A57976:425
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.
2. Affirmative precepts tie not in all differences of time: To rebuke your brother is always lawful, so it be done, observing due circumstances; but that every believer rebuke Church-ways, and judicially by the power of the keys doth not tie at all, because Christ never gave that power to all. 2. Some duties tie absolutely, as to pray, these we cannot forbear: Suppose a Church should make a Law, like Darius to borrow a dumb Devil, for thirty days, and to pray none, that Church should not be heard, and not acknowledged in that. Other duties tie conditionally, as not to pray in public with a man notoriously serving Satan, and deserving to be excommunicate; yet if the Church excommunicate not, we are not to separate from the prayer of the Church, because that person is suffered there: so these duties that tie upon a condition that dependeth upon others and not upon my self, tie not always. I am obliged to believe what point the Pastor teacheth, but not absolutely, but upon condition it agrees to Gods Word.
2. Affirmative precepts tye not in all differences of time: To rebuke your brother is alwayes lawfull, so it be done, observing due circumstances; but that every be•eever rebuke Church-wayes, and judicially by the power of the keyes doth not tye at all, because Christ never gave that power to all. 2. Some duties tye absolutely, as to pray, these we cannot forbeare: Suppose a Church should make a Law, like Darius to borrow a dumbe Devill, for thirty dayes, and to pray none, that Church should not be heard, and not acknowledged in that. Other dutyes tye conditionally, as not to pray in publicke with a man notoriously serving Satan, and deserving to be excommunicate; yet if the Church excommunicate not, wee are not to separate from the prayer of the Church, because that person is suffered there: so these duties that tye upon a condition that dependeth upon others and not upon my selfe, tye not alwayes. I am obliged to beleeve what point the Pastor teacheth, but not absolutely, but upon condition it agrees to Gods Word.
They fifthly urge. But I am necessitated in a false Church to communicate with those whom I know to be no members of the true Church, but limbs of Satan, because in Gods court they are excommunicated, and no members of the Church; but through the corruption of these that have the power of the keys, these are permitted to be members of the Church, who in Gods court are no members at all; and if I remain in the Church, I must communicate with them, yea if I remain in the Church, I must communicate at that table where the holy things of God are profaned by dogs and swine, therefore in that case I must separate.