A92138:1050
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. One simple head in a moment, may deny more then many wise men can prove in a whole day, it proveth they are more cumbersome in their disputes, then strong; that there was a Jewish Presbytery, •hat is, a civill judicature, is confuted by Lev. 10. 10. where there is a Court of Aaron's sons, whose it was to judge ⟨p. 380⟩of Church matters only, and to put difference between holy, and unholy, between clean, and unclean. 2. A Presbytery of arbitrators in matters civill, to keep Christians from going to law one with another, before heathen judges: Is not a Presbytery, 1 Cor. 6. one wise man might do that, and he is no Presbytery. 2. There is no judicatures of Officers there; they were but gifted men arbitrarily chosen for a certain business, and were not judges, habitu. 3. A Presbytery for Doctrine only is further to seek in the word, I hope, then our Presbytery; Erastus should teach us where it is. 4. He denieth a Presbytery for manners, then all scandals must come before the civill Magistrate. Who made him a Church officer to judge of the affairs of the Church? Who is to be admitted to the seals, who not? For two supreme Courts, I shall speak God-willing.
Ans. One simple head in a moment, may deny more then many wise men can prove in a whole day, it proveth they are more cumbersome in their disputes, then strong; that there was a Iewish Presbytery, •hat is, a civill judicature, is con•uted by Lev. 10. 10. where there is a Court of Aarons sonnes, whose it was to judge ⟨p. 380⟩of Church matters only, and to put difference betweene holy, and unholy, betweene cleane, and uncleane. 2. A Presbytery of arbitrators in matters civill, to keep Christians from going to law one with another, before heathen judges: Is not a Presbytery, 1 Cor. 6. one wise man might do that, and he is no Presbytery. 2. There is no judicatures of Officers there; they were but gifted men arbitrarily chosen for a certaine businesse, and were not judges, habitu. 3. A Presbytery for Doctrine only is further to seek in the word, I hope, then our Presbytery; Erastus should teach us where it is. 4. He denieth a Presbytery for manners, then all scandals must come before the civill Magistrate. Who made him a Church officer to judge of the affairs of the Church? Who is to be admitted to the seals, who not? For two supream Courts, I shall speak God-willing.