A42757:1227
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.
Speaking of ungodly scandalous sinners, he plainly intimateth that the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is more likely to regenerate and change their hearts and lives then the Word preached. And in that same page, he holdeth that this Sacrament is certainly the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others to humble, regenerate, convert. The like see pag. 44, 45. and pag. 52. Yea no doubt many debosht Persons have been really reclaimed, converted, even by their access and admission to the Sacrament. | 6. Pag. 57. He ascribeth the power of godliness in many English Congregations to powerful preaching, and saith, that this sword of the Spirit, the powerful preaching of Gods Word, and the sword of the Civil Magistrate, are only able to effect this work, to suppress all kind of sins, schisms, to reform and purge the Churches. If this be the speediest, best, and only way to suppress all kind of sins, schisms, to reform and purge our Churches from all scandalous offences, as he there saith, and if the Word and the Magistrate are only able to effect this work; How is it that the Lords Supper doth change mens hearts and lives, and that more effectually then any other Ordinance? Again pag. 37. he saith, he hath in other Treatises of his proved Gods presence and Spirit to be as much, as really present in other Ordinances, as in this of the Lords Supper. How then makes he this Sacrament to be the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others, to humble, regenerate, convert? ⟨p. 581⟩7. Pag. 40. He makes the Sacrament to be a seal to the senses of unworthy persons, but not to their souls; In this latter sense he saith it is a seal only to worthy penitent believing receivers. | 7. Yet Pag. 44, 45. the strength of his tenth Argument lies in this, that the Sacrament sealeth unto the Communicants souls, yea to the flintiest heart, and obduratest spirit, the promises, an union with Christ, assurance of everlasting life, and therefore in regard of the sealing of all these particulars unto mens souls, must needs convert an obdurate unregenerate sinner. Which Argument were non-sence if it did not suppose the Sacrament to seal all these particulars even to the souls of unregenerate sinners. Mark but these words of his own;
Speaking of ungodly scandalous sinners, he plainly intimateth that the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is more likely to regenerate and change their hearts and lives then the Word preached. And in that same page, he holdeth that this Sacrament is certainly the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others to humble, regenerate, convert. The like see pag. 44, 45. and pag. 52. Yea no doubt many debosht Persons have been really reclaimed, converted, even by their accesse and admission to the Sacrament. | 6. Pag. 57. He ascribeth the power of godlinesse in many English Congregations to powerful preaching, and saith, that this sword of the Spirit, the powerful preaching of Gods Word, and the sword of the Civil Magistrate, are onely able to effect this work, to suppresse all kind of sinnes, schismes, to reform and purge the Churches. If this be the speediest, best, and onely way to suppresse all kind of sinnes, schismes, to reform and purge our Churches from all scandalous offences, as he there saith, and if the Word and the Magistrate are onely able to effect this work; How is it that the Lords Supper doth change mens hearts and lives, and that more effectually then any other Ordinance? Again pag. 37. he saith, he hath in other Treatises of his proved Gods presence and Spirit to be as much, as really present in other Ordinances, as in this of the Lords Supper. How then makes he this Sacrament to be the most powerful and effectual Ordinance of all others, to humble, regenerate, convert?