A92138:1152
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. Christ saith, my Kingdom is not of this world, that is, it is not politic, external, visible, for Christ reigneth in the world, but his Government is invisible, and spiritual in the Word, and the Spirit.
Erastus. Christ saith, my Kingdom is not of this world, that is, it is not pollitick, externall, visible, for Christ reigneth in the world, but his Government is invisible, and spirituall in the Word, and the Spirit.
Ans. Christ denieth only that his Kingdom is of this World, in1 regard it is not holden up by the civill sword of men, or Magistrates, as Erastus doth dream, who maketh the Magistrate with his club to be the only Catholic and principal Ruler in all Christs courts; which Christ refuteth, when he saith, If my Kingdom were of this world, mine own would fight for me. Now Erastus will have no weapon, but the Magistrates sword to hold out, and cast out all offenders out of Christs Kingdom; but it is false, that Christs Kingdom is not political, external and visible; this is to deny that Christ hath a visible Church: Sure exhorting, rebuking, censuring, withdrawing from the scandalous, excommunication, are visible externally, and in a politic spiritual way exercised ⟨p. 422⟩by Christ in his Ambassadors: for external and spiritual are not opposed, nor are political and spiritual opposed, as Erastus dreameth, and therefore this is a non sequitur of Erastus: His Kingdom is not of this world; Ergo, it is not external.
Ans. Christ denieth only that his Kingdome is of this World, in1 regard it is not holden up by the civill sword of men, or Magistrates, as Erastus doth dreame, who maketh the Magistrate with his club to be the onely Catholick and principall Ruler in all Christs courts; which Christ refuteth, when he saith, If my Kingdome were of this world, mine owne would fight for me. Now Erastus will have no weapon, but the Magistrates sword to hold out, and cast out all offenders out of Christs Kingdom; but it is false, that Christs Kingdom is not politicall, externall and visible; this is to deny that Christ hath a visible Church: Sure exhorting, rebuking, censuring, withdrawing from the scandalous, excommunication, are visible externally, and in a politick spirituall way exercised