A92138:1316
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. (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▪ ⟨p. 481⟩2. Tell the Elders of the Christian Church, may as well be meant in these words, Tell the Church, as the Jewish Church can be understood. 3. The word Church, and to convene offenders, hear Witnesses, give out sentence, were all plain Language to the disciples, though they knew not the frame of the Gospel Church, as yet, Christ being now teaching an ordinance of a Church, and the censure of Excommunication that was not to fall under practise, while Christ should ascend to heaven; and therefore though this Church was not, yet it followeth not, that the Lord Jesus speaketh of the Sanhedrin. 4. Say that he mean the Sanhedrin; Ergo, say we, he speaketh nothing of the Christian Magistrate. 1. Because there was no Magistrate now, but Jewish Magistrates as Erastus cannot deny. 2. Because this Sanhedrin that gained souls of offending brethren, was Ecclesiastical, not civill. 3. By proportion, and Analogy Christ must understand the Church of Christians, though the Sanhedrin was to be removed shortly.
Ans. 1. (Tell the Church) cannot in any sense, have such a meaning, as Appoint Elders and tell them; for then (Tell the Sanedrim) must have this meaning, set up a sound Sanedrim, according as Moses appointed, and tell the Sanedrim. The Sanedrim 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 Sanedrim, the Romans made High Priests from yeere to yeere against the institution, the power of life and death in the civill Sanedrim was now none at all. The Scepter was departed from Iudah, those that sate in Moses Chaire corrupted all, so the right Sanedrim 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