A92138:1367
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. The Magistrates Sword is a most efficacious mean to bring1 men to the knowledge of God, nothing more effectual then affliction, and the cross, when right teaching is joined therewith; examples teach us that in danger of death, men have seriously turned to God, who before could be moved by no exhortations. But you say all die not in the Lord, nor repent; nor (say I) do they all die in the Lord, who are taken away by diseases, or are excommunicated; yea, Excommunication maketh many hypocrites.
Erastus. The Magistrates Sword is a most efficacious mean to bring1 men to the knowledge of God, nothing more effectuall then affliction, and the crosse, when right teaching is joyned therewith; examples teach us that in danger of death, men have seriously turned to God, who before could be moved by no exhortations. But you say all die not in the Lord, nor repent; nor (say I) do they all die in the Lord, who are taken away by diseases, or are excommunicated; yea, Excommunication maketh many hypocrites.
- 1Page 347.
Ans. 1. Erastus here extolleth the Sword of the Magistrate, as ⟨p. 500⟩a more effectual mean to salvation, then exhortations or the Gospel: But I read that Pastors are the Ministers by whom we believe, and that they are workers with God, and fellow-builders; and Fathers to convert, edify to salvation, and beget men over again to Christ, 1 Cor. 3. 5, 9. 1 Cor. 2. 4, 15. Ambassadors of God,