A42757:581
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.
2. And further, if Presbyteries or Synods exceed the bounds of Ecclesiastical power, and go without the Sphere of their own activity, interposing and judging in a civil cause which concerneth any mans life or estate, The Magistrate may reverse and make null whatsoever they do in that kind, and punish themselves for such abuse of their power; As Solomon punished Abiathar, and banished him to Anathoth, he being guilty of high treason: 1 Kings 2. 26. It was not a case of scandal only, or of Delinquency or mal-administration in his Sacerdotal office, otherwise it had fallen within the cognizance, and jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Sanhedrin.
2. And further, if Presbyteries or Synods exceed the bounds of Ecclesiasticall power, and go without the Sphaere of their own activity, interposing and judging in a civil cause which concerneth any mans life or estate, The Magistrate may reverse and make null whatsoever they do in that kind, and punish themselves for such abuse of their power; As Solomon punished Abiathar, and banished him to Anathoth, he being guilty of high treason: 1 Kings 2. 26. It was not a case of scandall onely, or of Delinquency or mal-administration in his Sacerdotall office, otherwise it had fallen within the cognizance, and jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Sanhedrin.
3. Though the case be merely spiritual and ecclesiastical the Christian Magistrate (by himself and immediately) may not only examine by the judgement of discretion the sentence of the Ecclesiastical Court, but also when he seeth cause (either upon the complaint of the party, or scandal given to himself) interpose by letters, messages, exhortations, and sharp admonitions to the Presbytery or Synod, who in that case are bound in conscience, with all respect and honour to the Magistrate, to give him a reason of what they have done, and to declare the grounds of their proceedings, till by the blessing of God upon this free and fair dealing, they either give a rational and satisfactory account to the Magistrate, or be themselves convinced of their mal-administration of Discipline.