A57976:856
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.
2. Conclusion. 1Our adversaries here corrupt the mind of Cartwright, 2Viretus, Calvin, and others, who say that the authority of Kings come immediately from God as Creator,3 and not from God in Christ as Mediator:4 For the kingly power is considered two ways, 1. In general, as kingly, and in the person of heathen Princes, who know nothing of God as a Redeemer in the Mediator. And so the kingly power in general as given for the good of all humane societies in general, is from God the Creator for the good of all societies whither heathen or Christian. So Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Nero, and Julian were essentially Kings, and yet had not their kingly power immediately from the Mediator Christ, except in this general sense that the kingly power is a lawful ordinance of God warranted by the word of God, and Testament of our Testator Jesus Christ, because ⟨p. 295⟩these are essentially Kings and lawful Magistrates who either never heard of Christ, nor any thing of God; but only that he is Creator of the world, or then who persecute and hate the name of Jesus Christ. It may be that the fruits of persecuting Princes, their government redound to the •ood and salvation of the Saints, and that by accident, as all things work out for the good to those who love God. Now •ormalists denying such to be lawful Kings, as either know not Christ, or believe not in him, join hands with Papists, and make way for Anabaptisticall Anarchy, that a persecuting, or an unbelieving King is no King, not to be obeyed, but to be turned out of his Throne: And to this meaning, Calvin, Viretus, and Cartwright teach that the kingly power floweth immediately from God the Creator, not from God in the Mediator Christ. But 2. th• kingly power is considered in a special manner, as it is in a Christian, whether professing only the Gospel, or truly believing in Christ, and so in relation to Christs Church and to the soul of a believing Prince, the kingly power floweth from God in and through the Mediator Jesus Christ, as all common favours which in general flow from God the Creator, are sanctified, and blessed to the believers in the Mediator Christ, as meat, drink, sleep, riches, kingly honour. And in this meaning, Sauls kingly honour in respect of Saul himself is but a common favour flowing from the Creator;