A42757:1001
Aaron's rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present…Aarons rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present…
Aaron's rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present Erastian controversy concerning the distinction of civill and ecclesiastical government, excommunication, and suspension, is fully debated and discussed, from the holy scripture, from the Jewish and Christian antiquities, from the consent of latter writers, from the true nature and rights of magistracy, and from the groundlessness of the chief objections made against the Presbyterial government in point of a domineering arbitrary unlimited power / by George Gillespie ...Aarons rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present Erastian controversie concerning the distinction of civill and ecclesiasticall government, excommunication, and suspension, is fully debated and discussed, from the holy scripture, from the Jewish and Christian antiquities, from the consent of latter writers, from the true nature and rights of magistracy, and from the groundlesnesse of the chief objections made against the Presbyteriall government in point of a domineering arbitrary unlimited power / by George Gillespie ...
London: printed by E.G. for Richard Whitaker, 1646
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.
that the Minister hath fully discharged his duty and conscience, if he give warning to unworthy communicants of the danger they incur by their unworthy approaches, to the Lords Table, and seriously dehort them from coming to it, unless they repent, reform and come preparedly; is erroneous and false: for there are other necessary duties incumbent to the Minister, in this business: as 1. he must be earnest in his prayers to God, for the conversion and reformation of such unworthy persons, else that God would give his Spirit and assistance to the Eldership, and others to whom the case shall be brought, that they may faithfully do their duty in restraining such persons: or (if not so) that God would by his own providence keep back such persons, or hedge up their way with thorns, and make a wall, that they shall not find their paths to come and profane the Lords Table. 2. The Minister must deal seriously with the Eldership by informations, exhortations, and admonitions, to move them to do their duty. 3. The Minister must give his own vote and sentence in the Eldership against the admission of such persons. 4. If (which God forbid) the Eldership be not willing to do their duty, but sinfully neglect it, the Minister ought to address himself with his complaints to the superior Ecclesiastical assemblies (as they lie in their order) that they may interpose by their authority, to rectify the mal-administration of the Congregational Eldership. 5. And if it should fall out that a scandalous unworthy person should find so much favour in the higher assemblies also, as that they shall judge him fit to be admitted to the Sacrament; yet if the Minister know him certainly to be a scandalous abominable person, and be also clear in his conscience, that the matter of scandal is sufficiently proved, he must not do an unlawful act in obedience to men, ⟨p. 478⟩but walk by that Apostolical rule, 1 Tim. 5. 22. Be not partaker of other mens sins; Keep thy self pure.
that the Minister hath fully discharged his duty and conscience, if he give warning to unworthy communicants of the danger they incurre by their unworthy approaches, to the Lords Table, and seriously dehort them from comming to it, unlesse they repent, reforme and come preparedly; is erroneous and false: for there are other necessary duties incumbent to the Minister, in this businesse: as 1. he must be earnest in his prayers to God, for the conversion and reformation of such unworthy persons, else that God would give his Spirit and assistance to the Eldership, and others to whom the case shall be brought, that they may faithfully doe their duty in restraining such persons: or (if not so) that God would by his owne providence keepe backe such persons, or hedge up their way with thornes, and make a wall, that they shall not finde their pathes to come and prophane the Lords Table. 2. The Minister must deale seriously with the Eldership by informations, exhortations, and admonitions, to move them to doe their duty. 3. The Minister must give his owne vote and sentence in the Eldership against the admission of such persons. 4. If (which God forbid) the Eldership be not willing to doe their duty, but sinfully neglect it, the Minister ought to addresse himselfe with his complaints to the superiour Ecclesiasticall assemblies (as they lie in their order) that they may interpose by their authority, to rectifie the mal-administration of the Congregationall Eldership. 5. And if it should fall out that a scandalous unworthy person should finde so much favour in the higher assemblies also, as that they shall judge him fit to be admitted to the Sacrament; yet if the Minister know him certainly to be a scandalous abominable person, and be also cleere in his conscience, that the matter of scandall is sufficiently proved, he must not doe an unlawfull act in obedience to men,