A42758:233
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
Part 2 › Chapter 3: Of greater Presbyteries which some call classes.
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.
But it is further objected by Sutlivius that ⟨p. 134⟩this could not be such a Presbytery as is among us, because ordination and imposition of hands pertain to none, but the Ministers of the word.1 Ans. 1. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, & we would know his reason why he denieth the like power to ruling Elders now, especially since this imposition of hands is but a gesture of one praying, and a moral sign declaring the person prayed for. 2. Howsoever our practice (which is also approved by good Divines) is,2 to put a difference betwixt the act of ordination and the external right thereof, which is imposition of hands, ascribing the former to the whole Presbytery both Pastors and Elders, and reserving the latter to the Ministers of the word, yet to be done in the name of all.
But it is further objected by Sutlivius that ⟨p. 134⟩this could not be such a Presbyterie as is among us, because ordination and imposition of hands pertaine to none, but the Ministers of the word.1 Ans. 1. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, & we would know his reason why he denyeth the like power to ruling Elders now, especially since this imposition of hands is but a gesture of one praying, and a morall signe declaring the person prayed for. 2. Howsoever our practice (wh•ch is also approved by good Divines) is,2 to put a difference betwixt the act of ordination and the externall right thereof, which is imposition of hands, ascribing the former to the whole Presbytery both Pastors and Elders, and reserving the latter to the Ministers of the word, yet to bee done in the name of all.