A42757:648
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 peradventure some men will be bold to give another answer, that the Lord Jesus indeed reigneth over the Church, even in a political respect, but that the administration and influence of this his Kingly office is in, by, and through the Magistrate, who is supreme Judge, Governor, and Head of the Church under Christ. To this I answer, Hence it would follow 1. That Christs Kingdom is of this World, and cometh with observation, as the Kingdoms of this World do, which himself denieth Luke 17 20 John 18 36. Next, It would follow, that Christ doth not reign nor exercise his Kingly office in the Government of his Church under Pagan, Turkish, or persecuting Princes, but only under the Christian Magistrate, which no man dare say.
But peradventure some men will be bold to give another answer, that the Lord Jesus indeed reigneth over the Church, even in a political respect, but that the administration and influence of this his Kingly office is in, by, and through the Magistrate, who is supreme Judge, Governour, and Head of the Church under Christ. To this I answer, Hence it would follow 1. That Christs Kingdom is of this World, and commeth with observation, as the Kingdoms of this World do, which himself denieth Luke 17 20 Iohn 18 36. Next, It would follow, that Christ doth not reigne nor exercise his Kingly office in the Government of his Church under Pagan, Turkish, or persecuting Princes, but onely under the Christian Magistrate, which no man dare say.
3. The Civil Magistrate is Gods Vicegerent, but not Christs: that is, the Magistrates power hath its rise, origination, institution, and deputation, not from that special dominion which Christ exerciseth over the Church as Mediator and Head thereof, But from that Universal Lordship and Sovereignty which God exerciseth over all men by right of Creation: In so much, that there had been (for orders sake) Magistrates or superior Powers though man had not fallen, but continued in his innocency; and now by the Law of Nature and Nations there are Magistrates among those who know nothing of Christ, and among whom Christ reigneth not as Mediator, though God reigneth over them by the Kingdom of power.