A57976:323
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. Conclusion. Anent separation from Rome, and spiritual Babel: We have two parties to satisfy, if they would in reason be informed. 1. Papists. 2. Separatists, opposers of government Presbyterial, who think we have all as good reason to separate from our selves and Presbyterial Churches, as from Babel. But I shall speak a little of the first in some few Theses considerable for our purpose.
3. Conclusion. Anent separation from Rome, and spirituall Babel: We have two parties to satisfie, if they would in reason be informed. 1. Papists. 2. Separatists, opposers of government Presbyteriall, who thinke we have all as good reason to separate from our selves and Presbyteriall Churches, as from Babel. But I shall speake a little of the first in some few Theses considerable for our purpose.
1. Consideration. 1It is most false that Bellarmine saith, Churches all withered as branches separated from trees, when they separated from Rome: Joseph grew as a fruitful Branch, and blessings was on the top of his head, when he was separated from his Brethren, Deut. 33. 16. ⟨p. 122⟩For 1. The contrary is seen in the reformed Churches who never flourished, as since our separation from Rome. 2. The Churches in Asia and Africa, and especially the Greek Church flourished ever since, and they separated from Rome, and had famous learned men in them after the separation, as Theophylact, Damascene, Occumenius, Zonaras, Cedrenus, Elias Cretensis, Basil: Nilus, and many others, and especially the Ethiopian and Armenian Churches had both their Bishops and Assemblies, howbeit general they could not have, seeing they were apart, not the whole Church.
1. Consideration. 1It is most false that Bellarmine saith, Churches all withered as branches separated from trees, when they separated from Rome: Joseph grew as a fruitfull Branch, and blessings was on the top of his head, when he was separated from his Brethren,