A57976:626
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.
It is also more then evident that the Church of Corinth was not a congregation of believers only, or a congregation with one pastor only, and so not an independent congregation, for there was at Corinth a college of pastors and so a presbytery of Elders, Doctors, teachers and Prophets; for 1. Paul was but a founder of this Church, there were many others that built upon the foundation Christ Jesus, and some built gold and silver, that is good and sound Doctrine, some hay and stubble, 11 Cor. 4. 6. And these things, Brethren, I have in a figure trans-ferred to my self, and to Apollo for your sakes, that ye might learn in us, not to think of men above that which is (written:) whence I collect, howbeit Paul, and Apollo and Cephas, were not constantly resident teachers at Corinth, yet there were other pastors there, of whom Paul and Apollo were named as figures, that with the less envy he might rebuke them, and amongst these many teachers, some said this is the best preacher, others said nay, but another preacher liketh my ear better; and so there hath been so many choice pastors there, as the Proverb was true amongst ⟨p. 238⟩them, Wealth maketh wit to waver, which Paul sharply rebuketh as a schism, 1 Cor. 1. 12, 13. 1 Cor: 3. 4, 5. So Paul saith, Though ye have ten thousand and instructors, yet have ye not many •athers, 1 Co•: 4. 15. Then they had amongst them many teachers: And it is 2. clear from 1 Cor. 12. 14, 15, 16, 17, 28, 29, 30. that there were amongst them Apostles, Prophets, Doctors, Governments, or ruling Elders, and that this fault was amongst them, that the higher contemned the lower, which is, as if the eye should say, I have no need of the hand, and that they were not content of that place in Christs body, while as they would all be pastors, and all eyes, and so, where then were the hearing, v. 17. and to these especially Paul directed his rebuke, 1 Cor. 5. because of their neglect of discipline against scandalous persons, not excluding the multitude of believers, who also in their kind deserved to be rebuked. 3. We may see