A57976:291
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.
I answer, This is a senseless reason; for how doth the Magistrate abolish Idolatry, set up the true worship of God? It is, I hope, by external force and power: For the Magistrate as the Magistrate doth nothing but by an external coactive power. The Magistrate useth the sword, not reasons, preaching and counsel. Yea, this way he cannot abolish idolatry, nor erect the pure worship of God, for it is a work of Gods Spirit and a willing work, that a subject forsake Idols, and worship God purely at the command of a King, as it is the work of God, that he believe in Christ, and join himself to the Church of true believers.
I answer, This is a senslesse reason; for how doth the Magistrate abolish Idolatry, set up the true worship of God? It is, I hope, by externall force and power: For the Magistrate as the Magistrate doth nothing but by an externall coactive power. The Magistrate useth the sword, not reasons, preaching and counsell. Yea, this way he cannot abolish idolatry, nor erect the pure worship of God, for it is a worke of Gods Spirit and a willing worke, that a subject forsake Idols, and worship God purely at the command of a King, as it is the worke of God, that he believe in Christ, and joyn himselfe to the Church of true believers.
2. That a man by external profession adjoin himself to the true visible Church, is not a work of saving faith, as our Masters dream, for Simon Magus and Ananias and Sapphira a turned members of the visible Church upon as small motives, as the command of a King, upon the motive of gain and honour, and were never a whit nearer Christ for all this.
2. That a man by externall profession adjoyn himself to the true visible Church, is not a work of saving faith, as our Masters dreame, for Simon Magus and Ananias and Saphira a turned members of the visible Church upon as small motives, as the command of a King, upon the motive of gaine and honour, and were never a whit nearer Christ for all this.