A57969:563
The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…
The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the Church of Scotland ... by Samuel Rutherfurd ...
London: printed by E. Griffin for Richard Whittaker and Andrew Crook, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Their next principal argument as (a) the Apology saith, if a Church-covenant be the essential form of a Church, as a stock of Saints is the material cause, then the Church-covenant is necessary to the being of the Church, and it is that whereby Ecclesia integra constituitur, collapsa restituitur, & quo sublato Ecclesia dissolvitur & destituitur, that is, it is by this covenant a Church is instituted in its integrity, and when it is fallen, it is restored to its integrity, and when this covenant •eas•th, the Church is no longer a visible Church.
Their next principall argument as (a) the Apology saith, if a Church-covenant be the essentiall forme of a Church, as a stock of Saints is the materiall cause, then the Church-covenant is necessary to the being of the Church, and it is that wherby Ecclesia integra constituitur, collapsa restituitur, & quo sublato Ecclesia dissolvitur & destituitur, that is, it is by this covenant a Church is instituted in its integrity, and when it is fullen, it is restored to its integrity, and when this covenant •eas•th, the Church is no longer a visible Church.
- aApology c. 4.
Answ. When a Church falleth it is not restored to the state of a visible Church by circumcision, and yet circumcision is given as a sign of a covenant betwixt God and his Church, Gen. 17. 11. nor is a Church restored by Baptism, or Baptizing over again, and yet Baptism is that whereby we are entered members of the visible Church. 2. When persons fail in omitting Church duties; I think they fail against your Church-Oath, yea when they fall into any sin that may be a scandal to others, yea the sin of adultery, yet if they repent and hear he Church, they are not excommunicated, neither do they ose the right of Church-membership and right to the seals of the covenant, nor is it needful they be restored by renewing a Church-covenant, but we desire to hear from Gods word proofs of the singular virtues of this Church-covenant. 3. Discipline is by all Divines thought necessary to the well being of