A42757:599
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.
We do therefore abominate the disloyal Papal Tenet, that Clergy men are not to be examined and judged by civil, but by Ecclesiastical Courts only, even in causes civil and criminal. Whereof see Duarenus de Sacr. Eccl. Minist. lib. 1. cap. 2. Spelman Concil. Britain. Tom. 1. pag. 413. I further explain my self by that common distinction, that there are two sorts of things that belong to the Church, [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], things inward, and things outward. For Church Officers and Church-members do consist (as other men) of a soul, and of a body. All things properly belonging to the soul or internal man, (which here we call things inward) are the object of Ecclesiastical power given to Church-officers, Pastors, and other ruling officers. But what belongs to the outward man, to the bodies of Church-officers and members (which things are outward) the judging and managing thereof, is in the hand of the Magistrate, who ruleth not only [Greek or Hebrew], those that are without, whom the Church judgeth not, but [Greek or Hebrew], the things outward of the Church. Salmasius calls the power of the Magistrate in things Ecclesiastical [Greek or Hebrew], the inward Episcopacy or overseeing. Which well agreeth with that which Constantine said to the Bishops, [Greek or Hebrew]. You are made Bishops of the inward things of the Church, I of the things outward. So that he doth not assume their government, but distinguisheth his from theirs. This external inspection and administration of the Magistrate, in reference to Religion, is twofold. 1. Corrective, by external punishments. 2. Auxiliary, by external benefits and adminicles. The Magistrate may and ought to be both Custos & vindex utriusque Tabulae, he ought to preserve both the first and second Table of the holy and good Law of God, from ⟨p. 263⟩being despised and violated, and punish by corporal or other temporal punishments such (whether Church Officers or Churchmembers) as openly dishonour God by gross offences, either against the first or against the second Table; and this he doth as Gods Deputy and Vicegerent subordinate and subservient to that universal dominion which God almighty exerciseth over the children of men. But in doing hereof, he is also helpful and useful to the Kingdom of Christ as Mediator;
We do therefore abominate the disloyal Papal Tenent, that Clergy men are not to be examined and judged by civil, but by Ecclesiastical Courts onely, even in causes civil and criminal. Whereof see Duarenus de Sacr. Eccl. Minist. lib. 1. cap. 2. Spelman Concil. Britann. Tom. 1. pag. 413. I further explane my self by that common distinction, that there are two sorts of things that belong to the Church, and , things inward, and things outward. For Church Officers and Church-members do consist (as other men) of a soul, and of a body. All things properly belonging to the soul or internal man, (which here we call things inward) are the object of Ecclesiastical power given to Church-officers, Pastors, and other ruling officers. But what belongs to the outward man, to the bodies of Church-officers and members (which things are outward) the judging and managing thereof, is in the hand of the Magistrate, who ruleth not onely , those that are without, whom the Church judgeth not, but , the things outward of the Church. Salmasius calls the power of the Magistrate in things Ecclesiastical , the inward Episcopacy or overseeing. Which well agreeth with that which Constantine said to the Bishops, . You are made Bishops of the inward things of the Church, I of the things outward. So that he doth not assume their government, but distinguisheth his from theirs. This external inspection and administration of the Magistrate, in reference to Religion, is twofold. 1. Corrective, by externall punishments. 2. Auxiliary, by externall benefits and adminicles. The Magistrate may and ought to be both Custos & vindex utriusque Tabulae, he ought to preserve both the first and second Table of the holy and good Law of God, from