A57976:193
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.
2. Conclusion. We deny that Christ hath given power of jurisdiction to one particular Church over another particular Church, or to one Church to be a mother Church to give laws and orders,1 to little daughter-churches under it; for that jurisdiction is not to be found in the Word of God,2 and so is not lawful. See Paul Baynes and Parker and Cartwright.3
2. Conclusion. We deny that Christ hath given power of jurisdiction to one particular Church over another particular Church, or to one Church to be a mother Church to give laws and orders,1 to little daughter-churches under it; for that jurisdiction is not to be found in the Word of God,2 and so is not lawfull. See Paul Baynes and Parker and Cartwright.3
- 1Baynes. Diocese. trial. q 1.Baynes. Dioces. tryall. q 1.
- 2Parker de polit. eccles l. 3. c. 13. &c. 14.
- 3Cartwright against Whytgi•t.
3. Conclusion. A Church may be a visible incorporation of guides and people meeting for the worship of God, and exercise of discipline, and yet not necessarily a Church of believers, for if there be twenty or thirty visible Saints, who are Saints in profession, they may meet for the worship of God, and consequently by our Brethren's grounds, independently and without any subordination to Synods or classes exercise discipline. I prove that they are not necessarily believers, 1. Because to make one or two formal members of a visible Church is not required that they be indeed believers, it sufficeth that they profess Faith, and be apparently Saints; and our Brethren teach they may be Hypocrites, and often are, as Judas was amongst the Apostles, now by that same reason all