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The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in…
The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in New England, justified, by the Scripture, and by the writings of many learned men, both ancient and modern divines; in answer to several questions, relating to church discipline / by Increase Mather, president of Harvard College in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston in New England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in New England, justified, by the Scripture, and by the writings of many learned men, both ancient and modern divines; in answer to several questions, relating to church discipline / by Increase Mather, president of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston in New England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1700
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.
There were many besides Paul and Barnabas sent from Antioc•• to Jerusalem, and the Brethren of that Church, whatever is impudently pretended to the contrary, concurred in the decree and determination there made. Thus Dr. Owen.
2. There is weight in Austin's Argument▪ viz. That the power of the Keys belongs to the whole Church. And that therefore not the Pastors only should have their voice in Councils. Since Councils represent the Churches by whom they are chosen, it is meet that some of each order should be chosen. Church-Members are fellow Citizens, and therefore ought not to be deprived of their power.
2. There is weight in Austine Argument▪ viz. That the power of the Keyes belongs to the whole Church. And that therefore not the Pastors only should have their voice in Councils. Since Councils represent the Churches by whom they are chosen, it is meet that some of each order should be chosen. Church-Members are fellow Citizens, and therefore ought not to be deprived of their power.
3. It is not their Office but the Churches Delegation that giveth power to be the Members in Synods. The Specificating act in which Synodal power and so the right of a Decisive Vote is founded, is the Churches Delegation. None ought to be Admitted into such Assemblies, but those whom the Churches shall •end. Now as in Civil Councils, many times not only Magistrates but other Citizens duly qualified are sent to represent the City whose delegates they are; so in Ecclesiastical Councils, not only the Rulers of the Churches, but others may receive a mission from them, and have then and there, equal power with the former. True it i that of these Delegates from the Churches, th Elders ought to be the principally concerne They are presumed best to know the sta of their Churches, and to be best able to Judg in Ecclesiastical Affairs. This notwithstanding, they are not to assume the sole power to themselves, nor yet a Negative Voice i in such Assemblies, as they may in their own particular Churches. It must (says Dr. Owen)