A57976:377
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.
5. If a joint hearing of the Word be denied to be a Church-communion in external worship, upon this ground, because all that hear do not believe, but many scoff at the Word, many hate it, many reject it in their hearts, as Separatists reason; this is most weak and proveth that all have not an internal communion by faith and love, but it is nothing against a Church-communion, in the matter of Separation. Also hence it might be concluded, none have a Church-communion that eateth at one Table, and eateth one bread and drinketh one cup, except only believers, and so all Hypocrites in the visible Church, hearing together, praying and praising and receiving the seals of the covenant together in one politic and visible body with believers, should be Separatists from believers, having no Church communion with believers, the contrary whereof reason and sense teacheth, and Scripture, Psalm. 42. 4. Psalm. 55. 13, 14. 1 Cor: 10. 17. Math: 13. 47. Mat: 12. 13. confirmeth. Master Can seeing this saith, We affirm not that there can be no religious communion, but with members of a visible Church, our profession and practise is daily otherwaies, yet so that they be such persons, howbeit not in Church-state, yet to be judged in the Faith by their gracious and holy walking, and are persons in the judgement of Men gracious and holy ⟨p. 140⟩in their walking, but members of a visible Church are visible Saints, and so if there be no religious communion to be kept, but with persons judged gracious, then is there no religious communion to be kept, but with members of the visible Church, who are gracious and holy, which is a plain contradiction.
5. If a joynt hearing of the Word be denied to be a Church-communion in externall worship, upon this ground, because all that heare doe not believe, but many scoffe at the Word, many hate it, many reject it in their hearts, as Separatists reason; this is most weake and prooveth that all have not an internall communion by faith and love, but it is nothing against a Church-communion, in the matter of Separation. Also hence it might be concluded, none have a Church-communion that eateth at one Table, and eateth one bread and drinketh one cup, except only believers, and so all Hypocrites in the visible Church, hearing together, praying and praysing and receiving the seales of the covenant together in one politick and visible body with believers, should be Separatists from believers, having no Church communion with believers, the contrary whereof reason and snse teacheth, and Scripture,