A92138:1289
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. Erastus is mistaken, and formeth the Argument as he pleaseth. The Church pardoneth as a Church, and receiveth into her body believers to participate of Church-privileges and Sacraments in a Church Communion; Ergo, the Church hath power to bind and cast out from this same Church-Communion, those that leaveneth the whole lump; as a City may admit a stranger to all the City privileges; Ergo, the same City may for offences against the City, cast out and deprive of City privileges offenders: is this a Genere ad speciem affirmativè? If the Church have a power to cast out [Greek or Hebrew] from amongst them a Member, we shall1 not contend for the name of Excommunication.
Ans. Erastus is mistaken, and formeth the Argument as he pleaseth. The Church pardoneth as a Church, and receiveth into her body believers to participate of Church-priviledges and Sacraments in a Church Communion; Ergo, the Church hath power to binde and cast out from this same Church-Communion, those that leaveneth the whole lump; as a City may admit a stranger to all the City priviledges; Ergo, the same City may for offences against the City, cast out and deprive of City priviledges offenders: is this a Genere ad speciem affirmativè? If the Church have a power to cast out 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from amongst them a Member, we shall1 not contend for the name of Excommunication.
- 1Page 318. Ministers subject to the Magistrate.
Erastus. The Ministers have none, by whom in their office they can be corrected: But saith Erastus, If every soul be subject to the higher powers, how are Ministers excepted? if Ministers correct Ministers, ⟨p. 472⟩they play to others hands, spare thou the nails, and I shall spare the teeth.