An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way.: Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644.
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Title
An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way.: Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644.
Author
Hollingworth, Richard, 1607-1656.
Publication
London :: Printed by J.R. for Tho. Smith, and are to be sold at his shop at Manchester,
1645.
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Subject terms
Church polity
Dissenters, Religious -- England
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"An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way.: Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A86483.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024.
Pages
22. The Lord Jesus, reproving the Angel of Pergamus for suf∣fering Balaamites, sends his Epistle not onely to the Angel,but to the Church. The Spirit saith not onely to the Angels, but to the Churches, Revel. 2.11. And the Church-members are seen by John in a Vision, sitting on Thrones, clothed with white raiment having on their heads crowns of gold, Revel. 4.14. Now thrones and crowns are ensignes of Authority and gover∣ning power.
The Lord Jesus, reproving the Angel of Pergamus, sends his Epistle (say you) not to the Angel, but to the Church: I adde, Not to the Church, but to Churches. As you gather, that the suffering of corrupt persons and practice was the sin of the Church, and not of the Angel onely: so I may gather, that it was the sin not of one Church onely, but the neighbou∣ring Churches also: But this you deny. I read in Revel. 4. that four and twenty Elders (distinguished from Believers, c. 7.8. 11.13.14.) not four and twenty Saints or Members) were so clothed and crowned, by which I understand the Officers of the Church, alluding to the four and twenty Orders of the Priests, and the four Beasts represent the Christian Churches thorow the four quarters of the world, alluding to the four Camps of Israel, bearing in their Standards the same Beasts.(h) By your Exposition, the Elders, which (you say) are signified
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by the four Beasts, are excluded from governing power; for they sit not on Thrones, nor have Crowns on their heads. Their Crowns and Thrones are no more Ensignes of Power and Authoritie, then their white Raiments of Priesthood:(h) But they are not Priests by Office, they cannot do Pastorall acts, as Baptize, &c. neither have they authority to govern. Every Christian man or woman, Church-members or other, hath a Crown, and sitteth on a Throne, viz. is Spi∣ritually a King and Priest to God, Revel. 5.10. Finally, gover∣ning power, properly so called, you(i) acknowledge none, but in the Elders alone, 1 Cor. 12.28. Rom. 12.8. Heb. 13.17. The peoples power is more fitly called Liberty and Priviledge, too mean a thing to be represented by Crowns and Thrones.