A92138:1108
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. It is denied, they appealed to it, as the supreme Ecclesiastic in point of Law and Conscience: Ergo, It was not politic, all the rest are answered before, yea, Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 19. putteth this as a thing peculiar to the Priests, v. 12. What cause soever shall come before you of your brethren,—between blood and blood, between Law and Commandment, Statutes and Judgements, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord; that is, as Erastus yieldeth, ye shall teach them what is just and agreeable to, and what is unjust and repugnant to the Law of God. Civill judges lips were not to preserve knowledge, as the lips of the Priests, Mal. 2. 7. and Deut. 17. 11. According to the sentence of the Law that they shall teach thee, and according to the judgement that they shall tell, thou shalt do. Hence it is clear that this judicature in civill things was a teaching, a telling, a declaring and resolving judicature, and that in blood they resolved of causes of blood, of strokes, but judged not persons, nor bloody men, nor violent persons.
Ans. It is denied, they appealed to it, as the supreme Ecclesiastick in point of Law and Conscience: Ergo, It was not politique, all the rest are answered before, yea, Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. 19. putteth this as a thing peculiar to the Priests, v. 12. What cause soever shall come before you of your brethren,—between blood and blood, between Law and Commandement, Statutes and Judgements, ye shall even warne them that they trespasse not against the Lord; that is, as Erastus yeeldeth, ye shall teach them what is just and agreeable to, and what is unjust and repugnant to the Law of God. Civill judges lips were not to preserve knowledge, as the lips of the Priests, Mal. 2. 7. and Deut. 17. 11. According to the sentence of the Law that they shall teach thee, and according to the judgement that they shall tell, thou shalt doe. Hence it is clear that this judicature in civill things was a teaching, a telling, a declaring and resolving judicature, and that in blood they resolved of causes of blood, of stroakes, but judged not persons, nor bloody men, nor violent persons.