A92138:1126
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. If you please by the matters of God, to understand the1 causes of appeals, and by the Kings matters, other judgements, I contend not: And because the Priest was better accustomed with the Law of God, then others, therefore the High Priest was set over these, yet so, as Zebadiah was over the Kings business: But I think the two first, especially the first, the best Exposition: But 1 Chron. 26. These same persons are set over both the Kings and the Lords matters.
Erastus. If you please by the matters of God, to understand the1 causes of appeals, and by the Kings matters, other judgements, I contend not: And because the Priest was better accustomed with the Law of God, then others, therefore the High Priest was set over these, yet so, as Zebadiah was over the Kings businesse: But I think the two first, especially the first, the best Exposition: But 1 Chron. 26. These same persons are set over both the Kings and the Lords matters.
- 1Page 275.
Ans. Consider how dubious Erastus is in his three Expositions to elude the force of the place. If it was the Magistrates place, virtute officii, by virtue of his office to command the Priests, and to direct them (as Erastus and Utenbogard say) in the internal and specific acts of Sacrificing, Judging between the clean and the unclean, teaching the people: then the King and the Civill Judge were by office, to be more skilled in the Causes of God, then the Priests, because the Commander and the directer, who may by his office exercise those same acts that he commandeth his servants; yea, and is by office, to command him to do thus, in these internal Acts, and not thus, he ought, by his office, to be more skilled in these then the servant. I grant, the King Commandeth the Painter, all the moral equity requisite in Painting, that he endamage not the Common-wealth by profuse lavishing of Gold; and in this, it is presumed, there is more Justice and moral equity by office in the King Commanding, then in the Painter Commanded: But if the King should take on him to Command, virtute officii, that the Painter regulateth his actions of art, thus and thus, and direct and Command by his Royal office, as King, that the Painter