A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…

Moreover, albeit the Apostle wrote to the whole Church of Corinth to deliver the incestuous man to Satan, because the matter could not be otherwise done, but only in the name, and with the consent of that whole Church, yet he never meant, that the common promiscuous multitude should by their suffrages and voices examine and judge that cause. But saith ^tCalvin because the multitude unless it be governed by counsel, never doth any thing moderately, nor gravely, there was ordained in the ancient Church (meaning the Apostolic Church) a Presbytery, that is, a company of Elders, which by the consent of all, had the first judgement and examination of things: from it the matter was carried to the people, but being already determined before. Again, ⟨p. 187⟩when the Apostle writeth to them in his second Epistle, that they should forgive him, because he had repented, thus he reasoneth; ^uSufficient to such a man is this censure which was inflicted of many. Which words that we may the better understand, it is worthy of observation, (which not ^xCalvins only, but ^ySaravia also noteth) that it appeareth from this place, he was not excommunicate, but by sharp rebukes timeously win to repentance, whereby the Apostle showeth it to be needless, yea most inconvenient to proceed against him, to the extremity of Discipline. The Word [Greek or Hebrew], there used by the Apostle, signifieth rebuke, reprehension, or chiding, saith D. Fulke. And so Scapula taketh it to be the same with [Greek or Hebrew] and ⁵to signify another thing then [Greek or Hebrew] or [Greek or Hebrew]. Beza and Tremellius turn [Greek or Hebrew] by increpatio. Ar. Montanus readeth, objurgatio. This chiding or threatening of the man, proceeded not from the whole Church of Corinth, but only from many therein, as is plain from the Text, and as ^aSaravia also granteth. And who were the [Greek or Hebrew], those may of whom the Apostle speaketh? Not such as from Christian and brotherly charity did privately chide and rebuke him, for the matter was not then depending in private rebukes, but by the Apostles direction it was brought to the Churches part, and to public Discipline, the scandal it self being so public and notoriously manifest. They were therefore such as had public office and authority to chide him.