A42757:1072
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.
Answ. Growth in grace and confirmation of Faith is given to believers in the Sacrament, which the significancy hinders not, because the Sacrament doth not signify nor declare ⟨p. 505⟩that the receiver hath much grace and a strong faith; but that he hath some life of grace and some faith. The very state of grace or spiritual life, regeneration, faith and remission of sins are signified, declared, testified, and sealed, but not wrought or given in the Sacrament. The strengthening of faith and a further degree of communion with Christ is not signified in the Sacrament, I mean, its not signified that we have it, but that we shall have it, or at most that we do then receive it. So that believers may truly be said to receive at the Sacrament a confirmation or strengthening of their faith, or a further degree of communion with Christ: but it cannot be said that the very Sacramental act of eating or drinking, being a sign of spiritual life and union with Christ (as that which we have, not which we shall have, or at that instant receive) is a mean or instrumental cause to make a man have that which it testifieth or signifieth he hath already. There is no evasion here, for one who acknowledgeth the Sacrament to be a sign, declaring or showing forth that we have faith in Christ, remission of sins by him, and union with him. Mr. Prynn must either make blank the signification of the Sacrament à part ante, though not à part post, or else hold that the signification of the Sacrament, is not applicable to many of those whom he thinks fit to be admitted to receive it.
Answ. Growth in grace and confirmation of Faith is given to beleevers in the Sacrament, which the significancy hinders not, because the Sacrament doth not signifie nor declare ⟨p. 505⟩that the receiver hath much grace and a strong faith; but that he hath some life of grace and some faith. The very state of grace or spiritual life, regeneration, faith and remission of sins are signified, declared, testified, and sealed, but not wrought or given in the Sacrament. The strengthening of faith and a further degree of communion with Christ is not signified in the Sacrament, I mean, its not signified that we have it, but that we shall have it, or at most that we do then receive it. So that beleevers may truly be said to receive at the Sacrament a confirmation or strengthening of their faith, or a further degree of communion with Christ: but it cannot be said that the very Sacramental act of eating or drinking, being a signe of spiritual life and union with Christ (as that which we have, not which we shall have, or at that instant receive) is a mean or instrumental cause to make a man have that which it testifieth or signifieth he hath already. There is no evasion here, for one who acknowledgeth the Sacrament to be a signe, declaring or shewing forth that we have faith in Christ, remission of sins by him, and union with him. Mr. Prynn must either make blank the signification of the Sacrament à parte ante, though not à parte post, or else hold that the signification of the Sacrament, is not applicable to many of those whom he thinks fit to be admitted to receive it.