A42757:748
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.
7. It is evident by his fourth Question, that he states the case, as if Ministers meant to know the secrets of all mens hearts, and to be so censorious and peremptory in their Judging as to quench the smoking Flax or to break the bruised Reed; Thereupon he asks whether the Sacrament may be denied to a man, if he desires to receive it, in case he profess his sincere Repentance for his sins past, and promise newness of life for the time to come. God forbid we be censorious, peremptory, and rigid in our judging of mens spiritual Estate; where there is any thing of Christ, its to be cherished, not quenched. But again, God forbid that we shut our eyes to call darkness light, or black white. In that very place where our Saviour condemneth uncharitable Judgement, immediately he addeth, Give not that which is holy unto the Dogs, neither cast ye pearls before swine Mat. 7 6. Impenitency under a scandalous sin is discernible either by not confessing it, or by not forsaking it. All our present controversy is concerning a visible Church, visible Saints, visible holiness, visible Repentance, visible fitness or qualification for the Sacrament, that is cof such external signs and evidences as the word of God holds out for judging of the spiritual Estate of other men, not of such internal gracious marks ⟨p. 543⟩whereby a man must judge of his own spiritual Estate. And so he that professeth his sincere Repentance for his sins past, and promiseth newness of life for the time to come, if there be nothing which (visibly and to the eye of man) giveth the lye to his profession and promise, (for instance, if it can be proved that immediately before or immediately after he hath professed or promised the contrary to his companions in his wickedness, or that he still continueth in the practise of that sin) is not to be excluded as an impenitent sinner from the Sacrament.
7. It is evident by his fourth Question, that he states the case, as if Ministers meant to know the secrets of all mens hearts, and to be so censorious and peremptory in their Judging as to quench the smoaking Flax or to break the bruised Reed; Thereupon he askes whether the Sacrament may be denyed to a man, if he desires to receive it, in case he professe his sincere Repentance for his sinnes past, and promise newnesse of life for the time to come. God forbid we be censorious, peremptory, and rigid in our judging of mens spirituall Estate; where there is any thing of Christ, its to be cherished, not quenched. But again, God forbid that we shut our eyes to call darknesse light, or black white. In that very place where our Saviour condemneth uncharitable Judgement, immediately he addeth, Give not that which is holy unto the Doggs, neither cast ye pearles before swine