A92138:1189
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. Some chosen men must be in the Presbytery to represent1 the people; Ergo, these must be Doctors and Prophets, but there is no need of that, for Bishops of old represented the whole Church.
- 1Page 288.
Ans. Beza hath not any such argument, he contendeth for Ruling1 Elders, not for Prophets and Doctors to represent the people. 2. Where doth the Scripture speak of such an office as a Bishop having Majority of power above Presbyters? (for since Erastus denieth all Ecclesiastical Government in Teachers, he must deny all Majority of Ecclesiastical Government also, he that denieth the positive, denieth also the comparative degree) now this is a Bishop that neither Scripture, nay nor popish Antiquity dreamed of. 3. In what is a Bishop the representative Church? The like is Erastus his third Argument.
Ans. Beza hath not any such argument, he contendeth for Ruling1 Elders, not for Prophets and Doctors to represent the people. 2. Where doth the Scripture speake of such an office as a Bishop having Majority of power above Presbyters? (for since Erastus denieth all Ecclesiasticall Government in Teachers, he must deny all Majority of Ecclesiasticall Governement also, he that denieth the positive, denieth also the comparative degree) now this is a Bishop that neither Scripture, nay nor popish Antiquity dreamed of. 3. In what is a Bishop the representative Church? The like is Erastus his third Argument.
- 1Beza de Presbyt. p. 112. 113.