A92138:1039
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 must be a miraculous knowledge, by which Paul at Philippi looked upon the mans heart at Corinth, one of the greatest miracles that ever Paul wrought for Paul had the knowledge of the mans sin only by report, v. 1. [Greek or Hebrew] it is reported; between Pauls writing the first verse of that Chapter, and his writing the third verse there must intervene a miraculous discovery of the incestuous mans heart, Paul being at Philippi, and the man at Corinth; and Paul knowing the man to be penitent, and because of his penitency (as Erastus saith) Paul did not kill him: Yet Paul so far absent, must have given out a miraculous sentence, as a miraculous Magistrate. I (saith he) by revelation as having the sword of God now in my hand, have judged, and given out sentence, that this man shall be miraculously killed by Satan, before your eyes, that all may fear, and do so no more, and yet I know him to be penitent, and that he shall not be killed by Satan; a monstrous and irrational sentence, if it be said, that by report Paul had knowledge of his sin, and by report also he had knowledge of his repentance, and that his spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord, and that this knowledge came not to Paul by any immediate revelation. I answer, Yet the sentence must stand by Erastus his mind touching [Greek or Hebrew]. I have judged and ⟨p. 376⟩condemned him as a miraculous Magistrate to dye upon a report, though I never heard him, and I know he shall not dye for this fault: for can it be said, that Paul retracted a sentence which he gave out as the deputy of God, and he even then, when he wrote the sentence, kn•w there was so much repentance in the man, as he would for it be moved not to kill him. 4. There is no ground in the Text, why Paul should be said to seek the naked presence of the whole people, to do such a miracle before them, he being himself absent; for there is more then a naked presence of the Corinthians, as only witnesses that they might be afraid & do so no more: for they were present as instructed with the spirit of Paul, and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ▪ to deliver such a one to Satan: as the words bear, v. 4. [Greek or Hebrew]. For to be convened in the name of Christ, being spoken, Mat. 18. v. 20.
It must be a miraculous knowledge, by which Paul at Philippi looked upon the mans heart at Corinth, one of the greatest miracles that ever Paul wrought for Paul had the knowledge of the mans sinne only by report, v. 1. it is reported; between Pauls writing the first verse of that Chapter, and his writing the third verse there must interveene a miraculous discovery of the incestuous mans heart, Paul being at Philippi, and the man at Corinth; and Paul knowing the man to be penitent, and because of his penitency (as Erastus saith) Paul did not kill him: Yet Paul so farre absent, must have given out a miraculous sentence, as a miraculous Magistrate. I (saith he) by revelation as having the sword of God now in my hand, have judged, and given out sentence, that this man shall be miraculously killed by Satan, before your eyes, that all may feare, and do so no more, and yet I know him to be penitent, and that he shall not be killed by Satan; a monstrous and irrationall sentence, if it be said, that by report Paul had knowledge of his sinne, and by report also he had knowledge of his repentence, and that his spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord, and that this knowledge came not to Paul by any immediate revelation. I answer, Yet the sentence must stand by Erastus his mind touching . I have judged and