A01760:895
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…
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our own arguments [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Morton ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our ovvne argumemts [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the ansvveres and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.
Leiden: printed by W. Christiaens, 1637
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. When we teach, that the Pastor or Pastors of every particular Church and Congregation, with the Elders of the same, being met together, have power to bind and loose, we understand this, only of such places wherein a competent number of understanding and qualified men, may be had to make up an Eldership: otherwise let there be one Eldership made up of two or three of the next adjacent Parishes, according as was ordained by the Church of Scotland, in the seventh Chapter of the second book of Discipline. Sine totius, &c. Without the consent of some whole Church saith gZanchius, no man ought to be excommunicate. Yea I add, if it be a small Church, and not consisting of many learned and skilful men, Excommunication ought not to be done, except the neighbour Churches be asked counsel of. And as touching the Pastors part, hCalvin saith well, Nunquam, &c. I never thought it expedient, that the liberty of excommunicating should be permitted to every Pastor. The fear of great inconveniences, which he thought likely to follow upon such a custom, if once it were permitted, makes him profess in that Epistle, that he durst not advise Liserus, to excommunicate any man, without taking counsel of other Pastors. Now I much marvel what Butt iD. Forbesse shot at, when he entitleth one of his Chapters, De potestate Excommunicandi, and then in the body of the Chapter doth no more at all, but only quote those two Testimonies of Zanchius and Calvin: Both of which, do utterly condemn the usurpation of Bishops, who appropriate to themselves the power of Excommunication, & ascribe this power to the Consistory of Pastors and Elders in every particular Church: and in the forequoted places, do only (for preventing of abuses) set some bounds to the execution of their power: which bounds we also think good to be kept, Viz. that if a Church be so small, that it hath not so many well qualified men, as may be sufficient to assist the Pastor in the government thereof, then let one common Eldership be made up out of it, and some other neighbour Churches: By which means it shall moreover come to pass, (which is the other caution to be given) that not every Pastor (no not with the Elders of his Congregation) shall be permitted to have full liberty of binding and loosing, but shall in those matters receive counsel and advice from other Pastors.