The reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the third proposition, concerning presbyterial government· Humbly…

Name: The reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the third proposition, concerning presbyterial government· Humbly…
Author: Westminster Assembly

The reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the third proposition, concerning presbyterial government· Humbly presented.

Westminster Assembly 1643–1652London: printed by G.M. for Ralph Smith, 1645

[2], 144 p. · 19k words · Wing R573 · ESTC R209981

Title page typeset from the transcription.

REASONS against the Third Proposition, concerning Presbyterial Gov… › Reasons against proof 4 › Reasons against the alleging, Act. 15. for the meeting of the Elde…: Reasons against the alleging, Act. 15. for the meeting of the Elders of Jerusalem, for…REASONS against the Third Proposition, concerning Presbyteriall Gov… › Reasons against proof 4 › Reasons against the alledging, Act. 15. for the meeting of the Elde…: Reasons against the alledging, Act. 15. for the meeting of the Elders of Jerusalem, for…

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.

[ Earlier:100–115 of 142

:100p. 30

2. The scope and end of this meeting was to give satisfaction to the offended Brethren of Antioch, and dogmatically to declare their judgements in a difficult case of Conscience, not to put forth any Act of Juridical power upon any, as appears in the matter of their debate, and the issue of all. Of which more fully afterward. And if it be said that Peter reproved some of their own Members present, such as had taught the necessity of the Ceremonial Law, Why tempt you God, &c. This was not delivered as an Act of Government formally, by any vote of the Presbytery, but in the way of Discourse.

2. The scope and end of this meeting was to give satisfaction to the offended Brethren of Antioch, and dogmatically to declare their judgements in a difficult case of Conscience, not to put forth any Act of Juridicall power upon any, as appeares in the matter of their debate, and the issue of all. Of which more fully afterward. And if it bee said that Peter reproved some of their own Members present, such as had taught the necessity of the Ceremoniall Law, Why tempt you God, &c. This was not delivered as an Act of Government formally, by any vote of the Presbytery, but in the way of Discourse.

:101p. 30

But it was affirmed to be sufficient to confirm the Proposition, if it be a Synodical meeting. Presbyterial and Synodical, both it cannot be; for Synods, they are or ought to be extraordinary and occasional, Presbyteries are standing and ordinary, Synods are made up of Commissioners sent from Presbyteries, and Presbyteries are made up of the Elders of particular Congregations. The Members of Synods are Elders of such Churches which are (according to the principles of Presbyterial Government) complete Churches, having full power of jurisdiction for all Acts of Government within themselves; but the members of Presbyteries are Elders of such Congregations which are neither complete Churches, nor have within themselves full and complete power. And these cannot be one. The Elders of the Presbytery of Jerusalem, (when this once became a Synod by the addition of the Elders of other Churches) ceased to be any longer a Presbytery to that Church, and must become with them a new body to all the Churches, these other Elders did come from. And then to ⟨image 17⟩

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Westminster Assembly24

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