A42757:660
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.
Fourthly, Peter addeth, not as being Lords, or over-ruling [Greek or Hebrew], that we might understand he condemneth the ruling power of the Lord Bishop, not of the Lords Bishop, of Episcopus Dominus, not of Episcopus Domini. Just as Ezek. 34. 4. the shepherds of Israel are reproved for lording it over the flock, with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them, It was their duty to rule them, but it was their sin to rule them with force and with cruelty.
Fourthly, Peter addeth, not as being Lords, or over-ruling 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that we might understand he condemneth the ruling power of the Lord Bishop, not of the Lords Bishop, of Episcopus Dominus, not of Episcopus Domini. Just as Ezek. 34. 4. the shepheards of Israel are reproved for lording it over the flock, with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them, It was their duty to rule them, but it was their sin to rule them with force and with cruelty.
The twentieth Argument I take from 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of ⟨p. 300⟩the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in Stewards that a man be found faithful. And Tit. 1. 7. a Bishop is the Steward of God; [Greek or Hebrew]. This name doth exclude Lordship and dominion, but withal it noteth a ministerial rule or government, as in the proper, so in the metaphorical signification: [Greek or Hebrew] is a name diverse times given by Aristotle in his Politics to the civil Magistrate. The Septuagints have [Greek or Hebrew] as synonymous with [Greek or Hebrew]. Esther 8. 9. To the Lieutenants and the Deputies. The 70. thus, [Greek or Hebrew]. The holy Ghost by the same word expresseth Government,