A42757:712
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.
Tenthly, Ratio immutabilis facit praeceptum immutabil•. If the Apostle had required the Corinthians to excommunicate the incestuous man, upon such grounds and reasons as were proper to that time, and are not applicable to after times, so as to prove the necessity of excommunication for, the like offence, then there were some reason why excommunication should not be esteemed a perpetual ordinance in the Church: but it is manifest that the reasons given by the Apostle were not proper to that time, but do concern this time as well as that. The reasons are taken 1. From the glory of God, vers• 1. 2. He that had done such wickedness as was not so much as named among the Gentiles, was not to be suffered among Gods people, but to be taken away from among them; If evil be not put away from Israel, it is a great dishonour to the God of Israel. This first argument used by the Apostle, is like that Ezek. 36. 22, 23. They had profaned ⟨p. 325⟩the holy name of God among the Heathen, therefore God would sanctify his great name, and make the Heathen to know that he is the Lord, when he should be sanctified in his people before their eyes. 2. From the commission, power, and authority which the Church of Corinth that is their Presbytery (compare 2 Cor. 2. 6.) had to excommunicate such a•one. vers. 4, 5. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together. &c. 3. From the good and benefit of the sinner himself, that he might be ashamed, humbled, reclaimed, mortified and saved: vers. 5. For the destruction of the Flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 4. From the Churches good, that the Church might be preserved from the contagion of such sinful examples vers. 6. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 5. From that which was signified and typified by the purging out of leaven from Israel in the time of the Passover. vers. 7, Purge out therefore the old leaven &c. 6. From the end of Christs death, which was to purify and sanctify, as well as to reconcile and justify his people, vers. 7. 8. For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, Therefore let us keep the Feast, &c. 7. From the difference which ought to be made between the foul sins of Church-members, and others that are not Church-members: a blacker mark is to be put upon the former, then upon the latter: