A92138:1277
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. All these are poor conjectures, for Erastus granteth there was such a censure as casting out of the Synagogue, But he showeth not what it is. But I retort this argument; if Christ had been cast out of the Synagogue, those that called him a Samaritan, and cast out of their Synagogues, such as confessed him, would have sometime said, (it is not lawful to thee to go into the Synagogues and teach, for thou art cast out of the Synagogue.) But by the contrary, Christ till the day of his death, openly taught in the Synagogues, Joh. 18. 20. I spake openly to the world, I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Jews always resort, Luke 4. 15. he taught in their Synagogues, Luke 4. 16. as his custom was, he went into the Synagogues▪ Mat. 4. 23. Mark 1. 39. Mark 3. 1. Luk. 6. 6. Mat. 9. 35. Luke 13. 10. and therefore it is a demonstration to me, that they never cast Christ out of the Synagogue; what hindered them, saith Erastus? I answer. Let him show me what hindered them to stone him, Joh. 10. and not to put him to death till his hour came. Erastus speaketh not like a divine, who scoffeth at the secret Counsel of God: For God had the sufferings of his own son Christ, in a special manner, determined and weighed, in number, weight, and measure. And therefore though they made a Law, that all that confesseth Christ should be cast out of the Synagogue, and though those that sinned against the Holy Ghost, Matt. 12. called him a Samaritan, and out of a sudden passion, those that wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, would cast him over the brow of a Mountain; Yet I hold, they never made any Law, no