A92138:1001
The divine right of church-government and excommunication
The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peaceable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justified, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examined; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peacable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justifi'd, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examin'd; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field for Christopher Meredith, 1646
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.
It is worthy consideration, whether Erastus will have all those only that acknowledged their sins and repent, admitted to the holy things of God in the Old Testament; if not, he must show a difference, why pearls might be cast to Swine, and scorners rebuked, and holy things profaned by the uncircumcised & profane in the old Testament, not in the New: this he shall not show, if they were debarred who repented not, how saith he in all his book, that none were debarred from the holy things of God in the Old Testament for Moral uncleanness?
It is worthy consideration, whether Erastus will have all those only that acknowledged their sins and repent, admitted to the holy things of God in the Old Testament; if not, he must shew a difference, why pearls might be cast to Swine, and scorners rebuked, and holy things prophaned by the uncircumcised & prophane in the old Testament, not in the New: this he shall not shew, if they were debarred who repented not, how saith he in all his book, that none were debarred from the holy things of God in the Old Testament for Morall uncleannesse?
Erastus. But we impugn this which you say, that God hath ordained1 Presbyters or Elders to be judges and examinators of that business: But we say, that God neither commanded in the Old, or New Testament, that Priests or any other, should examine those who brought oblations for sin, whether they did truly repent, or dissemble only; and ye say there be chosen Elders who should try this in the New Testament.
Erastus. But we impugne this which you say, that God hath ordained1 Presbyters or Elders to be judges and examinators of that businesse: But we say, that God neither commanded in the Old, or New Testament, that Priests or any other, should examine those who brought oblations for sin, whether they did truly repent, or dissemble only; and ye say there be chosen Elders who should try this in the New Testament.