A57976:138
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.
Answ. We will borrow the Argument (and give it back again) for us; no public business is to be done without the knowledge and consent of Eldership.1 Ergo, The Eldership hath the jurisdiction. 2. That all be done by their consent,2 I grant, but with these distinctions, 1. Their quiet and tacit consent, for there is not required an express consent by word of mouth of all the multitude (as of women) speaking in the Church, for they should give reasons of their consent, if an express consent be required. 2 Consent of manyest, not all, else the Churches deed should bind none absent. 3. A consent popular, not judicial, else they are all made Judges. 4. Their privity is thought a consent; how could six thousand that our Brethren make an independent Church in the Apostles time all speak. 2. All judge in Excommunication. 3▪ All reason, dispute, propone, answer, as Judges must do; here grave Beza, our Divines Calvin, Bucer, Bullinger, Melancton, Beza, Bucan, Pareus, Rivetus, Sibrandus, Junius, Treleatius, the fathers Cyprian, Jerome, Augustine, Nazianzen, Chrysostom, Ambrose, Theodoret, Theophylact require all to be done, consentiente plebe. ⟨p. 50⟩But my Brethren, what if there be a discord, and believers deny consent. In a matter of Excommunication Zepperus, 3Zanchius, Beza, Bucanus, Pareus think the Eldership should not excommunicate. 2. But what if the contagion of the not excommunicated leaven the whole lump? I see not how believers have a negative consent. 3. If the matter be a point of necessary truth to be determined, and the Pastors and Elders in the Lord and from his Word command it as a necessary truth to be obeyed, but the Believers consent not, I ask whither or not that which Watchmen command from Gods Word and authoritatively and judicially in his name, ought not to stand as an obliging Mandate and Canon, even when the Believers gain-say? Our Brethren say, the Mandate tieth and obligeth materially and in it self, but not ecclesiastically, because believers do not consent, it hath not the force of a Canon, seeing they have the keys. Ans. But this Canon (Arianism is Heresy) we suppose is all one both materially and Ecclesiastically, according to that (He that heareth you, heareth me) and so it tieth being determined by Pastors with others Synodically convened.