A57976:506
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.
Quest. 13. Whether or no every particular Congregation and Church hath of it self independent power from Christ, to exercise the whole power of the Keys, without any subjection to any superior Ecclesiastical jurisdiction?
Quest. 13. Whether or no every particular Congregation and Church hath of it selfe independent power from Christ, to exercise the whole power of the Keyes, without any subiection to any superiour Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction?
IT is known that these of the Separation, and others, whom we love and reverence, contend for the independency of every visible Congregation, denying that they are subject to Synods, Presbyteries, and National Assemblies of the Churches consociated; holding that they can, and may give counsel, and brotherly advise in matters doubtful: But that Presbyteries or Synods have no Ecclesiastical power to command in the Lord any Congregation whatsoever.
IT is knowne that these of the Separation, and others, whom we love and reverence, contend for the independency of every visible Congregation, denying that they are subject to Synods, Presbyteries, and Nationall Assemblies of the Churches consociated; holding that they can, and may give counsell, and brotherly advise in matters doubtfull: But that Presbyteries or Synods have no Ecclesiasticall power to command in the Lord any Congregation whatsoever.
I observed before that there be two degrees of a Church independent, 1. In every visible Congregation there is a number of believers, to whom our brethren say, Christ hath committed the power of the keys, who have power to choose and ordain their own officers, Pastors, Doctors, Elders and Deacons, and also judicially to censure, rebuke, sentence, depose and excommunicate these same office-bearers. We have disputed already against this independent Church. 2. There is another Church independent, which is that same congregation of believers new clothed with a settled and constituted eldership, one Pastor, and Elders, and Doctors: Of this Congregation is our present question. This Congregation again hath either one Pastor only, with a number of Elders; or it hath a number of Pastors and Elders who do meet for discipline, which is a Presbyterial Church, such as we esteem the Church of Corinth, the Church of Ephesus. The question is of a visible Church in both senses: And for the former, they have within themselves some power of discipline, so far as concerneth themselves, as the Arguments of our brethren do prove, but with subordination to the Eldership of their own and other sister and consociate Congregations, who shall meet in a Presbytery. The Church in the latter meaning cannot conveniently meet in all and every one of the members thereof, but doth meet in their Rulers, as the Eldership of Ephesus did meet,