A42757:582
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.
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.
3. Though the case be meerly spirituall and ecclesiastical the Christian Magistrate (by himself and immediatly) may not onely 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 scandall given to himself) interpose by letters, messages, exhortations, and sharp admonitions to the Presbyterie 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 rationall and satisfactory accompt to the Magistrate, or be themselves convinced of their mal-administration of Discipline.
4 And in extraordinary cases when the Clergy hath made defection, and all Church discipline is degenerated into Tyranny, as under Popery and Prelacy it was; it belongeth to the Magistrate to take the protection of those who are cast out or censured unjustly; for extraordinary evils must have extraordinary helps. And in this sense we are to understand divers of our Reformers and others, groaning under the pressures of the Roman Clergy, and calling in the help of the civil Magistrate for their relief.
4 And in extraordinary cases when the Clergy hath made defection, and all Church discipline is degenerated into Tyrannie, as under Popery and Prelacy it was; it belongeth to the Magistrate to take the protection of those who are cast out or censured unjustly; for extraordinary evils must have extraordinary helps. And in this sence we are to understand divers of our Reformers and others, groaning under the pressures of the Roman Clergy, and calling in the help of the civil Magistrate for their relief.