A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its PeriodsShields, Alexander
History
A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods
Shields, Alexander
Church of Scotland -- Controversial literature; Church of Scotland -- History; Covenanters; Scotland -- Church history
III. It is necessary also, that all with whom we own communion as
ministers, should be Christ's ambassadors, having then, when we hear
them, and holding still their commission from Christ as king, and only
head of his church: conveyed not only from church-officers, in a way
that he hath revealed as the prophet of his church, but in a way of
dependence upon, and subordination to Christ as king, who ascending far
above principalities and powers, appointed and gave the gifts of the
ministry, Eph. iv. 8, 11. and set them in the church, 1 Cor. xii. 28.
and gave them commission to go and teach the nations, by virtue of that
all power that was given to him in heaven and earth, Matth. xxviii. 18,
19. If then they take a new holding, and close with a new conveyance of
the ministry, and of the power to exercise the same, from a new
architectonic usurped power in the church, encroaching on Christ's royal
prerogative, we dare not homologate such an affront to Christ, as to
give them the respect of his ambassadors, when they became the servants
of men, and subject even in ministerial functions to another head than
Christ, for then they are the ministers of men, and by men, and not by
Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead, because
they do not hold the head, Col. ii. 19. Hence those that receive and
derive their church power from, and are subordinate in its exercise to,
another head than Christ Jesus, should not be received and subjected to
as the ministers of Christ in his church; but the prelates and their
curates do receive and derive their church power from, and are
subordinate in its exercise to, another head than Christ: therefore they
should not be received, &c. The first proportion cannot be denied, the
second is proved thus: Those officers in the church, professing
themselves such, that derive their church power from, and are
subordinate in its exercise to, a power truly architectonic and supreme
in the church (to wit the magistrate) beside Christ, do derive their
power from, and are subordinate in its exercise to another head than
Christ Jesus; but so it is that prelates and their curates do derive,
&c. Therefore----The major is evident; for whosoever hath a supreme
architectonic power in and over the church, must be a head to the same,
and the fountain of all church-power. The minor is also clear, from the
foregoing historical deduction, manifesting the present prelacy to be
gross erastianism; for the disposal of the government of the church is
declared by law to be the crown-right, and and an inherent perpetual
prerogative, and thereupon the bishops are restored to the episcopal
function; it is expressly declared, that there is no church power in the
church office-bearers, but what depends upon, and is subordinate unto
the supremacy, and authorized by the bishops, who are declared
accountable to the king for the administration; by virtue of which
ecclesiastic supremacy, he put excommunication, and spiritual censures,
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