A57976:426
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.
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.
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 keyes, these are permitted to be members of the Church, who in Gods court are no members at all; and if I remaine in the Church, I must communicate with them, yea if I remaine in the Church, I must communicate at that table where the holy things of God are prophaned by dogges and swine, therefore in that case I must separate.
Answ. In your holiest independent Church where discipline is m•st in vigour, you meet with this doubt, and must separate also, if this reason be good: For suppose you know one to be guilty of adultery and murder, and had seen it with your eyes, the party guilty to you is not guilty to the Church: For 1. you are but one, none is guilty Ecclesiastically, and to be debar•ed penally and judicially from the holy things of God, except by confession to the Church, or by two or three witnesses. 2. You know what is holden by all our Divines,1 yea even the Canon Law and Papists teach that the Church cannot judge of hid things, and acts of the mind.2 So saith Thom. Aquin. Cajetan, Soto, Durandus, Almain, Gerson, Navarre. Driedo, Joan. Major. Paludan.