A57976:154
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.
3. Conclusion. The power of the keys indirectly cometh from the Church of believers to some select officers, I say (indirectly) not directly, because howbeit believers by no innate and intrinsical power of jurisdiction in them, do ordain officers; yet they are to give a popular consent to the election of their officers, as the word of God, all the •athers and our Divines teach against Papists and Prelates, who take away this power from the people of God. Now by this popular election men are put in that state, whereby they may be and are ordained office-bearers by the laying on of the hands of the Elders. And this our brethren's arguments prove and no more. Hence the power of the keys cometh to the officers three ways, whereof we deny one. 1. As if the Church of believers received the keys first from Christ, then by authority from Christ did give over the use of them in some acts to the officers, and did appoint them her servants. That this is not according to the Scriptures of God, I hope by gods grace to prove. 2. The power of the keys and all power of jurisdiction and order is first in Christ, then immediately communicated to the Apostles and their successors in them, and here the offices and power is of Christ Jesus only.1 3. As the application of the man to the office, and the office to the man is twofold; one by popular election, such a man pleased the multitude, Act. 1. Act. 6. Another by authoritative ordination or imposition of hands to an office in Gods house, which they would have by ⟨p. 57⟩a multitude of believers, having no ministerial function; but is not in the Apostolic Church of the New Testament, that ever we can read. We find out ordination by the presbytery, 1 Tim. 4. 14.
3. Conclusion. The power of the keyes indirectly commeth from the Church of beleevers to some select officers, I say (indirectly) not directly, because howbeit beleevers by no innate and intrinsicall power of jurisdiction in them, doe ordaine officers; yet they are to give a popular consent to the election of their officers, as the word of God, all the athers and our Divines teach against Papists and Prelates, who take away this power from the people of God. Now by this popular election men are put in that state, whereby they may be and are ordained office-bearers by the laying on of the hands of the Elders. And this our brethrens arguments prove and no more. Hence the power of the keyes commeth to the officers three wayes, whereof we deny one. 1. As if the Church of beleevers received the keyes first from Christ, then by authority from Christ did give over the use of them in some acts to the officers, and did appoint them her servants. That this is not according to the Scriptures of God, I hope by gods grace to prove. 2. The power of the keyes and all power of jurisdiction and order is first in Christ, then immediately communicated to the Apostles and their successors in them, and here the offices and power is of Christ Jesus onely.