A92138:1082
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 to preach, dispense the Sacraments, and to judge who are unworthy of the Seals, and debar them, be taken from the Magistrate as he is a Christian, this power of visible jurisdiction over the Church is no more taken by us from the Magistrate, then it is taken from all Christians as Christians, and in regard of any such power Magistrates are no more Gods and Nursefathers in the Church, then all Christians are Gods and Nursefathers of the Church: for by the reason of Erastus, p. 175. that all Christians now are Priests and Prophets, and so may examine who are worthy of the seals, who not, then the Civill Magistrate can be, by us, spoiled of nothing that God has given him, as a Magistrate, except Erastus say that he doth all these as a Magistrate & virtute officij; which when he or any of his Disciples shall assert, beside that it is contradictorious to his way, we are ready to demonstrate that it is blasphemous & contrary to the word of God. But that Erastus does take from the Elders of the Church, and give to the Magistrate a power to judge in an Ecclesiastical way, who are to be debarred from the seals, I argue on the contrary thus; those who are to cut the word, and distribute it aright, are also to distribute the seals a right, to the worthy, not to dogs and swine, not to heathens and publicans, for it is evident that the right stewarding and distributing of ordinances doth essentially include the stewarding of them, with judgement and discerning, ⟨p. 396⟩to those that are worthy, not to those that are unworthy. But Elders, not Civill Magistrates are to do the former, Ergo the latter also. 2. Those to whom Christ committed the power of the keys to open and shut, to bind and loose, to those he hath given the use and exercise of the keys. But Christ gave the power of the keys to the Apostle Peter, as representing the Rulers of the Church, Mat. 16. 19. & to the Church, Mat. 18. 18. and not to the Magistrate as to the Magistrate; Ergo, The proposition I prove from the Texts, Mat. 18. 18. What ye sh•ll bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, &c. and Cha. 16. 19. the same is repeated: now actual binding is the use and exercise of the keys given to Peter and the Church. But it is presumed the power is given, when Christ saith, v. 19. I will give unto thee, the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. 2.