A92138:1114
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. Sometime the Priest was president in this Sanhedrin,1 as Eli and Samuel, without a judge; therefore when it is said, the chief Priest was •ver them in all the matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah in the Kings matters, they made not two different Judicatures; and the high Priest and Zebadiah were both over the same Judicature. Josephus excellently versed in the Jewish laws, saith, antiq. lib. 9. c. 1. they were [Greek or Hebrew] fellows or companions; then they were not in divers Senats. The Levites were equally servants to both, though it may be the Priests were more diligently to go about the causes of God, and the Judges the causes of the King.
Erastus. Sometime the Priest vvas president in this Sanedrim,1 as Eli and Samuel, vvithout a judge; therefore vvhen it is said, the chiefe Priest vvas •ver them in all the matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah in the Kings matters, they made not tvvo different Iudicatures; and the high Priest and Zebadiah vvere both over the same Iudicature. Iosephus excellently versed in the Ievvish lavvs, saith, antiq. lib. 9. c. 1. they vvere 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 fellovves or companions; then they vvere not in divers Senats. The Levites vvere equally servants to both, though it may be the Priests were more diligently to goe about the canses of God, and the Iudges the causes of the King.
- 1Page 272. 273.
Ans. Were Eli and Samuel presidents in the Sanhedrin without a Judge? that is as much as to say, Eli and Samuel, who undoubtedly by the Testimony of the Spirit of God were civill Judges ⟨p. 409⟩