A42757:857
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.
5. That interpretation which now I speak against, while it goeth about to avoid a power of Jurisdiction and Censure in this Text, it doth subject him that is reproved by another, to a heavier yoke, and brings him into a greater servitude. For though a man be not disobedient nor contumacious unto any Court Civill or Ecclesiastical, yet if he doth not hearken to such a number, as the party offended shall declare the case unto (being a greater number then two or three) he must be by and by esteemed and avoided as an Heathen man and a Publican.
5. That interpretation which now I speak against, while it goeth about to avoyd a power of Jurisdiction and Censure in this Text, it doth subject him that is reproved by another, to a heavier yoke, and brings him into a greater servitude. For though a man be not disobedient nor contumacious unto any Court Civill or Ecclesiasticall, yet if he doth not hearken to such a number, as the party offended shall declare the case unto (being a greater number then two or three) he must be by and by esteemed and avoyded as an Heathen man and a Publican.
6. This interpretation, as it is fathered upon Grotius, so it may be confuted out of Grotius upon the very place. He expounds Tell it unto the Church by the same words which Drusius citeth, è libro Musar. declare it coram multis, before many. But is this any other then [Greek or Hebrew] the many spoken of 2 Cor 2. 6? a place cited by Grotius himself, together with [Greek or Hebrew] before all, 1 Tim. 5. 20. Now these were acts of Ecclesiastical power and authority, not simply the acts of a greater number. He tells us also it was the manner among the Jews to refer the businesse ad multitudinem [Greek or Hebrew], to the assembly of those who were of the same way, or followed the same rites, the judgements of which multitude (saith he) seniors tanquam praesides moderabantur, the Elders as Presidents did moderate. He further clears it out of Tertullian apol. cap. 39. where speaking of the Churches or assemblies of Christians, he saith: ibidem etiam exhortationes, castigationes & censura divina &c. praesident probati quique seniors. Where there are also exhortations, corrections,