A42757:577
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.
If the latter, then though this Parliament hath hath taken away the old High Commission Court, which had Potestatem utriusque gladii, yet they may lawfully and without sin erect a new High Commission Court, made up of those who shall be no Church-officers, yea having none of the Clergy in it (as the other had) with commission and power granted to them to execute spiritual Jurisdiction and Excommunication, and that not only in this or that Church, yea or Province, but in any part of the whole Kingdom. So much of the first point. Now to the second, concerning appeals to the Magistrate, as to the head of the Church.
If the latter, then though this Parliament hath hath taken away the old High Commission Court, which had Potestatem utriusque gladii, yet they may lawfully and without sin erect a new High Commission Court, made up of those who shall be no Church-officers, yea having none of the Clergy in it (as the other had) with commission and power granted to them to execute spiritual Jurisdiction and Excommunication, and that not onely in this or that Church, yea or Province, but in any part of the whole Kingdom. So much of the first point. Now to the second, concerning appeals to the Magistrate, as to the head of the Church.
It is asked, what remedy shall there be against the abuse of Church-discipline by Church-officers, except there be appeals from the Ecclesiastical Courts to the civil Magistrate: which if ⟨p. 252⟩it be, Church-officers will be the more wary and cautious to do no man wrong, knowing that they may be made to answer for it: And if it be not, there is a wide door opened, that ministers may do as they please.
It is asked, what remedy shall there be against the abuse of Church-discipline by Church-officers, except there be appeals from the Ecclesiastical Courts to the civil Magistrate: which if ⟨p. 252⟩it be, Church-officers will be the more wary and cautious to do no man wrong, knowing that they may be made to answer for it: And if it be not, there is a wide dore opened, that ministers may do as they please.