A42757:833
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.
He further observeth that the thing which Christ recommendeth to every Christian, to be done ex Charitate Christiana, is nothing else but what is incumbent to Pastors ex officio; for Pastors ought by virtue of their public charge and ministry to do the same thing authoritatively, which one Christian is bidden do to another in Christian Brotherly charity, that is to admonish, rebuke, &c.
He further observeth that the thing which Christ recommendeth to every Christian, to be done ex Charitate Christiana, is nothing else but what is incumbent to Pastors ex officio; for Pastors ought by vertue of their publike charge and ministery to doe the same thing authoritatively, which one Christian is bidden doe to another in Christian Brotherly charity, that is to admonish, rebuke, &c.
I am persuaded were the Lord Jesus his scope and intent in this Text rightly understood, there should need no other confutation of the Glosses given either by Erastus or by Mr. Prynne. They restrict to the case of private or personal injuries, and to the party injured civilly, that which our Saviour prescribeth oas a duty of Christian Charity, which every Church Member oweth to another. It was an impious word of Cain, Am I my Brothers Keeper? though spoken in reference to his Brothers body and natural life; How much more sinful is it, to say or think in reference to our Brothers soul, Am I my Brothers Keeper? Every Christian is bound by the commandment of God to rebuke his Brother, when he seeth, heareth, or knoweth him to commit sin: Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Where the Marginal parallel in the English Bibles is Mat. 18. 15. Yea, Erastus himself lib. 2. cap. 2. pag. 154. confesseth that Christ doth in Matth. 18. interpret that Law