A92138:1315
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. But, Tell the Church is all one with this, Appoint1 some who in the name of the Church may manage the business; but how prove they this? Then Christ bade, Tell the Elders that then were, else he did not accommodate himself to their understanding to whom he spake; when he was to teach how our sacrifices pleaseth God, be biddeth us first be reconciled to our brother, and then sacrifice, yet he knew that sacrifices were to be abolished, but by Analogy he would teach us, what he requireth when he saith, he vvill have mercy, and not sacrifice; Ergo, by your own confession to tell the Church is to tell the Sanhedrin, for there was then no Church but the multitude.
Erastus. But, Tell the Church is all one vvith this, Appoint1 some who in the name of the Church may mannage the businesse; but how prove they this? Then Christ bade, Tell the Elders that then were, else he did not accommodate himselfe to their understanding to whom he spake; when he was to teach hovv our sacrifices pleaseth God, be biddeth us first be reconciled to our brother, and then sacrifice, yet he knevv that sacrifices vvere to be abolished, but by Analogie he vvould teach us, vvhat he requireth vvhen he saith, he vvill have mercy, and not sacrifice; Ergo, by your ovvn confession to tell the Church is to tell the Sanedrim, for there vvas then no Church but the multitude.
- 1Page 327.
Ans. 1. (Tell the Church) cannot in any sense, have such a meaning, as Appoint Elders and tell them; for then (Tell the Sanhedrin) must have this meaning, set up a sound Sanhedrin, according as Moses appointed, and tell the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin in its right constitution and due power as the Law of Moses required it, was not to be had at this time: Herod had killed the Sanhedrin, the Romans made High Priests from year to year against the institution, the power of life and death in the civill Sanhedrin was now none at all. The Sceptre was departed from Judah, those that sate in Moses Chair corrupted all, so the right Sanhedrin was no more now to be had, then a Christian Church not yet erected. Again, Tell the Church, presupposeth a constituted Church, and therefore cannot include a command to erect a new mould