A57976:602
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.
I answer, seeing all these Pastors and Elders in a national Synod, are no other way over all the Churches of Scotland, then the particular Eldership in a particular congregation is over the believers, there be no more too many Lords and Masters over the whole Churches collectively united in a general Synod, then there be too many Lords over the particular congregations. For 1. in both meetings the believers choose their own guides and commanders that are over them. 2. Nothing is done in either a National or in a congregational Synod without the tacit consent of believers. 3. In both, it is free for believers to refuse and not receive, what is decreed contrary to Gods Word, See Zipperus, 1and so there is no dominion here, but what you find, Heb. 13. 17. 1 •hess. 5. 14, 15. Math. 18. 17, 18. Nay, our brethren will have pastors so far strangers to all congregations, save only to their own, that M. Davenport and Mr. Best saith to the Pastors and Churches other Churches are without, and Pastors have nothing to do to judge them, and they allege for this, 1 Cor. 5. 12. but by these that are (without) Paul meaneth not these who were not of the congregation of Corinth, but he meaneth Infidels and Heathen as in other Scriptures,a for Paul judged and excommunicated Hymenaeus and Alexander, 1 Tim. 1. 20. who were without the Church of Corinth, and if this exposition, stand Pastors can extend no Church censure towards these who are of other congregations, neither can they rebuke nor admonish them as Christians, for ⟨p. 227⟩these are Acts of Church-censures, as our brethren teach.
I answer, seeing all these Pastors and Elders in a nationall Synod, are no other way over all the Churches of Scotland, then the particular Eldership in a particular congregation is over the believers, there be no more too many Lords and Masters over the whole Churches collectively united in a general Synod, then there be too many Lords over the particular congregations. For 1. in both meetings the beleevers choose their owne guides and commanders that are over them. 2. Nothing is done in either a Nationall or in a congregationall Synod without the tacite consent of believers. 3. In both, it is free for beleevers to refuse and not receive, what is decreed contrary to Gods Word, See Zipperus,