A92138:1174
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 this was insolencie in the Jews which rose from the confusion1 of the two jurisdictions; how say some of yours, none can be excommunicated without the consent of the Magistrate? Where did Christ divide the external Government of the Church in Civill Government and Ecclesiastical, as you distinguish them?
Erastus. If this was insolencie in the Jevvs which rose from the confusion1 of the two jurisdictions; hovv say some of yours, none can be excommunicated without the consent of the Magistrate? Where did Christ divide the externall Government of the Church in Civill Government and Ecclesiasticall, as you distinguish them?
- 1Pag. 280. 281.
Ans. 1. That it is expedient, that the Christian Magistrate 1should be acquainted with the Excommunication of any under his jurisdiction, that he may satisfy his own Conscience in punishing him civilly, it is like some of our Divines do teach: But that the Magistrate have a negative voice in Excommunication, none of ours teach. 2. We make no such division as that of the Civill and the Ecclesiastical Government of the Church. Erastus may dream of ⟨p. 430⟩such a distinction: We know, all Government of the Church, as the Church, to us is Ecclesiastical: There is a Government of men of the Church that is Civill; but we dreamed never of a Civill Government of the Church: All the Government of the Church, as the Church, though external, is Spiritual, Heavenly, and subordinate to Jesus Christ as Lord and King of his own house, as the Government of a house, a Kingdom, an Army, a City is subordinate to the Lord of the house, to the King, General Commander, and Lord Mayor, and it is no more a Civill Government subordinate to the Magistrate and his Sword, then Christs Kingdom visible and external, or invisible and internal is of this world.