of Officers, without preferment of one before another.
Answ. It is true, every particular Church had not severall Apostles, apart by themselves, nor was it needfull they should, after that Churches were once planted, but every particular Church had need of his own Governours within it selfe, or else wee shall make one Church subordinate to the Government of another, which is incompatible to the Church of the new Testament. The Lord having instituted and ordained no particular Church, but the Church of a Congregation for the administration of his Ordinance, unto which Congregationall Church he hath also appointed the same sort of Officers, without preferment of one before another.
Object. 5. For humane wisdom is pregnant and full of objections and exceptions against the ways and Ordinances of God. may be, say some, these Governors are no other but Arbitrators, which the Apostle biddeth the Corinthians set up in the Church for the deciding of differences amongst brethren,