A42757:541
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
Book 2 › Chapter 7: Arguments for the Negative of that Question formerly propounded.
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.
CHAP. VII. Arguments for the Negative of that Question formerly propounded.
MY Arguments against the derivation of Magistracy from Jesus Christ as Mediator, and against the Magistrates holding of his office of and under Christ as Mediator, are these.
First, This Doctrine doth evacuate and nullify the civil Authority and Government of all Heathen or Pagan Magistrat•; for which way was the authority of Government derived from Christ, and from him as Mediator, to a Pagan Magistrate or Emperor? If he hath not his power from Christ as Mediator, then he is but an usurper, and hath no just title to reign, according to their Principles which hold that all government, even civil, is given to Christ, and to him as Mediator. Mr. Hussey forsooth doth learnedly yield the argument, and answereth pag. 20. that not only it is a sin to be a Heathen, but the government of a Heathen is sinful and unlawful, for which he gives this reason, Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. He might as well conclude, in that sense, that the best virtues of the Heathen were sin, because not of faith, that is, accidentally sin, in respect of the end, or manner of doing, not materially, or in their own nature. Upon the same reason he must conclude, that the government of a Christian Magistrate is unlawful, if it be not of faith, as ofttimes it is not, through the blindness and corruption of mens hearts who govern. But whether is