A42757:597
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.
But for the clearer understanding and enodation of our present Question, I will particularize and explain what I hold, by these five following Distinctions.
But for the clearer un•erstanding and enodation of our present Question, I will particularize and explain what I hold, by these five following Distinctions.
1. Distingue materiam subjectam. There are two sorts of things belonging to the Church. Some which are intrinsical, and belonging to the soul or inward man, directly and primarily. Such things are not to be dispensed and administered by the civil Magistrate, I mean the Word and Sacraments, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Suspension or Excommunication of Church-Officers or Members, the Ordination or Deposition of Officers, the Determination and Resolution from Scripture of Controversies concerning the Faith, the Worship of God, the Government of the Church, Cases of Conscience. These being in their nature, end, and use, merely spiritual, and belonging not to the outward man, but to the inward man or soul, are committed and entrusted to the Pastors and other ruling Officers of the Church, and are not of civil and extrinsical, but of Ecclesiastical and intrinsical cognizance and judgement. There are other things belonging to the Church, which are extrinsical and do properly belong to the outward man, and are common to the Church with other humane Societies or Corporations. Things of this kind fall within the civil Jurisdiction. For the Churches of Christ, being Societies of men and women, and parts of Commonwealths, are accountable unto and punishable by the civil Magistrate, in their bodies, lives, civil Liberties, and temporal Estates, for trespasses against the Law of God or the Law of the Land: By the Law of God I understand here Jus divinum naturale, that is, the moral Law or Decalogue, as it bindeth all Nations (whether Christians or Infidels) being the Law of the Creator and King of Nations. The Magistrate by his authority, may and in duty ought to keep his Subjects within the bounds of external obedience to that Law, and punish ⟨p. 261⟩