A57976:126
A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbytery in Scotland, or, A modest and…A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbyterie in Scotland, or, A modest and…
A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbytery in Scotland, or, A modest and brotherly dispute of the government of the Church of Scotland wherein our discipline is demonstrated to be the true apostolic way of divine truth, and the arguments on the contrary are friendly dissolved, the grounds of separation and the independency [sic] of particular congregations, in defence of ecclesiastical presbyteries, synods, and assemblies, are examined and tried / by Samuel Rutherfurd ...A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbyterie in Scotland, or, A modest and brotherly dispute of the government of the Church of Scotland wherein our discipline is demonstrated to be the true apostolick way of divine truth, and the arguments on the contrary are friendly dissolved, the grounds of separation and the indepencie [sic] of particular congregations, in defence of ecclesiasticall presbyteries, synods, and assemblies, are examined and tryed / by Samuell Rutherfurd ...
London: printed for John Bartlet, 1642London: printed for Iohn Bartlet, 1642
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.
4. Parker disputeth thus.1 The Church-guides must be subject to the censures of the Church of believers, 2whereof they are members, The Colossians must say to Archippus, 3take heed to the ministry that thou hast received of the Lord. So Ambrose thinketh it the rulers, even the Emperors honour to be subject to the Church. Nazian. calleth the Emperor himself a ⟨p. 43⟩sheep of the flock, and subject to the tribunal, as Bellarmine granteth, 4and that (tell the Church) bindeth Peter, and the highest ruler. So Barrow, Every member is bound to the edification, service, and utility of the whole body commanded to reprove his brother, to bind their sins by the word of God, even their Princes with chains,5 to admonish Archippus, yea, though an Apostle or Angel preached an other Gospel to pronounce him accursed, Answ. That the Prelate should be above the Church, and exempted from the laws and censures of the Church, whereof he is a Prelate, is most unjust, and this worthy Parker proveth unanswerably. Emperors being pastors are under the laws of Jesus Christ the highest lawgiver, and so Ambrose and Nazianzen say well. But hence is not proved, because the Colossians are as private Christians to admonish or rebuke their pastor Archippus. Therefore the body of believers have the power of the keys to depose and excommunicate, and consequently to ordain and lay hands on pastors, 6which is commanded and commended only to such as to Timothy and Titus, 7and in them to the Elders and Presbytery,8 and that (tell the Church) doeth bind Peter and oblige all Pastors and Rulers, to be liable to the laws and censures of the Church, but by the word Church is not meant the Church of believers; but the Eldership of all incorporations ecclesiastic, respective of congregations, presbyteries and Synods, as God willing I shall make good.