A42757:1118
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.
His fourth Argument alone is syllogistical (I wish all his Arguments throughout his whole book had been such, that the strength or weakness thereof might the sooner appear) That Ordinance where•n we most immediately converse with God and Christ, and have more intimate visible sensible communion with them, then in any other, is certainly the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others, to humble, regenerate, convert, and beget true grace within us. &c. But the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by our Antagonists own confession is such. Ergo.
His fourth Argument alone is syllogistical (I wish all his Arguments throughout his whole book had been such, that the strength or weaknesse thereof might the sooner appear) That Ordinance where•n we most immedietly converse with God and Christ, and have more intimate visible sensible communion with them, then in any other, is certainly the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others, to humble, regenerate, convert, and beget true grace within us. &c. But the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by our Antagonists own confession is such. Ergo.
Answ. 1. I retort his Argument against himself. That Ordinance wherein we most immediately converse with God and Christ, and have more intimate communion with them then in any other, is a sealing, confirming, but not a converting Ordinance. For they who are converting have not such intimate communion and immediate conversing with God and Christ, as they who are already converted and do walk with God as Enoch did and are filled with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 15. 13. even with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. The daughters of Jerusalem being sick of love for Christ, yet are far from that communion with him, which his Spouse longer acquainted with him did enjoy, therefore they ask at her, whither her beloved was gone that they might seek him with her.