A92138:1304
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. 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.
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Ans. 1. Erastus doth suppose, (which is most false, as I have1 Answered before) that Christ speaketh to Paul from heaven and Ananias also, of bearing the Name of Christ to the Gentiles: and Paul neither knew Name nor thing,