A92138:1262
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. I say nothing to the cursing and blessing Deut. 27. Nor do I own that Argument; it is not ours. 2. Those which are (so our argument runneth) as Heathens and Publicans, as Pagans, Amorites, whereas they were sometimes Brethren and Members1 of the Church, are not to be admitted to the Sacraments, nor to be acknowledged as members of the Church more then Heathen, Amorites, Pagans are to be be admitted to the Sacraments and Members of the Church. But wicked men amongst the Jews, and amongst us Christians, who will not hear the Church and are fornicators, idolaters, railers, drunkards, and extortioners, and walk inordinately, and cause divisions contrary to the ⟨p. 457⟩Gospel of our Lord Jesus, are to be esteemed as Heathens, Pagans, Amorites, and worse then Infidels; therefore such amongst the Jews were not admitted to the Temple and holy things of God, and amongst us not to be admitted to the Sacraments, nor to be acknowledged as members of the Church. Erastus answereth not to this Argument, either Major or Assumption, but propoundeth an Argument of a nameless Author, as he knoweth best to answer and remove himself. 2. Many things (saith he) agree to Pagans and Turks which agree not to scandalous Christians. True, scandalous Christians are not Amorites and Pagans simpliciter, they differ in profession, the one being baptized, not the other; and once being baptized, they can never be unbaptized; but that is not our Argument, but they agree in this, that they are no more really Christians, being fornicators, railers, drunkards, extortioners, &c. then Pagans, but have the only name and title of such, and are to be esteemed so by us, and are to us quoad hoc, in regard of Church privileges, as heathens and publicans, and so the Lord of old termed his Apostate people Sodom and Gomorrah, Esa. 1. 10. and as the children of the Ethiopians and Philistines, Amos 9. 7. and as unclean and uncapable in a Church way of the Passover, and now of the Lords Supper to us, as Ethiopians, Sodomites of old, and this day Turks and Pagans are to us. 3. That the wicked that were circumcised might go into the Temple amongst the Jews, de facto, they might, but de jure, by Law, they might not,