A42757:729
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.
Pag. 257. Out of the Confession of Belgia. WE believe that this Church ought to be ruled and governed by that spiritual Regiment which God himself hath delivered in his word, so that there be placed in it Pastors and Ministers purely to preach, and rightly to administer the holy Sacraments: that there be also in it Seniors and Deacons, of whom the Senate of the Church might consist, that by these means true Religion might be preserved, and sincere doctrine in every place retained and spread abroad: that vicious and wicked men might after a spiritual manner be rebuked, amended, and as it were by the bridle of discipline kept within their compass.
Pag. 257. Out of the Confession of Belgia. VVE beleeve that this Church ought to be ruled and governed by that spiritual Regiment which God himself hath delivered in his word, so that there be placed in it Pastors and Ministers purely to preach, and rightly to administer the holy Sacraments: that there be also in it Seniors and Deacons, of whom the Senate of the Church might consist, that by these means true Religion might be preserved, and sincere doctrine in every place retained and spread abroad: that vicious and wicked men might after a spiritual manner be rebuked, amended, and as it were by the bridle of discipline kept within their compasse.
Pag. 260. Out of the Confession of Augsburg. Again, by the Gospel, or as they term it by Gods Law, Bishops, as they be Bishops, that is, such as have the administration of the Word and Sacraments committed to them, have no jurisdiction at all, but only to forgive sin, Also to know what is true doctrine; and to reject such Doctrine as will not stand with the Gospel, and to debar from the communion of the Church such as are notoriously wicked, not by humane force and violence, but by the word of God. And herein of necessity ⟨p. 334⟩the Churches ought by the law of God to perform obedience unto them, according to the saying of Christ, He that heareth you, heareth me. Upon which place the Observation saith thus. To debar the wicked, &c. To wit by the judgement and verdict of the Presbytery, lawfully gathered together. &c.