A42757:444
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.
Our Concessions to our Opposites, are these.
1. That all are not to be admitted promiscuously either to be governors or members in the Ecclesiastical Republic, that is, in a visible political Church. None are to govern lnor to be admitted members of Presbyteries or Synods, except such as both for abilities and conversation, are qualified according to that which the Apostle Paul requireth a Bishop or Elder to be. Scandalous or profane Church-Officers are the worst of dogs and swine, and to be first cast out. And as all are not to govern, so all are not to be governed Ecclesiastically; but only Church-Members, 1 Cor. 5. 12. Therefore what hath been objected concerning many both Pastors and People in England, who are still branches of the old stock, doth not strike against what we hold. All are not sit for a Church-government. Therefore those that are fit shall not have a Church-Government. So ⟨p. 175⟩they must argue; Or thus, a Popish people are not fit to be governed Presbyterially, and Episcopal Ministers are not fit to govern; therefore the rest of the Nation shall want a Government. 2. Presbyterial Government is not despotical, but ministerial, it is not a Dominion, but a Service. We are not Lords over Gods heritage: 1 Pet. 5. 3. but we are the servants both of Christ and of his Church. We preach not our selves, saith the Apostle, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and our selves your servants for Jesus sake. 2 Cor. 4. 5. 3. That power of Government with which Pastors and Elders are invested, hath for the object of it, not the external man, but the inward man. It is not, nor ought not to be exercised in any compulsive, coercive, corporal, or civil punishments. When there is need of coercion or compulsion, it belongs to the Magistrate, not to the Minister, though the question be of a matter of Religion; of Persons or things Ecclesiastical. Which as it is rightly observed by