A42757:28
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 have had much ado to gain so many •orae sub•isivae from the works of my public calling, as might suffice for this work. I confess it hath cost me much pains, and I think I may say without presumption, he that will go about solidly to answer it, will find it no easy matter. Subitane lucubrations will not do it. But if any man shall by unanswerable contrary reasons or evidences discover error or mistake in any of my principles, let truth have the victory, let God have the glory. Only this favour (I may say this justice) I shall protest for. First, that my principles and conclusions may be rightly apprehended, and that I may not be charged with any absurd, dangerous or odious assertion, unless my own words be faithfully cited ⟨image 11⟩from which that assertion shall be gathered, yea also without concealing my explanations, qualifications, or restrictions, if any such there be. Which rule to my best observation I have not transgressed, in reference to the Opposites. Secondly, that as I have not dealt with their Nauci, but with their Nucleus, I have not scratched at their shell, but taken out their kernel (such as it is) I have not declined them, but encountered, yea sought them out, where their strength was greatest, where their Arguments were hardest, and their exceptions most probable: so no man may decline or dissemble the strength of my Arguments, Inferences, Authorities, Answers and Replies, nor think it enough to lift up an Axe against the uttermost branches, when he ought to strike at the root. Thirdly, if there be any acrimony, let it be in a real and rational conviction, not in the manner of expression. In which also I ask no other measure to my self than I have given to others. Tis but in vain for a man to help the bluntness of reason with the sharpness of passion: for thereby he loseth more than he gaineth with intelligent Readers: the simpler sort may peradventure esteem those [Greek or Hebrew], those despicable nothings, to be something, but then they are delu dead, not edified. ▪Therefore let not a man cast forth ⟨image 12⟩a flood of passionate words, when his Arguments are like broken cisterns which can hold no water.
I have had much adoe to gaine so many •orae subisivae from the works of my publique calling, as might suffice for this worke. I confesse it hath cost me much paines, and I thinke I may say without presumption, he that will goe about solidly to answer it, will finde it no easie matter. Subitane lucubrations will not doe it. But if any man shall by unanswerable contrary reasons or evidenees discover error or mistake in any of my principles, let truth have the victory, let God have the glory. Onely this favour (I may say this justice) I shall protest for. First, that my principles and conclusions may be rightly apprehended, and that I may not be charged with any absurd, dangerous or odious assertion, unlesse my own words be faithfully cited