A57976:168
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. The power of the keys is either in the officers as officers,1 or only as believers; if as officers, then they cannot borrow the keys from believers, seeing they have them as officers, suppose they be not believers, and that is against the meaning of this distinction; if they have the power of the keys only as believers, then all Ministers that are non-beleevers want the keys.
4. The power of the keyes is either in the officers as officers,1 or onely as beleevers; if as officers, then they cannot borrow the keyes from beleevers, seeing they have them as officers, suppose they be not beleevers, and that is against the meaning of this distinction; if they have the power of the keyes onely as beleevers, then all Ministers that are non-beleevers want the keyes.
- 14. Arg.
5. Office-bearers have either a nearer and more ministerial power of the keys then believers,1 or only that same ministerial power; if the former be said, the ministry is but a naked act, that some exercise at the Churches direction sometimes, and no habitual power whereby Paul is made a Minister, Col. 1. 25. and Epaphroditus is denominated a faithful messenger, Phil. 2. 25. for so one shall not be a Minister of Christ; but when he is in the act of his ministry, against Scripture and reason. If office-bearers have only that same ministerial power that believers have, Then Ministers cannot ordain others to be Ministers, except they be believers, and a Minister shall not preach from an inward principle, proper to a Minister; but from a principle common to him with other believers, which maketh no difference betwixt a believer and a Minister, but in the naked acts; And this is all one, as to say a man doth walk naked, and yet he is void of life; he