A92138:1265
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. Surely this is to me convincing, if I be discharged by the Holy Ghost to meddle with the holy things of God, or offering a gift, to God at his Altar, while I first be reconciled to my brother; then those who have by office power to steward those holy things, in wisdom, and fidelity, putting a difference between the precious and the vile, knowing that I am at wrath wi•h my brother, and having convinced me before two or three Witnesses that I have highly trespassed against my brother, are to deny to Steward or dispense any such holy thing to me, while I be first reconciled to my brother; and the like I say of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. 2. To Erastus his Argument, I answer, it is not alike here as in praying, for praying is so absolutely necessary, that it obligeth by a command of God, even a Simon Magus to pray, while he is in the gall of bitterness, that the thoughts of his heart may be forgive•, Act. 8. 22. But Erastus, as if he had set himself to contradict Christ, would insinuate as much, as Christ were not to be obeyed, for his Exposition holdeth forth this sense, When thou bringest thy gift unto the Altar, and rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave not thy gift, depart not, go not about to be reconciled to thy Brother, but first offer thy gift; But Simon Magus, though he should remember that he was in the gall of bitterness, should not delay to pray till he were first delivered from the gall of bitterness, and then pray: Sure if Peter had said to Simon Magus, First labour to be freed of the gall of bitterness, and to have thy thoughts pardoned, and then pray that the thoughts of thy heart may be pardoned, as Christ saith, First be reconciled to thy brother, and then offer; and (as Paul saith) First, Let a man try and examine himself, and so let him eat and drink, the reply of Erastus ⟨p. 459⟩should have nerves. 2. It is true, Christ speaketh not of the external government of the Church; but it is as false that he speaketh of the internal acts of the mind; but he speaketh of the right ordering of the external acts of divine worship, which are regulable, though not quatenus, as regulable by the Church, and draweth an argument from the words by necessary consequence, which consequence Erastus cannot elude. 3.
Ans. Surely this is to me convincing, if I be discharged by the Holy Ghost to meddle with the holy things of God, or offering a gift, to God at his Altar, while I first be reconciled to my brother; then those who have by office power to steward those holy things, in wisedome, and fidelity, putting a difference betweene the precious and the vile, knowing that I am at wrath wih my brother, and having convinced me before two or three Witnesses that I have highly trespassed against my brother, are to deny to Steward or dispense any such holy thing to me, while I be first reconciled to my brother; and the like I say of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. 2. To Erastus his Argument, I answer, it is not alike here as in praying, for praying is so absolutely necessary, that it obligeth by a command of God, even a Simon Magus to pray, while he is in the gall of bitternesse, that the thoughts of his heart may be forgive,