A42757:876
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 6: Of the power of binding and loosing Matth. 18. 18.
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.
Secondly, the Apostles, and those who succeed them in the work of the Ministry have the same power of the Keys committed from Christ to them ministerially, which Christ hath committed from the father to him (as Mediator) authoritatively. For in the parallel place, Joh. 20. v. 21, 23. where he gives them power of remitting or retaining sins, he saith, As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. But the Father gave Christ such a power of the Keys, as comprehends a power of Government, and not merely doctrinal, Isa. 22. 21, 22. I will commit the government into his hand, &c. And the Keys of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder.
Secondly, the Apostles, and those who succeed them in the worke of the Ministery have the same power of the Keys committed from Christ to them ministerially, which Christ hath committed from the father to him (as Mediator) authoritatively. For in the parallel place, Ioh. 20. v. 21, 23. where he gives them power of remitting or retaining sinnes, he saith, As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. But the Father gave Christ such a power of the Keyes, as comprehends a power of Government, and not meerely doctrinall, Isa. 22. 21, 22. I will commit the government into his hand, &c. And the Keyes of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder.
Thirdly, It may be proved also by that which immediately followeth, vers. 19. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth &c. which cannot be meant of the power of preaching; for neither the efficacy of preaching, nor the ratification of it in Heaven, nor the fruit of it on Earth, doth depend upon this, that two preachers must needs agree in the same thing. But it agreeth well to the power of Discipline, concerning which it answereth these two objections. First, it might be said, the Apostles and other Church-governors may fall to be very few in this or that Church where the offence riseth; shall we in that case execute any Church-discipline? Yes, saith Christ, if there were but two Church-officers in a Church (where no more can be had) they are to exercise Discipline, and it shall not be in vain. Again, it might be objected, be they two or three, or more, what if they do not agree among themselves? To that he answereth, there must be an agreement of two Church-officers at least, otherwise the sentence shall be null; we can not say the like of the doctrinal power of binding or loosing, that it is of no force nor validity unless two at least agree in the same doctrine, as hath been said; two must agree in that sentence or censure, which is desired to