A42757:1022
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.
I answer, 1. The self-examination there spoken of, is not ⟨p. 485⟩mentioned as exclusive: for it is not said, Let a man examine himself only. 2. Yet I can grant it to be exclusive, it being understood of that judging of a mans self, which prevents the judgement of God vers. 31. no mans examining of another can do this, but his examining of himself. That which can give us confidence and boldness before God, and assure our hearts before him, 1 Joh. 3. 19. is not the examination or approbation of others, but of our own conscience; for what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? 1 Cor. 2. 11. The Pastors and Elders of Corinth had admitted some to the Lords Table, whom they judged sit and worthy Communicants, but God judged otherwise of them. Therefore saith the Apostle, let a man make a narrow search of his own conscience, and not rest upon the judgement of others. 3. If it be enough for a man to examine himself, by what warrant doth Mr Prynne require more, namely, that a man join with others in the public confession of his sins, and promise newness of life. 4. It is not enough for a notorious scandalous sinner to judge himself, nor yet to join with others in public confession: but he must publicly and particularly confess his own sin, which he must do personally, or for his own part, and others can not do it with him. 5. aAugustine tells us when a man hath examined himself, he must also edify the Church (which before he scandalized) by a public declaration of repentance for his scandalous sin. 6. Mr Prynne himself Vindic. pag. 50. will not have an excommunicated person, to be again received and admitted to the Lords Supper till public satisfaction given for the scandal, and open profession of amendment of life, accompanied with external symptoms of repentance. And why all this examination should not be required for a prevention of excommunication, yea of suspension, I know not.
I answer, 1. The self-examination there spoken of, is not ⟨p. 485⟩mentioned as exclusive: for it is not said, Let a man examine himselfe onely. 2. Yet I can grant it to be exclusive, it being understood of that judging of a mans selfe, which prevents the judgement of God vers. 31. no mans examining of another can doe this, but his examining of himselfe. That which can give us confidence and boldnesse before God, and assure our hearts before him,