A92138:1095
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. J wonder that you seek your Presbytery in Moses Law,1 all yours, say the Synedrie, Christ speaketh of did rise after the captivity, at least when the sword was taken from the Jews. They say David and Solomon did punish vices, they approve August. 39. quest. in Deut. that Excommunication doth now what putting to death did of Old, and deny any Excommunication to have been in the Church of the New Testament.
Erastus. J wonder that you seeke your Presbytery in Moses Law,1 all yours, say the Synedrie, Christ speaketh of did rise after the captivity, at least when the sword was taken from the Iewes. They say David and Solomon did punish vices, they approve August. 39. quest. in Deut. that Excommunication doth now what putting to death did of Old, and deny any Excommunication to have beene in the Church of the New Testament.
- 1Page 267.
Ans. Erastus declares himself to be a child, not versed in Protestant Divines, for we except Musculus, Gualther, Bullinger, some except Aretius, all our Protestant Divines go the way Beza goeth. 2. Let him produce any of ours, who say that the Synedry that Christ speaketh of, was Jewish, and ours say that Christ alludeth to the Jewish Synedrie: But all (few excepted) that Christ Mat. 18. speaketh of the Christian Church to be erected. 3. The Kings of Israel punished scandals, but that is not enough, did they govern the Church, pronounce who were clean or unclean? or middle with the charge of Ecclesiastic Government committed to Aaron and his sons? 4. We say with Augustine, that some that were killed of old, are to be Excommunicated now, Augustine speaketh not of all, and what is that against us?