A42758:281
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 8: The fourth Argument, taken from Acts 15.
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.
It is answered by some. 1. That the reason of sending Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, ⟨p. 180⟩was to know whether these teachers who pressed the observation of the ceremonial Law had any such commission from the Apostles and Elders, as they pretended. 2. That there is here no Synod, nor assembly of the Commissioners of divers Churches, for there were no Commissioners from the rest of the Churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, mentioned Acts 9.31. nor from the Churches of the Gentiles mentioned Act. 14.23. neither were Paul and Barnabas, and the rest who went with them, Commissioners to represent the Church of Antioch, but messengers only to make narration of the case. 3. Not only the Apostles and Elders, but the whole Church at Jerusalem met together. 4. If the resolution which was given, be considered, as the judgement of the Church at Jerusalem, it was only her advice to her sister Churches, if otherwise considered, it was a decree absolutely Apostolical, and divine Scripture by infallible direction from the holy Ghost, and for that reason imposed upon all the Churches of the Gentiles, though they had no Commissioners there.
It is answered by some. 1. That the reason of sending Paul and Barnabas to Hierusalem, ⟨p. 180⟩was to know whether these teachers who pressed the observation of the ceremoniall Law had any such commission from the Apostles and Elders, as they pretended. 2. That there is here no Synod, nor assembly of the Commissioners of divers Churches, for there were no Commissioners from the rest of the Churches in Iudea, Galilee, and Samaria, mentioned Acts 9.31. nor from the Churches of the Gentiles mentioned Act. 14.23. neither were Paul and Barnabas, and the rest who went with them, Commissioners to represent the Church of Antioch, but messengers only to make narration of the case. 3. Not only the Apostles and Elders, but the whole Church at Hierusalem met together. 4. If the resolution which was given, be considered, as the judgement of the Church at Hierusalem, it was only her advice to her sister Churches, if otherwise considered, it was a decree absolutely Apostolicall, and divine Scripture by infallible direction from the holy Ghost, and for that reason imposed upon all the Churches of the Gentiles, though they had no Commissioners there.