A42757:563
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.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Power and Privilege of the Magistrate in things and causes Ecclesiastical; what it is not, and what it is.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Power and Priviledge of the Magistrate in things and causes Ecclesiastical; what it is not, and what it is.
The new notion that the Christian Magistrate is a Church officer, and Magistracy an Ecclesiastical as well as a civil administration, calls to mind that of the Wise-man; Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See this is new? it hath been already of old time which was before us. Plato in his Politicus (a little after the middle of that book) tells me, that the Kings of Egypt were also Priests, and that in many Cities of the Grecians, the supreme Magistrate had the administration of the holy things. Notwithstanding even in this particular there still appeareth some new thing under the Sun. For Plato tells me again Epist. 8. that those supreme Magistrates who were Priests, might not be present nor join in criminal nor capital judgements, lest they (being Priests) should be defiled. If you look after some other President for the union of civil and ecclesiastical Government, secular and spiritual administrations▪ in one and the same person or persons, perhaps it were not hard to find such presidents, as our opposites will be ashamed to own.
THe new notion that the Christian Magistrate is a Churchofficer, and Magistracy an Ecclesiastical as well as a civil administration, calls to mind that of the Wise-man; Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See this is new? it hath been already of old time which was before us. Plato in his Politicus (a little after the middle of that book) tells me, that the Kings of Egypt were also Priests, and that in many Cities of the Grecians, the supream Magistrate had the administration of the holy things. Notwithstanding even in this particular there still appeareth some new thing under the Sun. For Plato tells me again Epist. 8. that those supreme Magistrates who were Priests, might not be present nor joyne in criminall nor capitall judgements, lest they (being Priests) should be defiled. If you look after some other President for the union of civil and ecclesiastical Government, secular and spirituall administrations in one and the same person or persons, perhaps it were not hard to find such presidents, as our opposites will be ashamed to owne.