A42757:315
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.
Answ. 1. If examination of the Conscience, Repentance, and confession, were not required in those that did eat the Passover, and if there might be a worthy eating of it without this (as he plainly intimateth when he saith that this is no where required in Scripture, of such as did eat the Passover, though all circumstances and necessaries for the worthy eating of it, he most punctually enumerated) And if the Passover was but only a commemoration of Gods infinite mercy in passing over the Israelites first borne, as he saith, (which was but a temporal mercy) Then he must needs say, either that in the Sacrament of the Passover, or confirmation of faith, increase of grace, nor spiritual mercy was given, or that in that Sacrament this grace (yea, by his Principles, conversion and regeneration it self) was conferred ex opere operato. And he must either say the like of the Lords Supper, or otherwise hold that the Sacraments of the new Testament differ from those of the old, specifically; and that the Passover did not seal the same covenant of grace for the substance, which is now sealed by the Lords Supper. 2 What was the meaning of the bitter Herbs, with which the Passover was commanded to be eaten? Were not the people of God thereby taught the necessity of Repentance in that very action? And what means it that at Hezekiahs Passover, the people are called to turn again unto the Lord, 2 Chron. 30. 6. that the Priests and the Levites were ashamed and sanctified themselves, vers. 15. & offered Peace-offerings made confession to the Lord God of their fathers, vers. 22. where I understand confession of sin, according to the Law, which appointed confession ⟨p. 100⟩of sin to be made with the Peace offerings, which confession was signified by laying hands upon the head of the offering Lev. 3. 2. 8. 13. compared with Lev. 16. 21. and so we find Repentance joined with peace offerings. Judg. 20. 26. finally read we not of the peoples preparing of their heart to seek God at the Passover 2 Chro. 30. 19. which as it could not be without Repentance and examination of their consciences, so Hezekiah mentioneth it, as that without which the peoples eating of the Passover, could not have been in any wise accepted. 3. That it was not a private confession to God alone, but a public penitential confession in the Temple, and before the Priests, I have before Chap. 8.