A42758:179
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyterial government.An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyteriall government.
Edinburgh: printed for James Bryson, 1641Edinburgh: printed for Iames Bryson, 1641
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.
These two Disputers, do not (as D. Field) altogether oppose the government of ruling Elders, but with certain restrictions; about which notwithstanding they differ betwixt themselves▪ •hitgift alloweth of ruling Elders under a Tyrant, but not under a Christian Magistrate, but •ayeth they cannot be under an Infidel Magistrate. Me thinks J see here Samsons Foxes, with their tails knit together, and a firebrand betwixt them, yet their heads looking sundry wa•es.1 To begin with Whitgift, he saith in one place. I know that in the primitive church, they had in every church seniors, to whom the Government of the Congregation was committed, but that was before there was any Christian Prince or Magistrate &c. In another place. My reason, why it (the Church) may not be governed under a Christian Magistrate, is it may under a Tyrant is this: God hath given the chief authority in the government of the Church to the Christian Magistrate, which could not be so, if your Seigniory might aswell retain ⟨p. 88⟩their authority under a Christian Prince, and in the time of peace, is under a Tyrant, and in the time of persecution; for tell me, I pray you, what authority Ecclesiastical remaineth to the civill Magistrate, where this Seigniory is established?
THese two Disputers, doe not (as D. Field) altogether oppose ye government of ruling Elders, but with certain restrictions; about which notwithstanding they differ betwixt themselves▪ •hitgift alloweth of ruling Elders under a Tyrant, but not under a Christian Magistrate, but •ayeth they cannot be under an Infidell Magistrate. Me thinkes J see here Sampsons Foxes, with their tailes knit together, and a firebrand betwixt them, yet their heads looking sundry wa•es.1 To begin with Whitgift, he saith in one place. I know that in the primitive church, they had in every church seniors, to whom the Government of the Congregation was committed, but that was before there was any Christian Prince or Magistrate &c. In another place. My reason, why it (the Church) may not bee governed under a Christian Magistrate, is it may under a Tyrant is this: God hath given the chiefe authority in the government of the Church to the Christian Magistrate, which could not bee so, if your Seigniory might aswell retaine