A92138:1320
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. Here Erastus reasoneth against some Author that inclineth to the way of Morellius.
Ans. Here Erastus reasoneth against some Au•hor that inclineth to the way of Morellius.
If there be no formed Church endued with knowledge and discretion to choose their own Elders, if there be godly men fit to be chosen, they are to convene and choose from amongst them ⟨p. 482⟩Elders, the godly Magistrate is to join his Vote and Power, because1 there is a Church not yet constitute, it is now Perturbatus aut corruptus Ecclesiae status, and I ever judged it a golden saying of that great Divine Fran. Junius, that when the Magistrate will not concur, the Church in that extraordinary case may do somewhat, which ordinarily they cannot do; and again when the Church doth not their duty, the Magistrate in that case may do something more then ordinary, to cause the Church do their duty; for its a common La•, to ills out of order, remedies out of the road way may be applied. So if the Priests and Levites be corrupt, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah and Josiah may reform: And therefore though the godly Magistrate, jure communi, by the common Law of Nature, employ his power to appoint Elders, all Errors and confusions in the Church are in some measure out of order; yet it followeth, that jure proprio, and ordinarily he should always do this. 2. Elders are not properly Representators of the Church to me, while I be better informed, for power of feeding and ruling is immediately given by Jesus Christ to the Elders, and not by the intervening mediation of the Church, but only by their designation to the office; th•s power is given by the people. 3. The Magistrate as the Magistrate, and by virtue of his place, is neither a Member, far less a chief Member of the Church, for then all Magistrates should be Members of the Church, even Heathen Kings and Rulers, which no man can say. The Christian Magistrate as a Christian is a Member of the Church. But that is nothing to help Erastus.