The divine right of church-government and excommunication

Erastus. As there is one measure by which we measure things of¹ divers natures, as cloth of linen, of silk, of silver, of gold, and there is one weight by which we measure things weighable, though of most divers natures; so is there one visible dispensation and governing of all visible things, though there be some Laws for the City, some for the Country, some for the Schools, as there be no necessity of divers rulers, and Law-givers, to the City, to the Country, to the Schools; so is there no necessity that there should be any other then the Magistrate, who should guide things civill and profane, things of Schools, and things sacred.

Erastus. As there is one measure by which we measure things of¹ divers natures, as cloath of linnen, of silke, of silver, of gold, and there is one weight by which we measure things weighable, though of most divers natures; so is there one visible dispensation and governing of all visible things, though there be some Lawes for the City, some for the Countrey, some for the Schooles, as there be no necessity of divers rulers, and Law-givers, to the City, to the Countrey, to the Schooles; so is there no necessity that there should be any other then the Magistrate, who should guide things civill and prophane, things of Schooles, and things sacred.

1. 1Magistracy and Ministry, both supreme in their on we kind.Magistracie and Ministery, both supream in their on we kinde.

Ans. This man speaketh rather like a Moral, or a natural Physician, then a Divine; the argument were good, if men had no souls, for then they should not need any to watch for their souls, as the spirit of God saith they do, Heb. 13. 17. and he with one stroke, taketh away Pastors and Teachers, and maketh the King the only Pastor and Teacher in all his Kingdoms. 2. We know similitudes, especially not warranted with Scripture, proveth nothing, and this may well conclude there should be no ruler at all, nor any Lawgiver on earth, but God only, and let every man do what seems good in his own eyes, for Gods will is the only measure and rule of all things. And 3. If all men were to be ruled the same way, it might have colour. But it is known, that all Churches, as members of a Common-wealth, are ruled one way, in giving to every man his own, & in not doing violence one to another; But in keeping peace and policy, as all men do in all societies on earth, and so they have need of Magistrates. 2. Another way they are considered as Members of a society, called from the state of sin, to Grace and Glory, and so they have no less need of teachers for the guiding of their souls,