A57976:176
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.
We are now to enquire, if the government of the visible Church be in the collective body of the Congregation, as indeed by consequent they teach with whom we now dispute, or in the Eldership; in Classes and Synods provincial and national, as it is now in Scotland. We hold that the government popular, as it is properly taken, when the collective body judgeth and governeth to be expressly against the word of God, Eph. 4. 11. He gave some (not all) to be Apostles, &c. 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, &c. 1 Thess. 5. 12. Now we beseech you brethren, to know them that labour amongst you, and are over you in the Lord, Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves, &c. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour. Hence it is clear as the noon-sun, if there be some over the people of God, some that are Elders that rule well, some to whom the people should submit, and give obedience, then the whole people are not rulers, all have not the rod, nor a definitive voice in that highest censure of excommunication. All are not overseers, guides, governors, fathers, stewards, shepherds; but some are governed, subject, sons, the flock ruled, and fed, then doth not the people govern.
We are now to enquire, if the government of the visible Church be in the collective body of the Congregation, as indeed by consequent they teach with whom we now dispute, or in the Eldership; in Classes and Synods provinciall and nationall, as it is now in Scotland. We hold that the government popular, as it is properly taken, when the collective body judgeth and governeth to be expresly against the word of God, Eph. 4. 11. He gave some (not all) to be Apostles, &c. 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, &c.