A92138:1061
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. There was never a wiser common wealth in the world,1 then that of the Jews, Deut. 4 But in the Common wealth of the Jews, there were never two distinct judicatures concerning manners: Ergo, There should not be these two different jurisdictions in the Christian common wealth. But all should be given to the civill Magistrate.
Erastus. There was never a wiser common wealth in the world,1 then that of the Iews, Deut. 4 But in the Common vvealth of the Ievves, there vvere never tvvo distinct judicatures concerning manners: Ergo, There should not be these tvvo different jurisdictions in the Christian common vvealth. But all should be given to the civill Magistrate.
- 1Page 262. lib. 4.
Ans. Erastus is seldom happy in his Logic, his Syllogisms are thin sown, all Gods laws are most wise, but if this be a good Argument, was not their Church, their Religion, their Ceremonies, their judicial Laws, all wise and righteous? Then the Christian Church should be conform yet to the Jewish, we should have those same bloody sacrifices, judicial laws, Ceremonies that they had. The Judicatures and officers are positive things, flowing from the positive will of God, who doth appoint one jurisdiction for them, most wise, and another to Christians different from them, and in its kind, most wise. 2. We give two judicatures in the Church of the Jews, concerning manners, one civil, acknowledged by Erastus; another spiritual & Ecclesiastic, ordaining Ecclesiastic and Spiritual punishments upon the unclean, Lev. 10. 10. As to be removed out of the camp, and such like, and