A42757:15
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.
To the Candid Reader.
I Have often and heartily wished that I might not be distracted by nor engaged into polemic Writings, of which the World is too full already, and from which many more learned and idoneous have abstained; and I did accordingly resolve that in this Controversial age I should be slow to write, swift to read and learn. Yet there are certain preponderating reasons which have made me willing to be drawn forth into the light upon this subject. For beside the desires and solicitations of diverse Christian friends, lovers of truth and peace, seriously calling upon me for an answer to Mr Prynne his Vindication of his four Questions concerning Excommunication and Suspension, ⟨image 5⟩the grand importance of the Erastian controversy, and the strong influence which it hath into the present juncture of affairs, doth powerfully invite me.
I Have often and heartily wished that I might not be distracted by nor ingaged into polemick Writings, of which the World is too full already, and from which many more learned and idoneous have abstained; and I did accordingly resolve that in this Controversall age I should be slow to write, swift to read and learne. Yet there are certaine preponderating reasons which have made me willing to be drawn forth into the light upon this subject. For beside the desires and sollicitations of diverse Christian friends, lovers of truth and peace, seriously calling upon me for an answer to Mr Prynne his Vindication of his foure Questions concerning Excommunication and Suspension, ⟨image 5⟩the grand importance of the Erastian controversie, and the strong influence which it hath into the present juncture of asfaires, doth powerfully invite me.