A42757:615
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.
A third Argument I take from Hebr. 13 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: Vers. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. Bullinger and Gualther refer this 17th. verse both to Magistracy and Ministry, and so far they are ours, in sharing the rule and government between both, and in making obedience due to both. But Calvin and many others do better expound the Text of Ecclesiastical Rulers or Governors only: wherein Salmasius followeth the Greek Scholiasts, who expound the Text of Bishops or Elders who did in common govern the Church. See Walo Messal. pag. 137. 138. That it is not spoken of civil but of Ecclesiastical rulers, may thus appear: beside that it were hard to take [Greek or Hebrew] in the 17th. verse in another sense then it hath verse 7. or the Rulers that watch for the soul, vers. 17. to be any other, then the rulers that had spoken the Word of God, vers. 7. it is further to be noted that the Apostle speaks of such Rulers as the believing Hebrews had at that time, as is evident by vers. 24. Salute all them gthat have the rule over you, and all the Saints, and those Rulers did watch for their souls. But they had no Christian or godly Magistrates that watched for their souls, or whom the Apostle would thus salute with the Saints. But the word is [Greek or Hebrew] saith Mr. Hussey pag. 18. which is ducum, them that lead you. The Apostle hath indeed chosen a word free of ambition, yet saith Beza, auctoritatis maximae, it is a word of the greatest authority. The Syriac hath the same word here, by which he rendereth [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Cor. 12. 28. And if you consult the Septuagints, the Word [Greek or Hebrew] except very rarely where it signifieth [Greek or Hebrew] seu viae ducem (and then, to speak properly, subjection and obedience is not due to the [Greek or Hebrew]) as Exod. 23. 23. where yet it was an Angel that was the guide, and so not without authority: they do usually and in innumerable places use this word to express one invested with power and authority of Government; and the same Hebrew words which they render by [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], are likewise by ⟨p. 273⟩