A86000:227
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded…
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late General Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianism, independency, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianisme, independencie, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.
London: printed for Robert Bostock, 1647
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
109
Yea the Helvetian Confession in the place now cited, doth so tax the inordinate zeal of the Donatists and Anabaptists (which are so bent upon the rooting out of the tares out of the Lords field, that they take not heed of the danger of plucking up the wheat) that withal it doth not obscurely commend the Ecclesiastical Forensical Discipline, as distinct from the civil Power, and seeing (say they) tis altogether necessary that there be in the Church a Discipline; and among the Ancients in times past Excommunication hath been usual, and Ecclesiastical ⟨p. 44⟩Courts have been among the People of God, among whom this Discipline was exercised by prudent and goods men; It belongeth also to Ministers according to the case of the times, the public estate and necessity, to moderate this Discipline; Where this rule is ever to be held, that all ought to be done to edification, decently, honestly, without tyranny and sedition; The Apostle also witnesseth, 2 Cor. 13. that to himself, was given of God a Power unto edification, and not unto destruction.
Yea the Helvetian Confession in the place now cited, doth so tax the inordinate zeal of the Donatists and Anabaptists (which are so bent upon the rooting out of the tares out of the Lords field, that they take not heed of the danger of plucking up the wheat) that withall it doth not obscurely commend the Ecclesiastical Forensical Discipline, as distinct from the civil Power, and seeing (say they) ttis altogether necessary that there be in the Church a Discipline; and among the Ancients in times past Excommunication hath been usual, and Ecclesiastical