A92138:132
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.
None can say of the Church, its my Church, but he who is King of the Church; and Christ saith, Matth, 16. 18. that it is his Church, and upon this it is his Kingdom, and the keys are his keys, and they are keys of a Kingdom visible and Politic on earth, as is evident, ver. 19. I will give unto thee, the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, (in an external Political court ⟨p. 15⟩of Church Rulers, as it is differenced from an internal, and mystical binding in Heaven) shall be bound in Heaven, &c. For it is clear that there is an internal binding in Heaven, and a Political and external binding on earth, and both are done by the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: But Christ can have or give no Political or external keys of an external and Political King, but as he is a King: Yea, and Excommunication doth not only bind the inward man in Heaven, but also the external man on earth, excluding him from the Society of the Church as a Heathen, and a Publican, and purging him out from the external communion of the Church, as if he were now no brother, Matth. 18. •7▪ 18. 1 Cor. 5. 7. 10, 11, 12. Now this external separating and judging of an offender by the Church is done by the keys of the Kingdom; Ergo, by Christ as a King, ruling the external man Politically, and so by the key of the house of David, which is laid upon Christs shoulder, Isa. 22. 22. And by a Royal Act of him, upon whose shoulder is the Government, Is▪ 9 6. Who sitteth upon the throne of David to order the kingdom, & to establish it with judgement & justice. For the Church doth bind and loose in the external Court, either by a Commission from him who as head of the Church, and who as King gave to her the Keys of the Kingdom; or by a general Arbitrary power given to the Magistrate and Church, to do in these things as they please; so they do nothing contrary to the Word, though not according to the Word, as they are to do in Doctrinals; if the former be said, then must the external Government be upon the shoulder of Christ as King, which is that which we teach: If the latter be said, then might the Magistrate & Church appoint such an Ordinance as excommunication, and so they may by their Arbitrary