A57976:13
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.
To the Christian Reader.
I Am bold (reverend and Christian Reader) to appear in print to contribute my weak judgement for the government of the Church of Scotland. In which suite I have to do with foes and friends. To the former I speak not now, I mean Prelates, Papists and haters of the truth▪ I doubt not but I am condemned in their books of both errors and crimes, my hope to prevail with such is small, if that be true, Damnati lingua vocem habet, vim non habet, The tongue of the condemned hath a noise of words, but no power to persuade, except this be also true, Magna vis veritatis, Truth may swim, it cannot sink. But I speak to the godly, the lover of the Truth, the sufferer for Truth against Antichristian Prelacy, (which is but spilt Popery, or half-dyed Papistry) who possibly liketh not well of Presbyterial government. And to such I am a debtor for love, charity, honour, and all due respect in Christ Jesus, and a seat and lodging in my heart and highest ⟨image 6⟩esteem.1 And to think of all such is both, as the Apostle saith, [Greek or Hebrew], meet. And also (if it be beside the truth) an honest and almost innocent error. Yea and to say to every one in whom (as reverend Bucer saith) there's aliquid Christi, 2any of Christs new Creation,3 as Jerome said to a friend, tibi & quod possum debeo, & quod non possum, I owe to thee what I am able to do, and more for thy good. And of these I humbly beg equity, charity, and unpartial weighing of precious truth. I am grieved that this should be put on me which a Heathen laid on his friend,4 Amavit patriam quia suam, non quia patriam, he loved his country because his own, not because his country. Seeing it's weakness to overlove a National faith, because National, and not because it's faith. Truth naked and stripped of all supervenient relations is love worthy. And there is as great cause of sorrow that all the Lords people should not mind one thing, and sing one Song, and join in one against the children of Babel.