A57976:283
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.
3. The preaching of the Word, and the seals of the settled covenant is a means of confirming those that are already converted: Neither is it much against us that the Word is preached to the reprobate; for the preaching of the Word is considered either in it self,1 and actu primo, and so it is a mark of the visible Church.2 Or. 2. As it is effectual by the Spirit of Jesus, and actu secundo, and so it is an essential mark of the true Church and lively body of Christ, according to that cited by Whittaker, Calvin, Willet, Paraeus, Beza, Ursine, Bucanus, and our Divines, John 1•. 3My Sheep hear my voice. Hence observe a vile Doctrine of Separatists, holden also by Socinians and Arminians, as Episcopius, the Belgic Remonstrants, Socinus, the Raccovian Catechise, and •heophil. Nicolaides, That all gifted persons may preach publicly, 4and that there is no necessity of c•lling of Pastors by the Presbytery, so do they teach, That there can be no lawful Pastors now after the Apostasy of of Antichrist, till t•ere be a constitute Church of believers to choose them, or a ⟨p. 109⟩flock to them to watch over. And therefore conversion is ordinarily wrought (say they) by private Christians, that have the gift to prophecy publicly, and yet are not Pastors; for private Christians do gather the Church (say they) Pastors do not ordinarily convert, they do only confirm the church of Saints already converted. Against which we say.5 The new Testament of Christ telleth us of no officers to preach in Christs name, for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the Ministry, edifying of the body of Christ,6