A57976:534
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.
Now followeth our sixth Argument against independent congregations.1 Where I purpose (God willing) to prove that the practise of the Apostolic Church giveth us warrant for Synods, and a meeting of Pastors, and Elders from many particular congregations giving and making ecclesiastical Canons and Decrees that tie and lay a band ecclesiastical upon many particular congregations, to observe and obey these Decrees. And, 1. the popular and democratical government of Anabaptists, where the people governeth themselves, and the Church, we reject. 2 The Popish Hierarchy, and the Popish or Episcopal Synods, where my lord Prelate the Antichrists eldest son, sitteth domineering and ruling all, we reject. 3 We grant that one sister-Church, or one presbytery, or one provincial or National Assembly hath no jurisdiction over another sister-Church, presbytery or fellow Assembly. 4 As there is a communion of Saints by brotherly counsel, direction, advise and encouragement: So this same communion is far more to be observed by sister-Churches, to write and to send Commissioners and salutations one to another; and hitherto our brethren and we go one way. 5 An absolute, independent and unlimited power of Synods over congregations, we also condemn: Their decrees tie two ways I grant, 1. Materially; for the intrinsical lawfulness of the decree: Thus our brethren will not deny, but this tie is common to the brotherly counsel and advise of friends and brethren counselling one another from Gods ⟨p. 200⟩word. For all are tied to follow what God commandeth in his word, whither a superior, an inferior or an equal speak: But we hold that the decrees of greater Synods do lay an ecclesiastical tie upon under, or lesser Synods in those bounds where presbyteries and particular congregations are. But it is weakness in Separatists, and womanly and weakly said by the author of Justification of independent Churches, 2printed, an. 1641. under the name of Katherin Childly, pag. 17. that the Synod. Act: 15. it not properly a Synod; because their decrees were not alterable, but such as were warranted by God, and a perpetual rule for all the Churches of the Gentiles, for that author ignorantly presumeth that Synods may make Canons of nothing but of circumstances of mere order:
NOw followeth our sixt Argument against independent congregations.