A42757:447
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.
Howbeit in Ecclesia been constituta, in a well constituted and Reformed Church, it is not to be supposed, that the condition of affairs will be such as I have now said. We heartily acknowledge with Mr. Cartwright annot. on Mat. 22. Sect. 3. That it belongeth to the Magistrate, to reform things in the Church, as often as the Ecclesiastical persons shall either through ignorance, or disorder of the affection of covetousness or ambition, defile the Lords Sanctuary. For saith Junius Animad. in Bell. contr. 4. lib. 1. cap. 12. & 18. Both the Church when the concurrence of the Magistrate faileth, may extraordinarily do something which ordinarily she cannot: and again when the Church faileth of her duty, the Magistrate may extraordinarily procure, that the Church return to her duty. 5. I dare confidently say, that if comparisons be rightly made, Presbyterial Government is the most limited and the least Arbitrary Government of any other in the world. I should have thought it very unnecessary and superfluous, to have once named here the Papal Government, or yet the Prelatical, but that Mr. Prynn in his preface to his four grand Questions, puts the Reverend Assembly of Divines in mind, that they should beware of usurping that which hath been even by themselves disclaimed against, and quite taken away from the Pope and Prelates. Mr. Coleman also in his Sermon brought objections from the usurpations of Pope Paul the fifth, and of the Archbishop of Canterbury: Well, if we must needs make a comparison, come on. The Papal usurpations are many. 1. The Pope takes upon him to determine what belongs to the Canon of Scripture, what not? 2. That he only can determine what is the sense of Scripture. 3. He addeth unwritten Traditions. 4. He makes himself Judge of all controversies. 5. He dispenseth with the Law of God it self. 6. He makes himself above General Councils. 7. His government is Monarchical. 8. He receiveth appeals from all the Nations in the world. 9. He claimeth Infallibility at least ex Cathedra. 10. He maketh Laws absolutely binding the Conscience, even in things indifferent. 11. He claimeth a Temporal Dominion over all the Kingdoms in the world. 12. He saith he may depose ⟨p. 177⟩Kings, and absolve Subjects from their oath of allegiance. 13. He persecuteth all with fire and sword and Anathema's, who do not subject themselves to him. 14.
Howbeit in Ecclesia bene constituta, in a well constituted and Reformed Church, it is not to be supposed, that the condition of affairs will be such as I have now said. We heartily acknowledge with Mr. Cartwright annot. on