A42757:802
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.
How much more may we suppose that the Ancient Jews did keep civill company and fellowship with such Gentiles as did observe all these seven precepts? And this comparison the Jews have made between themselves and the Gentiles in reference to the Law of Moses. It is our inheritance, not theirs: as for them, let them observe the seven precepts. Exc. Gem. Sanhedrin. cap. 7. Sect. 6. So that the Jews were not scandalized at the Gentiles their not observing of the whole Law of Moses, not being circumcised, &c. but at their not keeping of those seven precepts, which were also a part of the Law of Moses. This to me appeareth to be a chief reason (if not the reason) why the Synod of the Apostles & Elders at Jerusa. did impose upon the Churches of the Gentiles no other burden of Jewish rites & Ceremonies, but to abstain from blood & things strangled: they did not impose circumcision, nor holy days, nor the like: because that which was intended was, to draw together the believers of the Jews & the believers of the Gentiles into a familiar conversation, that they might live together and eat together without scandal: and this could not be, except the believing Gentiles should observe the seven precepts which were given not only to the posterity of Abraham, but to the posterity of Noah; of which precepts one did forbid the eating of blood Gen. 9. 4. (and under that is comprehended also the eating of things strangled) Now there was no doubt of the believing Gentiles their observing of the other six precepts which the Hebrews say were observed from Adam to Noah: the first against Idolatry, 2. against blasphemy, 3. against shedding of blood, 4. against uncleanness or unlawful copulations, ⟨p. 376⟩5. against Rapine or Robbery, 6. for executing judgement and inflicting punishment upon malefactors. All the question was of the seventh and last against eating of blood, which the believing Gentiles (though they knew it to be older then the ceremonial Law or circumcision it self, and to belong to all the posterity of Noah, yet) knew to be temporary and not perpetual, and so at the abrogation of the other ceremonies, and propagation of the Gospel to the Gentiles, thought themselves free from that, as well as other Ceremonies.
How much more may we suppose that the Antient Jewes did keep civill company and fellowship with such Gentiles as did observe all these seven precepts? And this comparison the Jewes have made between themselves and the Gentiles in reference to the Law of Moses. It is our inheritance, not theirs: as for them, let them observe the seven precepts. Exc. Gem. Sanhedrin. cap. 7. Sect. 6. So that the Jewes were not scandalized at the Gentiles their not observing of the whole Law of Moses, not being circumcised, &c. but at their not keeping of those seven precepts, which were also a part of the Law of Moses. This to me appeareth to be a chief reason (if not the reason) why the Synod of the Apostles & Elders at Ierusa. did impose upon the Churches of the Gentiles no other burthen of Jewish rites & Ceremonies, but to abstain from blood & things strangled: they did not impose circumcision, nor holy dayes, nor the like: because that which was intended was, to draw together the beleevers of the Jewes & the beleevers of the Gentiles into a familiar conversation, that they might live together and eat together without scandall: and this could not be, except the beleiving Gentiles should observe the seven precepts which were given not onely to the posterity of Abraham, but to the posterity of Noah; of which precepts one did forbid the eating of blood