A42757:654
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.
3. The censure is spiritual, as appeareth both by these words, Let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican; which relate to the Excommunication from the church of the Jews, and comprehendeth not only an exclusion from private fellowship and company (which was the condition of the Publicans, with whom the Jews would not eat) but also an exclusion from the Temple, Sacrifices, and communion in the holy things, which was the condition of heathens, yea of profane Publicans too: of which elsewhere. And further it appeareth by these words, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, &c. The Apostles had no power to inflict any civil punishment, but they had power to bind the soul, and to retain the sin. Joh. 20. 23. And this power of binding is not in all the Scripture ascribed to the civil Magistrate.
3. The censure is spirituall, as appeareth both by these words, Let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican; which relate to the Excommunication from the church of the Jewes, and comprehendeth not onely an exclusion from private fellowship and company (which was the condition of the Publicans, with whom the Jewes would not eat) but also an exclusion from the Temple, Sacrifices, and communion in the holy things, which was the condition of heathens, yea of prophane Publicans too: of which elsewhere. And further it appeareth by these words, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, &c. The Apostles had no power to inflict any civil punishment, but they had power to bind the soul, and to retain the sin. Ioh. 20. 23. And this power of binding is not in all the Scripture ascribed to the civil Magistrate.
The eighteenth Argument shall be drawn from the example of excommunication, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5. The Apostle writeth to the church of Corinth to deliver to Satan (for the delivery ⟨p. 297⟩