A92138:1031
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.
Ans. Erastus perverteth the sense of Beza his words, for Beza has no such conclusion as to prove a formal excommunication by the Elders, or Church judicature; this is Erastus sained conclusion. Beza inferreth from these words, that there is here gravissimae excommunicationis 1species, a kind of heavy excommunication, materially, to be eternally separated from Christ, called the great excommunication. And it was to be accursed while the Lord come, and therefore this may prove there is a kind of lesser excommunication, in the Church, and Moses his cursing by way of preaching, may well infer, that because there be Church censures, therefore there is a Church cursing heavy, and less heavy. But Beza intendeth not to prove excommunication by the Church from this, but only that Christs enemies are cursed, though they be other ways in the Church; ⟨p. 373⟩and this kind of excommunication, of shutting impenitent sinners out of heaven, is in a thousand places of scripture, and nothing can hence be concluded against Beza; and the like excommunication is Gal. 1. And when Joh. 2. Ep. forbiddeth to receive a fa••e teacher into your house, if he be a member of the Church, he is to be far less kept in Christs greater house the Church; but is to be cast out.
Ans. Erastus perverteth the sense of Beza his words, for Beza has no such conclusion as to prove a formall excommunication by the Elders, or Church judicature; this is Erastus sained conclusion. Beza inferreth from these words, that there is here gravissimae excommunicationis 1species, a kind of heavy excommunication, materially, to be eternally separated from Christ, called the great excommunication. And it was to be accursed while the Lord come, and therefore this may prove there is a kind of lesser excommunication, in the Church, and Moses his cursing by way of preaching, may well inserre, that because there be Church censures, therefore there is a Church cursing heavy, and lesse heavy. But Beza intendeth not to prove excommunication by the Church from this, but only that Christs enemies are cursed, though they be other wayes in the Church;