A92138:1305
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. 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, Act. 26. 15, 16, &c. and 9. 15, 16, &c. He speaketh to his Disciples of the promise of the Father, and of the Testimony of the Gospel they were to Preach, Luk. 24. 46, 47. &c. which they knew not till afterwards. And what was the use of the holy Ghost to be poured on them? Was not this one of the chief? Joh. 14, 26. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you: Then Christ spake many things to them that they both forgot, & knew not till the holy Ghost came upon them. And their not asking ⟨p. 476⟩Question, will not prove they understood all he spake, sometimes they were afraid to ask him. 2. The Jewish and Christian Church have not such essential differences, but they knew by the ordinary notion of the word Church, a Convention that professed the Doctrine of the Prophets, and of the Law and Gospel. And what such great difference is there between a brother, and a brother Jew and a Brother Gentile, as they behoved to understand the one, and be utterly ignorant of the other? And what necessity to restrict it to Jews only? Christ had often spoken to them of the incoming of the Gentiles, as Matth. 8. 11. Joh. 10. 16. Matth. 10. 18. Did the Disciples know the Kings, Councils, Judicatures of the Gentiles, that Christ said they should be convented before? Matth. 10. 17, 18, 19 And because Erastus is so confident that the word Church here is the Civill Magistrate: Let any Erastian teach me, what is meant by [Greek or Hebrew] Church,