A92138:1145
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. Moses was once a Prophet and Judge both; Ergo, so it may be now, it followeth not, except Moses as a Magistrate did reveal what was the Priesthood: What Aaron and Eleazer his sons might do, by as good reason Moses, David, Solomon, Joshua, as Magistrates wrote Canonic Scripture and prophesied. Then may Magistrates as Magistrates build new Temples typical to God, give new Laws, write Canonic Scripture, as these men did by the Spirit of prophecy no doubt, not as Magistrates; for why, but they might sacrifice as Magistrates, and why should Moses rather have committed the Priesthood, and the service of the Tabernacle due to him as a Magistrate, so to Aaron and his sons, as it should be unlawful to him as a King, and unlawful to Uzziah to burn incense, and to sacrifice, and to do the office of the Priest? If the Magistrate as the Magistrate do all that the Priests are to do as Priests, and that by a supreme principle, and radical power in him, he ought not to cast off that which is proper to him as a Magistrate, to take that which is less proper, he casteth the care and ruling of souls on the Priests, and reserveth the lesser part to himself, to rule the bodies of men with the Sword, all these are sufficiently answered before.
Ans. Moses was once a Prophet and Iudge both; Ergo, so it may be now, it followeth not, except Moses as a Magistrate did reveale what was the Priesthood: What Aaron and Eleazer his sonnes might doe, by as good reason Moses, David, Solomon, Ioshua, as Magistrates wrote Canonick Scripture and prophecied. Then may Magistrates as Magistrates build new Temples typicall to God, give new Laws, write Canonick Scripture, as these men did by the Spirit of prophecy no doubt, not as Magistrates; for why, but they might sacrifice as Magistrates, and why should Moses rather have committed the Priesthood, and the service of the Tabernacle due to him as a Magistrate, so to Aaron and his sonnes, as it should be unlawfull to him as a King, and unlawfull to Vzziah to burn incense, and to sacrifice, and to doe the office of the Priest? If the Magistrate as the Magistrate doe all that the Priests are to doe as Priests, and that by a supream principle, and radicall power in him, he ought not to cast off that which is proper to him as a Magistrate, to take that which is lesse proper, he casteth the care and ruling of souls on the Priests, and reserveth the lesser part to himself, to rule the bodies of men with the Sword, all these are sufficiently answered before.