A42757:853
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
Book 3 › Chapter 5: That Tell it to the Church hath more in it, then, Tell it unto a greater number.
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.
That interpretation of the word Church is no better. But that I may reject nothing without reason, I desire it may be considered, 1. Whether either in Scripture, or in any Greek Lexicon, or in any Classic author, it can be found that the word [Greek or Hebrew] was ever used to signify merely a greater number or company then two or three, not called out and embodied together for government or worship. For my part I could never yet find where the simple majority of the number maketh the denomination of [Greek or Hebrew]. I find the word sometimes (yet very seldom) used of an unlawful assembly combining or joining together to evil: the reason I take to be this, because they pretended to be authorised as a lawful assembly; so Christ called Judas, friend, when he came to betray him ⟨p. 402⟩with a kiss. But since the word [Greek or Hebrew] Matth. 18. 17. doth signify a lawful assembly, (as all do confess) I desire some testimony of Scripture or approved authors, where this name is given to a lawful assembly, which was not embodied for worship or government, but had the name of [Greek or Hebrew] simply because of the majority of number. Sure I am [Greek or Hebrew] is at least caetus evocatus, an assembly called forth; and every offended brother hath not from Christ the privilege of gathering a Church. 2. If by tell it unto the Church were meant no more but this, tell it unto a greater number, then if the offender do not hear the Church, there must be recourse unto some others distinct from the Church, for the more authoritative and ultimate determination, (unless it be said that there is no remedy for offences, but in a greater number which each man shall make choice of) But where is their more effectual remedy, or where will they fix the ultimate degree of proceedings? 3. When Christ saith Tell it unto the Church, and if he neglect to hear the Church, &c. whether respect be had to the form of the Hebrews, or to the form of the Grecians, the Church will still have a ruling power. In the old Testament, the original giveth the name Kahal, Church, (which is the word used in the Hebrew Evangel of Matthew published by Munsterus, chap. 18. vers. 17.) and the Septuagints the name [Greek or Hebrew] to the Elders and Rulers of Israel, as 1 Chro. 13. 2. 4. & 29. 1.