A42758:291
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 10: The sixth Argument, taken from necessity.
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.
CHAP. X. The sixth Argument, taken from necessity.
WE have another reason to add, and it is borrowed from lawless necessity, for without a subordination among Ecclesiastical Courts, and the authority of the higher above the inferior, it were utterly impossible to preserve unity, or to make an end of controversy in a Nation. A particular congregation might happily end questions and controversies betwixt the members thereof, and so keep unity within it self (and not so neither, if the one half of the congregation be against the other) but how shall controversies betwixt several congregations be determined, if both of them be independent? how shall plurality of religions be avoided? how shall an apostatizing congregation be amended?
WEE have another reason to adde, and it is borrowed from lawlesse necessity, for without a subordination among Ecclesiasticall Courts, and the authority of the higher above the inferiour, it were utterly impossible to preserve unity, or to make an end of controversie in a Nation. A particular congregation might happily end questions and controversies betwixt the members thereof, and so keepe unity within it selfe (and not so neither, if the one halfe of the congregation be against the other) but how shall controversies betwixt severall congregations be determined, if both of them bee independent? how shall plurality of religions be avoided? how shall an apostatizing congregation be amended?
It is answered: 1. If a particular congregation neglect their duty, or do wrong to another, the civill sword may proceed against them to make them do their duty. 2. A particular congregation ought in difficult cases ⟨p. 188⟩to consult with her sister Churches, for so much reason dictates, that in difficult cases, counsel should be taken of a greater number. 3. Sister Churches when they see a particular congregation doing amiss out of that relation which they have to her, being all in the same body, under the same head, may and ought to admonish her, and in case of general apostasy, they may withdraw that communion from her, which they hold with the true Churches of Christ.