A42757:1116
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. 1. Here is a lump of wild, uncouth, and most erroneous Divinity. Who ever heard of an external examination of mens hearts between God and their own Consciences? Or 2. That unregenerate persons can and do seriously examine their own hearts, and search out all their sins with a hearty contrition and humiliation for them? &c. Or 3. That deep temporary impressions on their hearts are most effectual to convert and regenerate (for he doth enumerate all these as particulars most effectual to convert.) Or 4. That in the very receiving of the Sacrament, men hear the Ministers prayers in the Congregation. 5. That this Sacrament is more likely to regenerate then the bare Word preached (I suppose he means not the word without the Spirit (for nobody holds the bare word in that sense to regenerate) but preaching without other concurring Ordinance) or any other Ordinance. Which if it be, he cannot choose but allow to give the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to excommunicated persons, and to the unbaptized, whether Heathens or Jews, being of age, and desiring to receive it.
Answ. 1. Here is a lump of wild, uncouth, and most erroneous Divinity. Who ever heard of an external examination of mens hearts between God and their own Consciences? Or 2. That unregenerate persons can and do seriously examine their own hearts, and search out all their sins with a hearty contrition and humiliation for them? &c. Or 3. That deep temporary impressions on their hearts are most effectual to convert and regenerate (for he doth enumerate all these as particulars most effectual to convert.) Or 4. That in the very receiving of the Sacrament, men hear the Ministers prayers in the Congregation. 5. That this Sacrament is more likely to regenerate then the bare Word preached (I suppose he means not the word without the Spirit (for nobody holds the bare word in that sence to regenerate) but preaching without other concurring Ordinance) or any other Ordinance. Which if it be, he cannot choose but allow to give the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to excommunicated persons, and to the unbaptized, whether Heathens or Jews, being of age, and desiring to receive it.
Secondly, If all the whole Antecedent part of his Argument were granted, the consequence is naught: for this must be the consequence, If examination of mens hearts, the searching out of all their sins, confession, contrition, prayers, vows, meditations, exhortations, which do accompany the Sacrament, be most effectual to convert and to beget grace, then the Sacrament is a converting Ordinance. Which consequence he will never prove. Put the case that self-examination, confession, prayers, vows, meditations, exhortations, at the calling of a Parliament, at the going out of an Army, at the choosing of Magistrates or Ministers, at the death of Parents, friends, &c. prove effectual to conversion; Shall we therefore say that the calling of a Parliament, the going out of the Army, the choosing