A57976:603
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.
Our eleventh Argument is from the light of sanctified reason; for sanctified reason teacheth that the stronger authority of the greater politic body of Christ should help the parts of the body that are weaker, as 1 Cor. 12. The whole body suffereth when one member suffereth, and so the whole body helpeth the weaker, and less honourable member, 1 Cor. 12. v. 23, 26. So universal nature contendeth for the safety of particular nature, and helpeth it; therefore the greater body and National Church is to communicate its authority for the good of a particular Congregation, which is a part thereof: But the doctrine of independency maketh every Congregation an independent and complete body within it self, needing no authority to govern it, higher then its own authority, as if it were an independent whole Church, and no part of a greater visible Church: But suppose the greatest part of Corinth deny the resurrection, as often the worst are manyest, then I ask,1 whom to doth the Lord speak? Take us the little foxes that spoil the vines: He speaketh either to greater Synods, which we say, that the greater body may help a part, and save a little daughter of Zion: Or to the soundest part of the Congregation; but they are weakest and fewest, and shall the greater body look and see a member perish, and not help? Let them help (say our brethren) with advise and counsel, but not with command and authority.
Our eleventh Argument is from the light of sanctified reason; for sanctisied reason teacheth that the stronger authority of the greater politicke body of Christ should help the parts of the body that are weaker, as 1 Cor. 12. The whole body suffereth when one member suffereth, and so the whole body helpeth the weaker, and lesse honourable member, 1 Cor. 12. v. 23, 26. So universall nature contendeth for the safety of particular nature, and helpeth it; therefore the greater body and Nationall Church is to communicate its authority for the good of a particular Congregation, which is a part thereof: But the doctrine of independency maketh every Congregation an independent and compleat body within it selfe, needing no authority to governe it, higher then its owne authority, as if it were an independent whole Church, and no part of a greater visible Church: But suppose the greatest part of Corinth deny the resurrection, as often the worst are manyest, then I aske,