A57976:150
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.
It is thought by our Brethren, that the Church of ⟨p. 54⟩believers is the first seat, the prime subject, and head fountain under Jesus Christ, to whom the keys are given, and that howbeit all offices and officers be only of Christs institution, yet the Church of believers do as the Spouse and Mistress, and bride of Christ communicate the lawful exercise of some acts of the keys, as to preach, administer the Sacraments, oversee the conversation of the flock, care for the poor to some certain men, as her deputies and servants with borrowed authority from her self, as the Well-head and prime fountain under Christ of all the authority and use of the keys that is in the officers of the House,1 as Pastors,2 Doctors and Elders, the Church still keeping in her own hands authority and power of the keys in most material acts of the power of the keys, as by these keys to ordain and elect all the officers, and in case of aberration or failing to censure, depose, excommunicate them, and all members of the visible Church, and that independently, and without any subordination to Presbyteries, Classes and Synods; even as the kingly power of actual government is in the Kings hand, and he appointeth deputies and servants under himself, and in his name and authority, to do and execute his will, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, so doth the Church of believers under Christ by an inbred authority and power received from Christ, send out Pastors, Doctors, and Elders in her name and authority to exercise certain ministerial acts, yet so as the Church of believers in all the acts performed by the officers, remaineth the principal and prime agent, cause and actor under Christ, and the officers only her servants, deputies and instruments, performing all by authority borrowed from her the bride, Queen and Spouse of Christ: This they believe to be contained in the Scriptures, and taught by Fathers and Doctors of the Church. I deny not but by the faculty of Paris, this question was agitated in the Council of Basil and Constance, ⟨p. 55⟩to bring the Pope as a son and servant under the power of a General Council. The Sorbonists and Doctors of Paris, that are not near the smoke of the Popes glory, for this, contend with the Jesuits, men that are sworn bellies to the world and the Pope. The Parisians cite the Council of Carthage, where Augustine was present: