A42757:656
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.
The nineteenth Argument shall be drawn from Act. 20. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers [Greek or Hebrew], compared ⟨p. 298⟩with 1 Pet. 5. 2. 3. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof: [Greek or Hebrew]: Which Texts as they hold forth a Bishop and a Presbyter to be one and the same Jure divino, so they hold forth the ruling power of Presbyters or Elders.
The nineteenth Argument shall be drawn from Act. 20. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, compared ⟨p. 298⟩with 1 Pet. 5. 2. 3. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Which Texts as they hold forth a Bishop and a Presbyter to be one and the same Iure divino, so they hold forth the ruling power of Presbyters or Elders.
First, Because otherwise the simile (so much made use of in these Scriptures) of overseeing the flock (mentioned and joined together with the feeding thereof) will fall short in a main and most material point: for the overseers of flocks do not only make them to lye down in green pastures, and lead them beside the still waters, but they have also rods and staves for ruling the flocks, and for correcting and reducing the wandering sheep, which will not be brought home by the voice of the shepherd,