A57976:192
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.
1. Conclusion. A number of believers professing the truth is not presently a visible politic Church, 1 Because then every Christian Family should be a visible politic Church, 2 Peter offended, Mat. 18. and rebuking his offending brother, before three witnesses, and gaining his brother to repentance, v. 16. is a number of believers in that same act professing the truth, and convincing an offender, and so professing Gods worship, and yet they are not the judging governing Church, because if the offender will not hear Peter, then he is to tell the Church. Hence visibility of Profession agreeth both to a number of believers (if for example ten out of ten particular Congregations confess ⟨p. 72⟩Christ before a persecuting Judge) and also to a constitute Church of Believers and Elders. Then true Faith and the visible professing of true Faith is not enough to constitute a Church that ordinarily hath power and exercise of the keys; neither find we any warrant in Gods Word, that the swearing of an oath, or making a covenant, by four or five or 10. or 40. believers to worship God together as he hath commanded in his word doth essentially constitute a visible ministerial Church, 1. Because a ministerial Church is a body of Pastor and People, of eyes, ears, hands, feet, whereof Christ is head, Rom. 12. 4. 1 Cor. 12. v. 14, 15, &c. but a number of sole and only believers are not such a body. 2. More is there required an oath and covenant, but this is and may be where there is no ministry.
1. Conclusion. A number of believers professing the truth is not presently a visible politick Church, 1 Because then every Christian Family should be a visible politick Church, 2 Peter offended, Mat. 18. and rebuking his offending brother, before three witnesses, and gaining his brother to repentance, v. 16. is a number of believers in that same act professing the truth, and convincing an offender, and so professing Gods worship, and yet they are not the judging governing Church, because if the offender will not heare Peter, then he is to tell the Church. Hence visibility of Profession agreeth both to a number of believers (if for example ten out of ten particular Congregations confesse