A92138:1303
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. The man that was unreconciled to his brother might say all that at the Altar to the Priest. Yet Christ seeketh some more of him, he will not have him admitted to offer his gift, but he must leave it there, and give more then words to both God and the Priest; he must go and humble himself to his offended Brother, and be reconciled to him: And so the Prophet, Isa. 1. seeketh more of them, ere he will have them to Sacrifice: Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings, cease to do evil, learn to do well: All this is not done in a moment at the Altar.
Erastus. Tell the Church, that is, Tell the Magistrate, if he be not1 a defender of a wicked Religion: For I suppose, 1. That Christ speaketh of the Church in Judea, which the Disciples understood where to find it: Now the Disciples understood so well the Church, that they put no Question to Christ of the matter. 2. Peter only saith, How oft shall my Brother offend and I forgive him? Now Peter and the Disciples knew nothing of the spiritual Fraternity of the Gentiles before his Resurrection: For they knew only Jews were their Brethren, and they were forbidden to preach to the Gentiles or Samaritans now. 3. Let him be to thee as an heathen and a Publican; that is, Let him be as a man most opposite to the Jews: Heathens and Publicans did grievously oppress them, and made the Roman yoke very burdensome to them.
Erastus. Tell the Church, that is, Tell the Magistrate, if he be not1 a defender of a wicked Religion: For I suppose, 1. That Christ speaketh of the Church in Iudea, which the Disciples understood where to finde it: Now the Disciples understood so well the Church, that they put no Question to Christ of the matter. 2. Peter only saith, How oft shall my Brother offend and I forgive him? Now Peter and the Disciples knew nothing of the spirituall Fraternity of the Gentiles before his Resurrection: For they knew only Jews were their Brethren, and they were forbidden to preach to the Gentiles or Samaritans now. 3. Let him be to thee as an heathen and a Publican; that is, Let him be as a man most opposite to the Jews: Heathens and Publicans did grievously oppresse them, and made the Roman yoak very burdensome to them.