A42757:646
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.
and he hath an influence upon the Church potestative as well as effective. 3. He […] his Prophetical office not only in teaching us inwardly by his Spirit, but in teaching the Church outwardly by his servants the Ministers of his Word: Now i• he be a Prophet to the visible ministerial Church, he is also a King to the same; for his offices cannot be divided, his Scholars are his Subjects, and whosoever receive him as a Prophet, must also receive him as a King. Yea, let us hear Mr. Hussey himself pag. 17. The Kingdom of Christ is […] ample as his ⟨p. 293⟩Prophecy, &c. the Doctrine which they must teach commands, no• commands have always power and authority […]. So that either he must say that Christ gives no commands to the visible Church, or confess that the visible Church is the visible Kingdom of Christ. 4 That the Kingdom of Christ comprehendeth the Government and discipline of the Church, I prove from Matt•. •16. 28. There be some standing here which shall not tast• of death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom: Where first of all note, Christ hath not only an invisible, but a visible Kingdom; Next, this visible Kingdom is not meant of his coming again in glory to judge the quick and the dead; for all that were then hearing Christ, have tasted of death, and yet Christ is not come to judgement. Nor is it meant of Christs transfiguration mentioned Matth. 17. for that was six days after, Matth. 17. 1. and if he meant that, he would not have said so emphatically, there be some here that shall not taste of death, &c. intimating what was to come to pass, not after some days, but after some years; as if he had said this age or generation shall not pass away till these things be fulfilled. Neither is that transfiguration any where called the Kingdom of God, nor can it be properly so called. Nor lastly is the Kingdom of God in that place meant only of the preaching of the Gospel, for so they had seen Christ coming in his Kingdom. Luk. 10. 9. 11