A57976:766
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. By the former grounds we are to stand at single rebuking, and proceed no farther.
13. Suppose the independent Congregation consist of ten Elders and an hundred believers: If the ten Elders abide sound in the faith, and the hundred believers err in fundamental points of faith: In that case we ask, 1. If Christ have appointed no pastoral or ministerial act of discipline to reclaim these hundred who err from the faith.
13. Suppose the independent Congregation consist of ten Elders and an hundred beleevers: If the ten Elders abide sound in the faith, and the hundred beleevers erre in fundamentall points of faith: In that case we aske, 1. If Christ have appointed no pastorall or ministeriall act of discipline to reclaime these hundred who erre from the faith.
I answer, none at all which may, authoritatively reclaim them, for they are the supreme independent Church. 2. Because it cannot be denied but Pastors and Doctors of the s•id Eldership may preach against their errors, and shoot Heaven upon the pertinacious defenders of these pernicious errors, and that by the power of the keys, Mat. 16. 19. Jo•. 20. 23. yet have they no power of discipline to shut Heaven upon them, who thus err from the faith, nor to bind their sins on earth, because the Eldership is not the Church, neither hath power of jurisdiction over the hundred erring believers. How can a power of binding and loosing by way of preaching, and that both in Gods Court and the Churches be in ⟨p. 275⟩these who have no power of discipline to bind and loose.