A42757:469
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.
All Christians are commanded that whatever they do in word or deed, they do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, Col. 3. 17. that is, according to the will of Christ, and for the glory of Christ: And so a Merchant, a Mariner, a Tradesman, a School-master, a Captain, a Soldier, a Printer, and in a word, every Christian in his own place and station ought to intend the glory of Christ, and the good of his Church and Kingdom. Upon which ground and principle, if the Magistrate be Christian, it is incumbent to him so to administer that high and eminent vocation of his, that Christ may be glorified as King of the Church, and that this ⟨p. 188⟩Kingdom of Christ may flourish in his Dominions, (which would God every Magistrate called Christian did really intend.) So then the glory of Christ as Mediator and King of the Church, is to the Ministry both finis operis, and finis operantis. To the Magistrate, though Christian, it is only finis operantis; That is, it is the end of the godly Magistrate, but not the end of Magistracy: whereas it is not only the end of the godly Minister, but the end of the Ministry it self. The Ministers intendment of this end, flows from the nature of their particular vocation. The Magistrates intendment of the same end, flows from the nature of their general vocation of Christianity, acting, guiding, and having influence into their particular vocation. So much of the supreme ends.
All Christians are commanded that whatever they do in word or deed, they do all in the name of the Lord Iesus, Col. 3. 17. that is, according to the will of Christ, and for the glory of Christ: And so a Marchant, a Mariner, a Tradesman, a School-master, a Captain, a Souldier, a Printer, and in a word, every Christian in his own place and station ought to intend the glory of Christ, and the good of his Church and Kingdom. Upon which ground and principle, if the Magistrate be Christian, it is incumbent to him so to administer that high and eminent vocation of his, that Christ may be glorified as King of the Church, and that this ⟨p. 188⟩Kingdom of Christ may flourish in his Dominions, (which would God every Magistrate called Christian did really intend.) So then the glory of Christ as Mediator and King of the Church, is to the Ministery both finis operis, and finis operantis. To the Magistrate, though Christian, it is onely finis operantis; That is, it is the end of the godly Magistrate, but not the end of Magistracy: whereas it is not onely the end of the godly Minister, but the end of the Ministery it self. The Ministers intendment of this end, flowes from the nature of their particular vocation. The Magistrates intendment of the same end, flowes from the nature of their general vocation of Christianity, acting, guiding, and having influence into their particular vocation. So much of the supreme ends.