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Author: Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.
Title: Aarons rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present Erastian controversie concerning the distinction of civill and ecclesiasticall government, excommunication, and suspension, is fully debated and discussed, from the holy scripture, from the Jewish and Christian antiquities, from the consent of latter writers, from the true nature and rights of magistracy, and from the groundlesnesse of the chief objections made against the Presbyteriall government in point of a domineering arbitrary unlimited power / by George Gillespie ...
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Print source: Aarons rod blossoming, or, The divine ordinance of church-government vindicated so as the present Erastian controversie concerning the distinction of civill and ecclesiasticall government, excommunication, and suspension, is fully debated and discussed, from the holy scripture, from the Jewish and Christian antiquities, from the consent of latter writers, from the true nature and rights of magistracy, and from the groundlesnesse of the chief objections made against the Presbyteriall government in point of a domineering arbitrary unlimited power / by George Gillespie ...
Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.
London: Printed by E.G. for Richard Whitaker ..., 1646.
Subject terms:
Ecclesiastical law -- Great Britain.
Church and state -- Great Britain.
Church polity.
Excommunication.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A42757.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
TO THE Reverend and Learned Assembly of DIVINES Convened at WESTMINSTER.
To the Candid Reader.
THE CONTENTS.
The first Booke. Of the Jewish Church Government.
CHAP. I. That if the Erastians could prove what they alledge con∣cerning the Iewish Church Government, yet in that particular the Iewish Church could not be a president to the Christian.
CHAP. II. That the Iewish Church was formally distinct from the Iewish State or Commonwealth.
CHAP. III. That the Iewes had an ecclesiasticall Sanhedrin and Go∣vernment distinct from the civill.
CHAP. IV. That there was an Ecclesiasticall Excommunication a∣mong the Iewes: and what it was.
CHAP. V. Of the cutting of from among the people off God frequently mentioned in the Law.
CHAP. VI. Of the casting out of the Synagogue.
CHAP. VII. Other Scripturall arguments to prove an Excommunicati∣on in the Iewish Church.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Iewish Exomologesis, or publike Declaration of Re∣pentance by confession of sinne.
CHAP. IX. Whether in the Iewish Church there was any suspension or exclusion of prophane, scandalous, notorious sinners, from partaking in the publique Ordinances, with the rest of the children of Israel in the Temple.
CHAP. X. A debate with M. Prynne, concerning the exclusion of prophane scandalous persons from the Passeover.
CHAP. XI. A Confutation of the strongest arguments of Erastus, namely, those drawn from the Law of Moses.
CHAP. XII. Fourteen arguments to prove that scandalous and pre∣sumptuous offenders against the morall Law, (though circumcised, and not being legally uncleane) were ex∣cluded from the Passeover.
CHAP. XIII. M. Prynnes argument from 1 Cor. 10. (which he takes to be unanswerable) discussed and confuted.
An Appendix to the first Booke.
The second Booke. Of the Christian Church Government.
CHAP. I. Of the rise, growth, decay and reviving of Erastia∣nisme.
CHAP. II. Some Postulata or common principles to be presupposed.
CHAP. III. What the Erastians yeeld unto us, and what we yeeld unto them?
CHAP. IV. Of the agreement and the differences between the nature of the Civill, and of the Ecclesiasticall powers or Govern∣ments.
CHAP. V. Of a twofold Kingdome of Iesus Christ: a generall King∣dome as he is the eternall Sonne of God, the Head of all Principalities and Powers, raigning over all creatures: and a particular Kingdome, as he is Mediator, raigning over the Church onely.
CHAP. VI. Whether Iesus Christ, as Mediator, and Head of the Church, hath placed the Christian Magistrate, to hold and execute his office, under and for him as his Vice∣gerent? The Arguments for the affirmative discussed.
CHAP. VII. Arguments for the negative of that Question formerly propounded.
CHAP. VIII. Of the power and priviledge of the Magistrate in things and causes Ecclesiasticall, what not, and what it is?
CHAP. IX. That by the Word of God there ought to be another Go∣vernment besides Magistracy or civill Government, namely an Ecclesiasticall Government (properly so cal∣led) in the hands of Church-officers.
CHAP. X. Some objections made against Ecclesiasticall Government and Discipline, answered.
CHAP. XI. The necessity of a distinct Church-government, under Christian, as well as under Heathen Magistrates.
APPENDIX.
The third Booke. Of Excommunication from the Church, AND Of Suspension from the Lords Table.
CHAP. I. An opening of the true state of the question, and of Master Prynnes many mistakes and mis-representations of our Principles.
CHAP. II. Whether Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. prove Excommunica∣tion.
CHAP. III. A further demonstration that these words Let him be un∣to thee as an Heathen man and a Publican, are not meant of avoyding Civill, but Religious or Church∣fellowship.
CHAP. IV. A Confutation of Erastus and Bilson their Interpretation of Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. as likewise of Dr. Sutcliffe his Glosse, differing somewhat from theirs.
CHAP. V. That Tell it unto the Church hath more in it, then, Tell it unto a greater number.
CHAP. VI. Of the power of binding and loosing, Matth. 18. 18.
CHAP. VII. That 1 Cor. 5. proveth Excommunication, and (b a necessary consequence even from the Erastian Interpre∣tation) Suspension from the Sacrament of a person un excommunicated.
CHAP. VIII. Whether Judas received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
CHAP. IX. Whether Judas received the Sacrament of the Passeover that night in which our Lord was betrayed.
CHAP. X. That if it could be proved that Judas received the Lords Supper, it maketh nothing against the Suspension of known wicked persons from the Sacrament.
CHAP. XI. Whether it be a full discharge of duty to admonish a scan∣dalous person of the danger of unworthy communica∣ting? And whether a Minister in giving him the Sa∣crament after such admonition, be no way guilty?
CHAP. XII. Whether the Sacrament of the Lords Supper be a conver∣ting or regenerating Ordinance.
CHAP. XIII. Twenty Arguments to prove that the Lords Supper is not a converting Ordinance.
CHAP. XIV. Master Prynne his twelve Arguments brought to prove that the Lords Supper is a converting Ordinance, dis∣cussed and answered.
CHAP. XV. Whether the admission of scandalous and notorious sinners to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, be a pollution and prophanation of that holy Ordinance? And in what respects it may be so called?
CHAP. XVI. An Argument of Erastus (drawn from the Baptisme of John) against the excluding of scandalous sinners from the Lords Supper, examined.
CHAP. XVII. Antiquity for the Suspension of all scandalous persons from the Sacrament, even such as were admitted to o∣ther publique Ordinances.
CHAP. XVIII. A discovery of the instability and loosenesse of M. Prynne his principles, even to the contradicting of himselfe in twelve particulars.
The Names of Writers or Workes cited and made use of in this Tractate.
The first Booke. Of the Jewish Church-government.
CHAP. I. That if the Erastians could prove what they alledge con∣cerning the Iewish Church Government, yet in that particular the Iewish Church could not be a president to the Christian.
CHAP. II. That the Iewish Church was formally distinct from the Iewish State or Common-wealth.
CHAP. III. That the Iewes had an Ecclesiasticall Sanhedrin and Go∣vernment distinct from the Civill.
CHAP. IV. That there was an Ecclesiasticall Excommunication a∣mong the Iewes: and what it was.
CHAP. V. Of the cutting off from among the people of God, frequently men∣tioned in the Law.
CHAP. VI. Of the casting out of the Synagogue.
CHAP. VII. Other Scripturall Arguments to prove an Excommu∣cation in the Iewish Church.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Iewish Exomologesis, or publike Declaration of Re∣pentance by confession of sinne.
CHAP. IX. Whether in the Iewish Church, there was any Suspen∣sion or exclusion of prophane, scandalous, notorious sin∣ners, from partaking in the publike Ordinances, with the rest of the Children of Israel in the Temple.
CHAP. X. A debate with Master Prynne, concerning the ex∣clusion of prophane scandalous persons from the passeover.
CHAP. XI. A Confutation of the strongest arguments of Erastus, namely, those drawn from the Law of Moses.
CHAP. XII. Fourteen Arguments, to prove that scandalous and pre∣sumptuous Offenders against the morall Law (though circumcised and not being legally uncleane) were ex∣cluded from the Passeover.
CHAP. XIII. Master Prynnes Argument from 1 Cor. 10. (which he takes to be unanswerable) discussed and confuted.
AN APPENDIX To the First Booke: Containing an additionall debate concerning the Jewish Church-Government and Censures.
objection 1
objection 2
objection 3
objection 4
objection 5
objection 6
objection 7
objection 8
objection 9
objection 10
objection 11
objection 12
objection 13
objection 14
The second Book OF THE CHRISTIAN Church-Goverment.
CHAP. I. Of the Rise, Growth, Decay, and Reviving of Erastianisme.
CHAP. II. Some Postulata or common Principles to be presupposed.
CHAP. III. What the Erastians yeeld unto Vs, and what We yeeld unto them.
CHAP. IV. Of the agreements and differences be∣tween the nature of the Civil and of the Ecclesiastical Powers or Govern∣ments.
CHAP. V. Of a twofold Kingdom of Iesus Christ: a general Kingdom, as he is the eternal Son of God, the Head of all Principalities and Powers, raigning over all creatures: and a particular Kingdom, as he is Me∣diator, raigning over the Church onely.
CHAP. VI. Whether Jesus Christ, as Mediator and head of the Church, hath laced the Christian Magistrate to hold and execute his Office under and fo him, as his Vicegerent. The Argu∣ments for the discus∣sed.
CHAP. VII. Arguments for the Negative of that Question formerly propounded.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Power and Priviledge of the Magistrate in things and causes Ec∣clesiastical; what it is not, and what it is.
CHAP. IX. That by the Word of God there ought to be another Government beside Magistracy r Civil Goveramnt, amely an Ecclesiastical Government (properly so calld) in the hands of Church-officrs.
CHAP. X. Some Objections mde against Ecclesi∣astical Government ad Discipline answered.
CHAP. XI. The necessity of a distinct Church-Go∣vernment under Christian as well as under Heathen Magistrates.
An Appendix to the second Book, contain∣ing a Collection of some Testimonies not cited before; And first a Testimony of King Iames in a Declaration of his, pen∣ned with his own hand, signed and deli∣vered to the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland at Linlithgow, December 7. Anno 1585.
Testimonies taken out of the Harmony of the Confessions of the Faith of the Churches, Rprinted at London 1643.
THE THIRD BOOKE. OF Excommunication from the CHURCH. AND, Of Suspension from the LORDS TABLE.
CHAP. I. An opening of the true state of the question, and of Master Prynnes many mistakes and mis-representations of our Principles.
CHAP. II. Whether Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. prove Excommunica∣tion.
CHAP. III. A further demonstration that these words, Let him be to thee as an Heathen man and a Publican, are not meant of avoyding Civill, but Religious or Church∣fellowship.
CHAP. IV. A confutation of Erastus and Bilson their Interpreta∣tion of Math. 18. 15, 16, 17. as likewise of Do∣ctor Sutliffe his Glosse differing some what from theirs.
CHAP. V. That Tell it to the Church hath more in it, then, Tell it unto a greater number.
CHAP. VI. Of the power of binding and loosing Matth. 18. 18.
CHAP. VII. That 1 Cor. 5. proveth Excommunication and (by a ne∣cessary consequence even from the Erastian Interpre∣tation) Suspension from the Sacrament of a person unexcommunicated.
CHAP. VIII. Whether Judas received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
CHAP. IX. Whether Judas received the Sacrament of the Passeover that night in which our Lord was betrayed.
CHAP. X. That if it could be proved that Judas received the Lords Supper, it maketh nothing against the Suspension of known wicked persons from the Sacrament.
CHAP. XI. Whether it he a full discharge of duty to admonish a scan∣dalous person of the danger of unworthy communica∣ting? And whether a Minister in giving him the Sa∣crament after such admonition, be no way guilty?
CHAP. XII. Whether the Sacrament of the Lords Supper be a converting or regenera∣ting Ordinance.
CHAP. XIII. Twenty Aguments to prove that the Lords Supper is not a converting Or∣dinance.
CHAP. XIIII. Mr. Prynne his twelve Arguments brought to prove that the Lords Sup∣per is a converting Ordinance, discus∣sed and answered.
CHAP. XV. Whether the admission of scandalous and notorious sinners to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, be a pollution and profanation of that holy Ordinance; And in what respects it may be so called?
CHAP. XVI. An Argument of Erastus (drawn from the Baptism of John) gainst the excluding of scandalous sinners from the Lords Supper, xamined.
CHAP. XVII. Antiquity for the suspension of all scan∣dalous persons from the Sacrament, even such as were admitted to other publik Ordinances.
CHAP. XVIII. A Discovery of the instability and loose∣nesse of Mr. Prynn his Principles, even to the contradicting of himself in twelve particulars.
I shall now close with four Counter-Quaeries to Mr. Prynne.
A Testimony of Mr. Foxe the Author of the Book of Mar∣tyrs, taken out of a treatise of his printed at London, 1551. entituled De Censura Ecclesiastica Interpel∣latio J. Foxi, the eighth Chapter of which Treatise is here translated out of Latin into English. What the are chief obstacles hindering Excommunication?