A92138:1324
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. Sure the Lord hath concredited to the Magistrate, the1 Command and all power of external Government, so as he hath subjected not only Civill, but also Sacred things to his power, that he may manage the one according to the Word of God, the other according to Justice and equity, which since it is Commanded in the Old Testament, and practised by all holy Judges and Kings, and we find it not changed in the New Testament; We justly say that the Church that hath a godly Magistrate, cannot by Gods will choose a new Senate or Presbytery, to exercise publicly Judgement; for God hath not armed▪ subjects against their Magistrates: Nor hath he Commanded them to take any part of their power from them and give it to others, and to subject them to external Dominion.
Erastus. Sure the Lord hath concredited to the Magistrate, the1 Command and all power of externall Government, so as he hath subjected not only Civill, but also Sacred things to his power, that he may manage the one according to the Word of God, the other according to Iustice and equity, which since it is Commanded in the Old Testament, and practised by all holy Iudges and Kings, and we finde it not changed in the New Testament; We justly say that the Church that hath a godly Magistrate, cannot by Gods will chuse a new Senate or Presbytery, to exercise publikely Iudgement; for God hath not armed▪ subjects against their Magistrates: Nor hath he Commanded them to take any part of their power from them and give it to others, and to subject them to externall Dominion.
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Ans. Sure the Lord concredited to the Priest, not to King Uzziah to burn incense, and to the Priests to rebuke Uzziah and command him to desist; and this is no less external Governing of the house of God, quoad hoc, in this particular then Excommunication: for to Excommunication on the Churches part, as Excommunication, is no more required, but that the scandalous and murdering Magistrate