A42758:205
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.
Thirdly, it were not possible to exercise jurisdiction by a whole Congregation without ⟨p. 114⟩great confusion and disorder: therefore this way cannot be from God, who is not the author of confusion but of order. If it be answered, that order may be kept in a Congregation exercising Jurisdiction as well as in a National, at least in a Ecumenical Synod, where there will be as great a multitude, and peradventure greater, then there is in a well-bounded Congregation. We reply it is not so much the multitude, which should make disorder in the exercise of Jurisdiction by a whole Congregation (though indeed in many Congregations the multitude alone would hinder order) as the rudeness of the vulgar sort, who if they should all speak their judgement, what a monstrous and unavoidable confusion should there be? The members of National and Ecumenical Councils, are supposed to be men of knowledge and discretion, and so may be kept in good order, much more easily then a rude multitude in the Congregation.
Thirdly, it were not possible to exercise jurisdiction by a whole Congregation without ⟨p. 114⟩great confusion and disorder: therefore this way cannot be from God, who is not the author of confusion but of order. If it be answered, that order may be kept in a Congregation exercising Iurisdiction as well as in a Nationall, at least in a Oecumenicall Synod, where there will be as great a multitude, and peradventure greater, then there is in a well-bounded Congregation. Wee reply it is not so much the multitude, which should make disorder in the exercise of Jurisdiction by a whole Congregation (though indeed in many Congregations the multitude alone would hinder order) as the rudenesse of the vulgar sort, who if they should all speake their judgement, what a monstrous and unavoidable confusion should there be? The members of Nationall and Oecumenicall Councils, are supposed to be men of knowledge and discretion, and so may be kept in good order, much more easily then a rude multitude in the Congregation.