A42757:600
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.
Magistracy being (in the respects aforesaid) serviceable and profitable (as to order the Common-wealth aright, so also) to purge the Church of scandals, to promote the course of the Gospel, and the edification of one another. But how? not perfectly, but pro tanto; not every way, but more suo; not intrinsically, but extrinsically; not primarily, but secondarily; not directly, but ex consequenti; not sub formalitate scandali, sed sub formalitate criminis, not under the notion of scandal, but of crime; The Magistrate in punishing all crimes committed by any in the Church (which are contrary to the Law of God) in suppressing tumults, disorders, in protecting the Church from danger, harm, or molestation, in putting a hook in the nostrils, and a bridle in the mouths of unruly, obstinate, and contumacious sinners, who vex the Church, and create trouble to the people of God; in so doing, he doth by consequence, and removendo prohibens, purge the Church, and advance the Kingdom of Christ, and the course of the Gospel: In the mean while not depriving the Church of her own intrinsical power and Jurisdiction, but making it rather more […] by the aid of the secular power. And so much of the corrective part of the Magistrates administration. The other part of his administration in reference to Religion, is auxiliary, or assistant to the Church. For the Magistrate watcheth over the outward business of the Church, not only by troubling those persons, and punishing those sins that trouble the Israel of God; but by administering such things as are necessary for the well being and comfortable subsistence of the Church, and for that end, doth convocate Synods pro re nata, (beside the ordinary and set meetings) and presideth therein (if he please) in external order, though not in the Synodical debates and resolutions: ⟨p. 262⟩He addeth his civil sanction to the Synodical results, if he find nothing therein which may hurt Peace or Justice in the Common-wealth. The Magistrate ought also to take care of the maintenance of the Ministry, Schools, poor, and of good works for necessary uses, that Religion and Learning may not want their necessary adminicles.
Magistracy being (in the respects aforesaid) serviceable and profitable (as to order the Common-wealth aright, so also) to purge the Church of scandals, to promote the course of the Gospel, and the edification of one another. But how? not perfectly, but pro tanto; not every way, but more suo; not intrinsecally, but extrinsecally; not primarily, but secundarily; not directly, but ex consequenti; not sub formalitate scandali, sed sub formalitate criminis, not under the notion of scandall, but of crime; The Magistrate in punishing all crimes committed by any in the Church (which are contrary to the Law of God) in suppressing tumults, disorders, in protcting the Church from danger, harme, or molstation, in putting a hook in the nostrils, and a bridle in the mouthes of unruly, obstinate, and contumacious sinners, who vexe the Church, and create trouble to the people of God; in so doing, he doth by consequence, and removendo prohibens, purge the Church, and advance the Kingdom of Christ, and the course of the Gospel: In the mean while not depriving the Church of her owne intinsecall power and Jurisdiction, but making it rather more by the aid of the secular power. And so much of the corrective part of the Magistrates administration. The other part of his administration in reference to Religion, is auxiliary, or assistant to the Church. For the Magistrate watcheth over the outward businesse of the Church, not onely by troubling those persons, and punishing those sins that trouble the Israel of God; but by administring such things as are necessary for the well being and comfortable subsistence of the Church, and for that end, doth convocate Synods pro re nata, (beside the ordinary and set meetings) and presideth therein (if he please) in externall order, though not in the Synodicall debates and resolutions: