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The doctrine of the church, to which is committed the keyes of the kingdome of Heaven. Wherein is demonstrated by way of question and answer, what a visible church is, according to the order of the Gospel: and what officers, members, worship and government, Christ hath ordayned in the New Testament. / by ... John Cotton ...

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Title
The doctrine of the church, to which is committed the keyes of the kingdome of Heaven. Wherein is demonstrated by way of question and answer, what a visible church is, according to the order of the Gospel: and what officers, members, worship and government, Christ hath ordayned in the New Testament. / by ... John Cotton ...
Author
Cotton, John, 1584-1652.
Publication
London: :: Printed for Samuel Satterthwaite, at the signe of the Black Bull in Budget Row.,
1642.
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"The doctrine of the church, to which is committed the keyes of the kingdome of Heaven. Wherein is demonstrated by way of question and answer, what a visible church is, according to the order of the Gospel: and what officers, members, worship and government, Christ hath ordayned in the New Testament. / by ... John Cotton ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A80618.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 5, 2024.

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THE true Constitution of a Particular visible Church proved by Scripture.

Quest. WHat is the Church?

Ans. The Church is a Mysticall body(1) whereof Christ is the Head(2) the members and Saints(3) called our of the World(4) and united together into one Congregation(5) by an holy Covenant(6) to worship the Lord, and to edifie one another in all his holy Ordinances(7)

Quest. What sort of Members hath God set in his Church?

Ans. Some that are Ministers(1) or Officers(2) in the Church, others commonly called by the generall

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name that belongeth, to all the members, Brethren,(3) and Saints.(4)

Quest. What sorts of Ministers or Officers hath God set in his Throne?

Ans. Some extraordinary, as Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists(1) some ordinary and perpetuall, as Bishops and Deacons.(2)

Quest. What manner of men are to be called to these Offices, to be Bishops, or Elders in the Church?

Ans. A Bishop or Elder in the Church, must be in himselfe a blamelesse man for Holinesse, and Righte∣ousnesse, and for freedome from passions and lusts, al∣so a vigilant man, and of good behaviour. Moreover, he must bee in his Family a man of good Government, and of good Hospitality; in his Name a man of good Report even of those that are without; in his Profes∣sion not a young Plant, but holding fast the faithfull Word, apt to teach it, and able to maintaine it(1)

Quest. What sorts of Bishops or Elders hath God ordained in his Church?

Ans. Of Bishops who are also called Elders, God hath ordained two sorts; Ruling Elders, and such as labour in word and in Doctrine(1) commonly called Pastors and Teachers(2) all of them to watch over one certaine Flocke, the Church of a particular Con∣gregation.(3)

Quest. What is the Office, or worke of the Pastors or Teachers?

Ans. The Pastors worke is to attend upon Exhor∣tation, and therein to dispence a word of wisedome; the Teacher is to attend upon Doctrine, and therein to dispence a word of knowledge.(1)

Quest. What is the Office of the Ruling Elders?

Ans. Seeing the Kingdome of Christ is not of this World, but Heavenly and spirituall(1) and the Go∣vernment of his Kingdome is not Lordly,(2) but Steward∣ly, and Ministeriall(2) and to labour in the ministry

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of Exhortation, and Doctrine is the proper work of the Pastor and Teacher(3) it remaineth therefore to bee the part, and Office of the ruling Elders, to assist the Pastor and Teacher in all other Acts of Rule be∣sides, as becommeth good Stewards of the Houshold of God(4) as first to open, and shut the doores of Gods House(5) by admission of Members(6) by ordina∣tion of Officers(7) by excommunication of notorious and obstinate offenders(8)

Secondly, to see that none without the Church live either inordinately without a calling, or Idly in their calling(9) thirdly to prevent and heale such offences in life, and Doctrine as might corrupt either their owne Church(10) or other Churches if their Counsel be re∣quired(11) Fourthly, to prepare matters before hand for the Churches consideration(12) and to moderate the carriage of all matters in the Church assembled(13) as to propound matters to the Church(14) and to or∣der the season of speech and silence in the Church(15) Fifthly, to feed the flock of God with a word of admo∣nition(16) and as they shall be called for to visite & pray over their sick brethren(17)

Quest. What manner of men hath God appointed to be called to the Deacons Office?

Answ. Men of gravity and of good report not given to dissembling, nor to Wine, nor to coverousnesse, ful of the holy Ghost and wisedome, holding forth the mistery of the faith in a pure conscience, keeping their houshold in good Rule and enjoying such wives as may neither dishonour nor corrupt their Office, not standerers (but) grave and sober and faithfull in all things (1)

Quest. What is the office of the Deacons?

Answ. To receive the offrings of the Church brought unto them and laid downe before them(1) and there∣with to serve Tables(2) distributing with simplici∣ty(3) not onely to the Ministers of the Church(4) but to any other of the brethren as they shall have need(5)

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Quest. But is it not the Office of the Deacons to shew mercy with cheerfulnesse?

Answ. Yes verily, to their Brethren in misery(1) but that part of their office they do chiefly performe by the hand of the widdowes, chosen into their number, who are therefore called the Deacons or servants of the Church(2)

Quest. What manner of widdowes hath God al∣lowed, to be taken into this number?

Answ. Ancient women, well reported of for good workes, for nursing her children, for lodging of Stran∣gers, for washing the Saints feet, for relieving the affli∣cted, for following diligently every good work(3)

Quest. What manner of men hath God appointed, to be received as Brethren and members of his Church:

Answ. Such as are called of God out of this world to the fellowship of Christ(1) and do willingly offer and joyne themselves, first to the Lord(2) and then to the Church(3) by confession of their sins(4) by profes∣sion of their faith(5) and by taking or laying hold of his Covenant(6)

Quest. What is the Office or duty which God cal∣leth the Brethren unto, the members of the Church?

Answ. To brotherly love(1) and the fruits therof brotherly unity(2) brotherly equality(3) & bro∣therly communion(4)

Quest. Wherein standeth brotherly unity which we are to hold one with another?

Answ. To be perfectly joyned together in one mind and one judgement in one truth(1) and where wee cannot bee of one judgement yet still to be of one heart(2) not provoking nor envying one another(3) but for bearing and forgiving(4) not judging nor despising one another in differences of weakenesse(5) but so far as we are come to walke together by the same Rule(6) To teach and learne one of another the way of God more perfectly(7) Till we all grow up in the unity of

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the faith, unto a perfect man in Christ Iesus(8)

Quest. Wherein standeth brotherly equallity which we are to hold one with another?

Answ. In •…•…mitting a like unto all Gods Ordinan∣ces, and enjoying alike all Christian Liberties(1) In preferring others before our selves(2) and seeeking one anothers wellfare(3) and feeling their estates, as our owne(4) in bearing the burdens one of another im∣posing no burdens, but in equall proportion(6)

Quest. Wherein standeth brotherly communion which we are to hold one with another?

Answ. In our stedfast and continuall fellowship in the Apostles Doctrine and worship: and ministration(1) and for this end to dwell together(2) and to watch over one another(3) to resort together to the publike assembly(4) and there to joyne in all holy duties with one accord(5) and every Lords day to lay up in store for the supply of the Saints (6)

Quest. How is the publike worship of God to bee ordered, and administred in the Church?

Answ. All the Members of the Church being met to∣gether as one man(1) in the sight of God(2) are to joyne together in holy duties with one accord(3) the men with their heads uncovered the women covered (4)

Quest. What part of publike worship is first to bee administred?

Answ. The Apostle exhorteth that first of all: All manner of prayers be made for all men, for Kings, and all in authority, that we may leade a quiet and a peacea∣ble life, in all godlinesse and honesty(1)

Quest. Whither are set forms of publique worship, devised and ordained by men an acceptable worship unto the Lord?

Answ. If such set formes had beene an ordinance of the Lord, and a worship acceptable to him, the Lord himselfe, or at least some of the Apostles, or Prophets,

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would not have held back that part of Gods Counsell, from the Church(1) Besides, publique prayer is as well a part of publique Ministry, as Prophesie is(2) and the formes of one might as justly be taught, by the precepts of men as the other(3) and both of them are alike the gifts of the Holy Ghost, to whom it belongeth as well to teach us what to pray, as how to pray(4) nor will it well stand with the holy gesture of Prayer, which is to lift up our eyes to Heaven(5) to cast downe our eyes upon a Booke(6)

Quest. What part of publique worship is next to be administred?

Answ. Before Prophecying it will bee seasonable to sing a Psalme(1) and by some of the Tea∣chers of the Church to Reade the Word, and there∣with to Preach it, by giving the sence, and applying the use(2) In dispensing whereof the Minister was wont to stand above all the people in a Pulpit of wood and the Elders on both sides(3) while the people harkned unto them with Reverence and Attention(4) where there be more Prophets, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pastors and Tea∣chers, they may Prophesie two or three(5) and if the time permit, the Elders may call any •…•…er of the Bre∣thren, whither of the same Church or any, to speake a word of Exhortation to the people(6) and for the better edifying of a mans selfe or others, it may be lawfull for any (young or old) save onely for Women to aske questions at the mouth of the Pro∣phets(7)

Quest. After the Ministry of the Word, what part of Gods publique worship is next to be administred?

Ans. After the Word (which is the Covenant of God) the Seales of the Covenant are next to bee admi∣nistred; Baptisme, and the Lords Supper(1) and as for Baptisme, it is to bee dispenced by a Minister of the Word(2) unto a Beleever professing his Repentance, and his Faith(3) being a member of the same Church(4) (5)〈1+ pages missing〉〈1+ pages missing〉

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