A42758:314
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 11: Objections made against the authority of Synods, answered.
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.
Answ. The strait union betwixt Christ and the Church, expressed by these comparisons, cannot be understood of the Church taken politically: for then the union betwixt Christ and the Church might be dissolved as often as the Church ceaseth to be ordered and governed as an Ecclesiastical Republic. It is therefore to be understood either of the invisible Church, or at most of the visible Church taken metaphysically or entitatively. But I add withal, it is to be likewise understood of every faithful Christian: so that not only every true Church, but every true member thereof, by virtue of this union, hath direct and immediate title to Christ, and to the benefit of all his ordinances for his edification and salvation. This is all which the Argument can conclude, and it maketh nothing against us.
Answ. The strait union betwixt Christ and the Church, expressed by these comparisons, cannot bee understood of the Church taken politically: for then the union betwixt Christ and the Church might be dissolved as often as the Church ceaseth to bee ordered and governed as an Ecclesiastical Republick. It is therefore to be understood either of the invisible Church, or at most of the visible Church taken metaphysically or entitatively. But I adde withall, it is to be likewise understood of every faithfull Christian: so that not onely every true Church, but every true member thereof, by vertue of this union, hath direct and immediate title to Christ, and to the benefit of all his ordinances for his edification and salvation. This is all which the Argument can conclude, and it maketh nothing against us.
1Object. If all things be the Churches, even the Ministers themselves; yea, though they be Paul, Cephas, and Apollos, then may every Church use and enjoy all things immediately under Christ. But the first is true, 1 Cor. 3.24. Therefore, &c.
- 1Ibid.