A57976:248
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.
14. The Church here cannot well mean a visible Congregation of believers and Elders convened to hear the Word preached,1 so as he who contemneth two private admonitions should be accused and censured in the face of the Congregation convened to hear Gods Word. Because the Church meeteth in Christs name for Gods worship, if they meet in faith and humble sense of sin, with purpose of heart to ⟨p. 96⟩worship God in spirit and truth, but there is some other thing required, that the excommunicating Church, meet for the actual exercise of discipline, for beside meeting in Christs name, there is required that the Church meet with Pauls spirit, and the rod of discipline, 1 Cor: 5. 4. That ye meet in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and my spirit with power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then Pauls spirit as an Elder, who hath power of the rod, a spirit and power of excommunication is required to this meeting. But I doubt not but the Church of believers did meet at Corinth, 1 Cor: 11. for hearing the Word and receiving the Lords Supper, and for ordinary worship and praying and praising when it was not needful that Paul should write, That ye meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus and my spirit to hear the Word and to receive the Lords Supper: There was no need of Pauls spirit for that, therefore I conclude that this meeting of the excommunicating Church requireth another spirit and authoritative power to deliver to Satan (such as was in Paul) then is required in ten believers meeting in faith, without Pauls authoritative power, to hear Gods Word. For Paul saith of his authoritative meeting, I verily absent in body but present in spirit, have judged, &c. but Paul knew that they might meet as a number of believers to hear the Word, whither Paul be absent or present in spirit, and this I observe for their mistake who teach that two or three agreeing together upon Earth and praying for one thing, are heard of God, as it is said, Mat: 18. 19, 20. is an independent Church having the power of the Keys, for first, Christ then hath not provided a sure way, for removing scandals. And when he saith (tell the Church) this (tell the Church) must be a definite, visible, conspicuously known Church;
14. The Church here cannot well mean a visible Congregation of believers and Elders conveened to heare the Word preached,1