A42757:1161
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.
Fifthly, If it were a profanation of the Sacrament of Baptism to baptize a Catechumen, a Jew, or a Pagan professing a resolution to turn Christian, he being manifestly under the power of abominable reigning sins, and being still a profane and wicked liver, although he were able to give a sound and Orthodox Confession of Faith: then it is also a profanation of the Lords Supper to admit unto it abominable and profane livers. But it were a profanation of the Sacrament of Baptism &c. Augustine lib. de fide & operibus cap. 18. tells us, that the Church did not admit whores and such other scandalous persons to Baptisme. Et nisi egerint ab his mortuis operibus poenitentiam, accedere ad Baptismum non sinuntur. And except they repent (saith he) from these dead works, they are not suffered to come unto Baptism. Divers Arguments he brings in that Book for this thing, as 1. That Peter saith (Act. 2. 38.) Repent and be baptized. 2. That the Apostle Heb. 6. 1, 2. joineth repentance from dead works with Baptism. 3. That John ⟨p. 545⟩preached the Baptism of Repentance. 4. That fornicators, adulterers, thieves, &c. shall not inherit the Kingdom of God: therefore such as are known to live in these sins without repentance ought not to be baptized. 5. He argueth from 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16. &c. Now I offer this Quaere. Shall an abominable wicked life, murder, adultery, swearing, cursing, lying, or the like keep back a man from so much as entering into the visible Church by the door of Baptism, and shall not the like abominations keep back a man from Fellowship with the Saints at the Lords Table? Is there more evidence of Saintship required in those who come to be baptized, then in those who come to the Lords Table? If there be, let our Opposites speak it out, and open up the riddle. If there be not, then how can their Tenet avoid the profanation of the Lords Table?
Fifthly, If it were a prophanation of the Sacrament of Baptisme to baptize a Catechumene, a Jew, or a Pagan professing a resolution to turn Christian, he being manifestly under the power of abominable reigning sins, and being still a prophane and wicked liver, although he were able to give a sound and Orthodox Confession of Faith: then it is also a prophanation of the Lords Supper to admit unto it abominable and prophane livers. But it were a prophanation of the Sacrament of Baptisme &c. Augustine lib. de fide & operibus cap. 18. tells us, that the Church did not admit whores and such other scandalous persons to Baptisme. Et nisi egerint ab his mortuis operibus poenitentiam, accedere ad Baptismum non sinuntur. And except they repent (saith he) from these dead works, they are not suffered to come unto Baptisme. Divers Arguments he brings in that Book for this thing, as 1. That Peter saith (