A92138:1123
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.
4. The Chaldee Paraphrast, Ut inquir at instructionem, Vatab. Ut consulat deum. This is a false interpretation, That to inquire of God, is to seek judgement from God: For it is to ask the Lords mind in doubtsome cases; and this they asked from Moses, as he was a Prophet, not as he was a civill Judge: except Erastus will have the Magistrate of old to give responses, and to have been Oracles by virtue of their Office: which is a clear untruth, Saul, David, Solomon, Joshua, though Kings, did not give responsals, and answers when they did go to War, or were in doubtsome perplexities. But did ask Counsel at the Priest and Oracle of God and the Ark, 1 Sam. 15. 37. Josh. 9. 14. Judg. 20. 27. 1 Sam. 30. 8. and 23. 2. 4. And by this the Magistrate as the Magistrate should resolve all doubts of conscience now to perplexed consciences, under the New-Testament. 5. The Judges are called Gods, because they are under-Deputies in the room and place of the great God, not because every judgement of theirs is the judgement, and very sentence of God, and according to that the cause they judge is nothing but the cause of God, for they are to judge the Kings matters, no less then Gods matters. 6. For what end Erastus speaketh of the Rabbins here I know not, I think he knoweth not himself; the man was ignorant of them, and innocent of their language.
4. The Chalde Paraphrast, Vt inquir at instructionem, Vatab. Vt consulat deum. This is a false interpretation, That to inquire of God, is to seek judgement from God: For it is to ask the Lords minde in doubtsome cases; and this they asked from Moses, as he was a Prophet, not as he was a civill Iudge: except Erastus will have the Magistrate of old to give responses, and to have been Oracles by vertue of their Office: which is a clear untruth, Saul, David, Solomon, Joshua, though Kings, did not give responsals, and answers when they did go to War, or were in doubtsome perplexities. But did ask Counsell at the Priest and Oracle of God and the Ark, 1 Sam. 15. 37. Iosh. 9. 14. Iudg. 20. 27