A57976:509
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.
because they have power as a great body to exercise discipline that concerneth the whole Congregations of all the Nation, which power is not in inferior Elderships. Now that there is not to be •ound in the word a Congregation with an Eldership, and one Pastor that hath the power of all discipline independently, within it self, I prove:
because they have power as a great body to exercise discipline that concerneth the whole Congregations of all the Nation, which power is not in inferiour Elderships. Now that there is not to be •ound in the word a Congregation with an Eldership, and one Pastor that hath the power of all discipline independently, within it selfe, I prove:
1. I reason from the Apostolic Churches practise,1 which must be a pattern to us: And first, let no man say the Argument is weak, because the Apostolic Church being liable to persecution, and Parishes not then settled, their order cannot be a rule to us: For 1. we have not a perfect pattern if the Apostolic Church be laid aside, as no rule to us. 2. It is said, Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy-Ghost, were multiplied. Hence if there be not a pattern of such an independent Congregation by precept or practise, where one particular Congregation with one Pastor, and their Eldership did exercise, or may exercise all power of the keys in all points: Then such an independent Congregation is not to be holden; but the former is true: For 1. an instance cannot be given in the point of ordination of Ministers, by a Congregation with one Pastor. We desire an instance. 2. All ordination by practise and precept in the New Testament is by more Pastors then one; yea by a College of Pastors, which is clear, Acts 1. 13