A92138:1055
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.
Erastus. If these words, v. 3. I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit, have decreed, &c. signify, choose out of your company, Presbyters, who are to censure the manners of the people, who shall debar ⟨p. 380⟩[…] ⟨p. 381⟩[…] ⟨p. 382⟩the unworthy from the Sacraments, I am willing to suffer any thing.
Erastus. If these words, v. 3. I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit, have decreed, &c. signifie, choose out of your company, Presbyters, who are to censure the manners of the people, who shall debarre ⟨p. 380⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 381⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 382⟩the unworthy from the Sacraments, I am willing to suffer any thing.
Ans. I know no man but Erastus that dreameth of any such sense, there is no institution of a Presbytery in this Chapter, no calling of Ministers; but it presupposeth a ministry before s••led. But if th•se words. I have decreed, &c. have the Erastian sense, I have given s•••e•c• as a Magistrate, that the man be killed by the ministry of the Devil; and that you shall be my Heralds to proclaim this sentence: it is a wonder the Text give not any hint of such a sense.