A57976:572
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.
Answ. 1. That the faithful speak,1 propose, and reason,2 our book of discipline saith. So saith Zuinglius, 3Beza, yea the Fathers, as Cyprian and others: Who will not have Acts made against the peoples consent;4 it is like the multitude speak,5 but orderly, seeing the Holy Ghost was here, v 28. Whittaker saith only, it is like that some of the multitude spake: And what marvel then many should speak, seeing it was untruth that any of Moses Law, which was also Gods Law, should be abrogated. 2. The Church may send in some cases learned and holy men to Synods, who are neither Pastors, Elders, nor Doctors: So was here [Greek or Hebrew] brethren, that is, choice and able men; otherwise believing women, and the whole Church of believers com• under the name of brethren in Scripture.a Parker saith well, The material ground of commissioners at assemblies is their gifts and holiness, the formal ground is the Church calling and sending them. 3. That the whole multitude had definitive voices, is first against what we have said, expounding these words, Mat. 18. (Tell the Church) 2. It is a mere popular government refuted before.7 3. I reason from the end of the Synod. These only had definitive votes, who met together synodically for to consider of this question, but these were only Apostles and Elders, v. 6. including brethren, who only had place to judge, as Bullinger and Calvin saith, and not the multitude. 4. The Canons are denomin• ted [Greek or Hebrew], Decrees ordained by the Apostles and Elders, Acts 16. 4.