A92138:1078
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. If God lawfully call the Magistrate to preach the Gospel, woe be to him, if he preach not, he should lay aside all other employments and preach, God never gave a talent and calling to any ⟨p. 393⟩to preach, but he ought to lay aside other things, and employ that talent to the honour of God, otherwise he sinneth in digging his Lords talent in the earth, whereas he is obliged to make five talent ten. 2. If he preach as a Pastor not as a Magistrate, then he hath another calling of God to be a Pastor, and another to be a Magistrate, and ••rtaine it is, as a Magistrate he doth not preach; because there be far other qualifications required in a Magistrate, as Deut. 1. 12. that he be wise, and understanding, and known, and a man of truth, hating covetousness, Exo. 18. 21. But there is far other qualities required in a Bishop, 1 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3. Ergo, it is one thing to be called to be a Minister, and another to be called to be a Magistrate. 3. In all the word, Christ never commanded the Magistrate to preach and baptise▪ this negative Argument Erastus useth often against us, to prove that none ought to be excluded from the Sacraments, because Priests, Prophets, Christ, Apostles never excluded any: But Christ commanded the Ministers to preach and baptise, and gave them the Holy Ghost for that effect, and sent them as the father sent him, as having received all power from the father, Math. 28. 18, 19, 20. Mark. 16. 15, 16. Joh. 20. 20, 21, 22. and least we should think this charge was given to Apostles as Apostles, he teacheth that it is given to all faithful Pastors to the end of the world, Math. 28. v. 20. Lo I am with you, even unto the end of the world, Amen. Not to say, that if it be peculiar to Apostles to preach and baptise, neither Pastors, far less Magistrates can do it, or then Pastors and Magistrates are Apostles sent to preach to all the world, and can work miracles, which is absurd. 4. Christ ascending to heaven, left Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, and work of the Ministry; not Kings and Magistrates. 5. How shall they preach, except they be sent? Magistrates as Magistrates bear the sword, and have carnal weapons, and are not sent; the weapons of Ministers are not carnal,