A42757:22
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.
I am not ignorant that some have an evil eye upon all government in a Nation, distinct from civill Magistracy, and if it were in their power they would have all Anti-Erastians (and so consequently both Presbyterians and Independents) looked upon as guilty of Treason, at least, as violators of, and encroachers upon the rights and privileges of Magistracy, in respect of a distinct Ecclesiastical government. And indeed it is no new thing for the most faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ to be reproached and accused as guilty of Treason, which was not only the lot of M. Calderwood, ⟨image 7⟩and (as hath been now showed) of M. Welsch, and those that suffered with him, hbut of M. Knox before them, as likewise of many Martyrs and confessors, and iof the Apostles themselves. Yet (if we will judge righteous judgement, and weigh things in a just balance) we do not rob the Magistrate of that which is his, by giving unto Christ that which is Christs. We desire to hold up the honour and greatness, the power and authority of Magistracy, against Papists, Anabaptists, and all others kthat despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. We do not lcompare (as Innocentius did) the civill and the ecclesiastical powers, to the two great lights, that to the Moon, this to the Sun. We hold mit is proper to Kings, Princes and Magistrates, to be called Lords, and Dominators over their Subjects whom they govern civilly, but it is proper to Christ only to be called Lord and Master in the Spiritual government of the Church; and all others that bear office therein, ought not to usurp Dominion therein, nor be called Lords, but only Ministers, Disciples and Servants. We acknowledge and affirm nthat Magistracy and civill Government in Empires, Kingdoms, Dominions, and Cities, is an Ordinance of ⟨image 7⟩