A57976:390
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.
6. Argument. 1If we are to bear long in patience, and brotherly kindness, with the most refractory, and stiff-necked gainsayers, and to preach to them, and so keep external communion with them, as Paul saith the servant of God must do, 2 Tim. 2. 24, 25. much more owe we this to a whole Church which doth contumaciously suffer, or defend a sin, and a sinner. But the former is true, Ergo▪ so is the latter. The proposition is proved, If we owe patience and longanimity to one, then far more to a hundred, five hundred, ten hundred, so John Epist 3. ver. 10, 11. did bear with the Church wherein wickedness was tolerated. This argument is confirmed, That which the Prophets of God at Gods command did, preaching, and waiting on upon an obstinate Church all the day long, that same onwaiting patience owe we to the Church, whereof we are members: But the Prophets, at Gods command, kept Church-fellowship of prophesying to a people disobedient, and obstinate aye till God cast them off, as Isaiah doth chap. 65. 2, 3. all the day long: The Prophets went and preached to Jerusalem after they had stoned, and killed ⟨p. 145⟩the former Prophets, Mat. 23. 37. and after they had killed the heir Christ Jesus, they preached to them also, Acts 2. 22. Acts 3. 13, 14. Acts 4. 1, 2, 3. 5. 4, &c. so Jer. 3▪ 12. Jeremiah after he had been put in the stocks, and the word of the Lord became a reproach, yet still prophesied, Jer, 20. 9. Jer. 26. 12. Now a preacher in a constitute Church is a member and part of that Church where he preacheth, and is to believe and be saved by that same word which he commandeth others to hear, as a mean of their salvation, 1 Tim 4. 16.