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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	heaven_n	loose_v	6,038	5	10.6252	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51037	Propositions concerning the subject of baptism and consociation of churches collected and confirmed out of the word of God, by a synod of elders and messengers of the churches in Massachusets-Colony in New-England ; assembled at Boston, according to appointment of the honoured General Court, in the year 1662, at a General Court held at Boston in New-England the 8th of October, 1662.	Mitchel, Jonathan, 1624-1668.	1662 (1662)	Wing M2292; ESTC R380	36,245	49

ought to be received by us for our children in another true Church where Providence so casts us as that we cannot have it in our own as doubtless it may and ought to be then also we may and ought in like case to dispense Baptism when desired to a man and lawfull subject being a member of another Church To deny or refuse either of these would be an unjustifiable refusing of Communion of Churches and tending to sinful separation 2. Such as remove their habitation ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church where they setlle their abode and so their children to be baptized 1. Because the regularly baptized are disciples and under the Discipline and Government of Christ But they that are absolutely removed from the Church whereof they were so as to be uncapable of being under Discipline there shall be under it no where if not in the Church where they inhabit They that would have Church-priviledges ought to be under Church-power But these will be under no Church-power but as lambs in a large place if not under it there where their setled abode is 2. Every Christian ought to covenant for himself and his children or professedly to give up himself and his to the Lord and than in the way of his Ordinances Deut. 26 17. 12.5 and explicite covenanting is a duty especially where we are called to it and have opportunity for it nor can they well be said to covenant implicitely that do explicitely refuse a professed covenanting when called thereunto And especially this covenanting is a duty when we would partake of such a Church-priviledge as Baptism for our children is But the parents in question will now be professed covenanters no where if not in the Church where their fixed habitation is Therefore they ought orderly to covenant there and so their children to be baptized 3. To refuse covenanting and subjection to Christ's Government in the Church where they live being so removed as to be utterly uncapable of it elswhere would be a walking disorderly and would too much favour of profaneness and separation and hence to administer Baptism to the children of such as stand in that way would be to administer Christ's Ordinances to such as are in a way of sin and disorder which ought not to be 2 Thess 3.6 1 Chron. 15.13 and would be contrary to that Rule 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order Quest II. VVHether according to the Word of God there ought to be a Consociation of Churches and what should be the manner of it Answ The Answer may be briefly given in the Propositions following 1. Every Church or particular Congregation of visible Saints in Gospel-order being furnished with a Presbytery at least with a Teaching Elder and walking together in truth and peace hath received from the Lord Jesus full power and authority Ecclesiastical within it self regularly to administer all the Ordinances of Christ and is not under any other Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whatsoever For to such a Church Christ hath given the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven that what they binde or loose on earth shall be bound or loosed in heaven Matt. 16.19 18.17 18. Elders are ordained in every Church Acts 14.23 Tit. 1.5 and are therein authorized officially to administer in the Word Prayer Sacraments and Censures Mat. 28 19 20. Acts 6.4 1 Cor. 4.1 5.4 12. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 5.17 3.5 The reproving of the Church of Corinth and of the Asian Churches severally imports they had power each of them within themselves to reform the abuses that were amongst them 1 Cor. 5. Rev. 2 14 20. Hence it follows that Consociation of Churches is not to hinder the exercise of this power but by counsel from the Word of God to direct and strengthen the same upon all just occasions 2. The Churches of Christ do stand in a sisterly relation each to other Cant. 8.8 being united in the same Faith and Order Eph. 4.5 Col. 2.5 to walk by the same Rule Phil. 3.16 in the exercise of the same Ordinances for the same ends Eph. 4 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 16.1 under one and the same political Head the Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.22 23. 4.5 Rev. 2.1 Which Union infers a Communion sutable thereunto 3. Communion of Churches is the faithfull improvement of the gifts of Christ bestowed upon them for his service and glory and their mutuall good and edification according to capacity and opportunity 1 Pet. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 12.4 7. 10.24 1 Cor. 3.21 22. Cantic 8.9 Rom 1.15 Gal. 6.10 4. Acts of Communion of Churches are such as these 1. Hearty Care and Prayer one for another 2 Cor. 11.28 Cant. 8.8 Rom. 1.9 Coloss 1.9 Eph. 6.18 2. To afford Relief by communication of their Gifts in Temporal or Spiritual necessities Rom. 15.26 27. Acts 11.22 29. 2 Cor. 8.1 4 14. 3. To maintain Vnity and Peace by giving account one to another of their publick actions when it is orderly desired Acts 11.2 3 4-18 Josh 22.13 21 30. 1 Cor. 10 32. and to strengthen one another in their regular Administrations as in special by a concurrent testimony against persons justly censured Acts 15.41 16.4 5. 2 Tim. 4.15 2 Thess 3.14 4. To seek and accept Help from and give Help unto each other 1. In case of Divisions and Contentions whereby the peace of any Church is disturbed Acts 15.2 2. In matters of more then ordinary importance Prov. 24.6 15.22 as Ordination Translation and Deposition of Elders and such like 1 Tim. 5.22 3 In doubtful and difficult Questions and Controversies Doctrinal or Practical that may arise Acts 15 2 6. 4. For the rectifying of mal-Administrations and healing of Errours and Scandals that are unhealed among themselves 3 John ver 9 10. 2 Cor. 2 6-11 1 Cor. 15. Rev 2 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 12.20 21. 13 2. Churches now have need of help in like cases as well as Churches then Christ's care is still for whole Churches as well as for particular persons and Apostles being now ceased there remains the duty of brotherly love and mutual care and helpfulness incumbent upon Churches especially Elders for that end 5. In love and faithfulness to take notice of the Troubles and Difficulties Errours and Scandals of another Church and to administer help when the case manifestly calls for it though they should so neglect their own good and duty as not to seek it Exod. 23.4 5. Prov. 24.11 12. 6. To Admonish one another when there is need and cause for it and ofter due means with patience used to withdraw from a Church or peccant party therein obstinately persisting in Errour or Scandal as in the Platform of Discipline chap. 15. sect 2. partic 3. is more at large declared Gal. 2 11-14 2 Thess 3.6 Rom. 16.17 5. Consociation of Churches is their mutual and solemn Agreement to exercise communion in such acts as aforesaid amongst themselves with special reference to those Churches which by providence are planted in a convenient vicinity though with liberty reserved without offence to make use of others as the nature of the case or the advantage of opportunity may lead thereunto 6. The Churches of Christ in this Countrey having so good opportunity for it it is meet to be commended to them as their duty thus to consociate For 1. Communion of Churches being commanded and Consociation being but an Agreement to practise it this must needs be a duty also Psal 119.106 Nehem. ●0 28 29. 2. Paul an Apostle sought with much labour the conference concurrence and right hand of fellowship of other Apostles and ordinary Elders and Churches have not less need each of other to prevent their running in vain Gal. 2.2 6 9. 3. Those general Scripture-rules touching the need and use of counsel and help in weighty cases concern all Societies and Polities Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Prov. 11.14 15.22 20 18. 24.6 Eccles 4.9 10 12. 4. The pattern in Acts 15 holds forth a warrant for Councils which may be greater or lesser as the matter shall require 5. Concurrence and Communion of Churches in Gospel times is not obscurely held forth in Isa 19.23 24 25. Zeph 3.9 1 Cor. 11.16 14.32 36. 6. There hath constantly been in these Churches a profession of Communion in giving the right hand of fellowship at the gathering of Churches and Ordination of Elders Which importeth a Consociation and obligeth to the practice thereof Without which we should also want an expedient and sufficient Cure for emergent Church-difficulties and Differences with the want whereof our Way is charged but unjustly if this part of the Doctrine thereof were duely practised 7. The manner of the Churches agreement herein or entring into this Consociation may be by each Church's open consenting unto the things here declared in Answer to this 2 d. Question as also to what is said thereabout in chap. 15. 16. of the Platform of Discipline with reference to other Churches in this Colony Countrey as in Propos 5 th is before expressed 8. The manner of exercising and practising that Communion which this consent or agreement specially tendeth unto may be by making use occasionally of Elders or able Brethren of other Churches or by the more solemn Meetings of both Elders and Messengers in lesser or greater Councils as the matter shall require FINIS

John 3.12 and so becoming the father of a wicked unchurched race Burthen God appointed unto Eve another viz Seth in whom to continue the line of her Church-seed Gen 4.25 How it did continue in his seed in their generations Genes 5th sheweth Hence the children of the Church are called Sons of God which is as much as members of the visible Church in contradistinction to the daughters of men Gen. 6 2. If righteous Noah be taken into the Ark then the onely preserving place of the Church his children are taken in with him Gen. 7.1 though one of them viz. Ham after proved degenerate and wicked but till he so appears he is continued in the Church with his Brethren So Gen. 9.25 26 27. as the race of Ham or his son Canaan parent and children are cursed so Shem parent and children is blessed and continued in the place of blessing the Church As Japhet also or Iaphet's posterity still parent and children shall in time be brought in The holy line mentioned in Gen. 11 10-26 shews how the Church continued in the seed of Shem from him unto Abraham When that race grew degenerate Iosh 24.2 then God called Abraham out of his countrey and from his kindred and established his covenant with him which still took in parents and children Gen. 17.7 9. So it did after in the house of Israel Deut. 29.11 12 13. and when any eminent restauration or establishment is promised to the Church the children thereof are still taken in as sharers in the same Psal 102.16 28. 69.35 36. Jerem 32 38 39 Isa 65 18 19 23. Now when Christ comes to set up the Gospel-administration of his Church in the New Testament under the term of the kingdome of heaven Mat 3 2. 11.11 he is so far from taking away children's portion and membership therein that himself asserts it Mat 19 14. The children of the Gentile but now believing Corinthians are holy 1 Cor 7 14. The Apostle writing to the Churches of Ephesus and Colosse speaks to children as a part thereof Eph 6 1. Col. 3 20. The inchurched Romans and other Gentiles stand on the root of covenanting Abraham and in the Olive or visible Church they and their children till broken off as the Jews were by positive unbelief or rejection of Christ his Truth or Government Rom. 11 13 16 17 -22. The children of the Jews when they shall be called shall be as aforetime in Church-estate Ie 30.20 with 31.1 Ezekiel 37 25-28 From all which it appears that the series or whole frame and current of Scripture-expressions doth hold forth the continuance of childrens membership in the visible church from the beginning to the end of the world The seed or children who become members together with their Parents Partic 4 i.e. by means of their parents covenanting are children in minority This appears 1. Because such children are holy by their parents covenanting who would else be unclean 1 Cor. 7.14 but they would not else necessarily be unclean if they were adult for then they might act for themselves and so be holy by their personal covenanting Neither on the other hand would they necessarily be holy if adult as he asserts the children there to be for they might continue Pagans Therefore the Apostle intends onely infants or children in minority 2. It is a principle that carries evidence of light and reason with it as to all transactions Civil and Ecclesiastical that if a man be of age he should answer for himself John 9.21 They that are come to years of discretion so as to have knowledge and understanding fit to act in a matter of that nature are to covenant by their own personal act Neh. 10.28 29. Isa 44 5 3. They that are regularly taken in with their parents are reputed to be visible entertainers of the covenant and avouchers of God to be their God Deut 26.7 18. with Deut. 29.11 12 But if adult children should without regard to their own personal act be taken in with their parents then some might be reputed entertainers that are manifest rejecters of the covenant for so an adult son or daughter of a godly parent may be It is requisite to the membership of children Partic 5 that the next parents one or both be in covenant For although after-generations have no small benefit by their pious Ancestors who derive federal holiness to their succeeding generations in case they keep their standing in the covenant and be not apostates from it yet the piety of Ancestors sufficeth not unless the next parent continue in covenant Rom. 11 22. 1. Because if the next parent be cut or broken off the following seed are broken off also Exod 20.5 Rom. 11 17 19 20. as the Gentile believing parents and children were taken in so the Jews parents and children were then broken off 2. One of the parents must be a believer or else the children are unclean 1 Cor. 7 14.3 If children may be accounted members and baptized though the next parents be not in covenant then the Church should be bound to baptize those whom she can have no power over nor hope concerning to see them brought up in the true Christian Religion and under the Ordinances For the next parents being wicked and not in covenant may carry away and bring up their children to serve other Gods 4. If we stop not at the next parent but grant that Ancestors may notwithstanding the apostacy of the next parents convey membership unto children then we should want a ground where to stop and then all the children on earth should have right to membership and Baptism Proposition 3 d. The Infant-seed of confederate visible Believers are members of the same Church with their parents and when grown up are personally under the Watch Discipline and Government of that Church 1. That they are members of the same Church with their parents appears 1. Because so were Isaac and Ishmael of Abrahams Family-church and the children of Jews and Proselytes of Israels National Church and there is the same reason for children now to be of the same Congregational Church with their parents Christ's care for children and the scope of the Covenant as to obligation unto Order and Government is as great now as then 2. Either they are members of the same Church with their parents or of some other Church or Non-members But neither of the latter therefore the former That they are not Non-members was before proved in Propos 2. Partic. 3. and if not members of the same Church with their parents then of no other For if there be not reason sufficient to state them members of that Church where their parents have covenanted for them and where ordinarily they are baptized and do inhabit then much less is there reason to make them members of any other and so they will be members of no particular Church at all and it was before shewed that there is no ordinary and orderly standing estate of Church-members but