A92138:1271
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. The godly Kings compelled the people to observe the rites1 ordained of God, at least externally, and 2 Chron. 15. killed those that sought not the Lord, then they sin who punish sins by debarring men from the Sacrament: for beside that, they forbid a thing commanded of God, and as it falleth under mens judgement, that is, as it is external and good, so they cast their sickle in another mans field, because the correcting of sins in so far as they are external belongeth to the Magistrate, and in so far as they come from a depraved will, they belong to God only.
Erastus. The godly Kings compelled the people to observe the rites1 ordained of God, at least externally, and 2 Chron. 15. killed those that sought not the Lord, then they sinne who punish sinnes by debarring men from the Sacrament: for beside that, they forbid a thing commanded of God, and as it falleth under mens judgement, that is, as it is externall and good, so they cast their sickle in another mans field, because the correcting of sinnes in so farre as they are externall belongeth to the Magistrate, and in so farre as they come from a depraved will, they belong to God onely.
- 1Page 311.
Ans. Here is one palpable error, that all external scandals are punished, either by the Magistrate as the Magistrate, so he must be understood, else he saith nothing, or by God only, contrary to 1 Cor. 5. 11. Rom. 16. 17.