A57976:386
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.
Answ. Then we are to esteem deniers of the resurrection, schismatics, extortioners, drunkards, incestuous persons, fornicators known so to us, to be a Royal Priest-hood, the Sheep, body and Spouse of Christ, regenerate, plants of righteousness, precious stones of Zion, all taught of God, aye and while the Church and Professors rebuke them and censure them.
Answ. Then we are to esteeme denyers of the resurrection, schismatickes, extortioners, drunkards, incestuous persons, fornicatours knowne so to us, to bee a Royall Priest-hood, the Sheepe, bodie and Spouse of Christ, regenerate, plants of righteousnesse, precious stones of Zion, all taught of God, aye and while the Church and Professours rebuke them and censure them.
2. If these were not despisers of Pauls admonitions, why should Paul say, 1 Cor. 4. 21. shall I come to you with the rod? how were some of them puffed up as though Paul would not come, ver. 18. and why doth Paul never once command that they separate from the ⟨p. 143⟩Church, if the Church will not use the rod against them? if the servant of God must wait on gainsayers and obstinate persons, if at any time God shall give them repentance, 2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16. Should not one wait on a whole Church, or many in a Church and keep communion with them,1 till God give them repentance? It's true, Separatists say there should be no separation from a Church till all means be used of rebuking, but why did not then Elijah, Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah command separation? and why did they command Church-fellowship after all means are used, and Israel declared stiff-necked, Deut. 9. 6. Sodom, Gomorrah,