A42757:706
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.
Sixthly, The Churches liberty and power is not to be infringed, diminished, nor taken away; but preserved, maintained, enlarged, and augmented under a Christian Magistrate. Were it not a sad case, if there should be cause to say that the Churches of Christ have not so much liberty under a Christian Magistrate to keep themselves and the Ordinances from pollution, as they had under Pagan and Infidel Magistrates?
Seventhly, Why may not Christian Church-government consist with Christian Magistracy, as well as the Jewish Church government did consist with the Jewish Magistracy, being of the same Religion? Or if we please to look to later Presidents, who can be ignorant that civil government and Church-discipline have rather strengthened then destroyed each other, not only in France where the Magistracy is not Protestant, but in Scotland, in the Low-Countries, in Geneva, and else-where?
Seventhly, Why may not Christian Church-government consist with Christian Magistracy, as well as the Jewish Church government did consist with the Jewish Magistracy, being of the same Religion? Or if we please to look to later Presidents, who can be ignorant that civil government and Church-discipline have rather strengthened then destroyed each other, not onely in France where the Magistracy is not Protestant, but in Scotland, in the Low-Countries, in Geneva, and else-where?
Eighthly, We have covenanted to endeavour a Reformation of Church-Government and discipline according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches. Now both the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches, leadeth us to a Church-government distinct from civil Government: and the example of the best Reformed Churches doth undeniably lead us to a Church-discipline, even where ⟨p. 323⟩