A92138:1370
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. Put it in form thus; Those who may be changed and translated from darkness to light in a moment, and say, that they repent, are to be admitted to the Lords supper: I assume, But dogs and swine, and doggish and furious persecutors▪ who are to be debarred from the Sacraments: As Erastus saith, pag. 207. may be changed in a moment, and say they repent; Ergo, those are to be admitted to the Sacraments, who are not to be admitted to the Sacraments▪ let Erastus prove the Major proposition. 2. We find no such sudden change in the Publican, Zacheus, or the repenting woman, as Erastus seemeth to insinuate. 3. Christ who knoweth the heart, and can change men in a moment, can at first welcome persons suddenly converted; Ergo, Must the stewards and dispensers of the mysteries upon a (may be) or a (may not be) reach the pearls of the Gospel to dogs and swine, whom they see to be such? It is a wide consequence, He that bringeth his gift to the Alter, may in a moment be changed; Ergo, He should not leave his gift at the Altar, and go and first be reconciled to his brother; He is presently without more ado to offer his gift, his heart is straitened in a moment, if we believe Erastus. But the rather of this; that the man is in a moment changed: He is to be debarred, least his scandalous approaching to use the holy things of God, make the work of conversion suspicious to others. 4. This argument presupposeth that unvisible conversion, giveth a man right in foro Ecclesi• in the Churches court, to the seals of the Covenant, and so there ⟨p. 501⟩should be no need of external profession at all, which is absurd.
Ans. Put it in forme thus; Those who may be changed and translated from darknesse to light in a moment, and say, that they repent, are to be admitted to the Lords supper: I assume, But doggs and swine, and doggish and furious persecutors▪ who are to be debarred from the Sacraments: As Erastus saith, pag. 207. may be changed in a moment, and say they repent; Ergo, those are to be admitted to the Sacraments, who are not to be admitted to the Sacraments▪ let Erastus prove the Major proposition. 2. We finde no such sudden change in the Publican, Zacheus, or the repenting woman, as Erastus seemeth to insinuate. 3. Christ who knoweth the heart, and can change men in a moment, can at first welcome persons suddenly converted; Ergo, Must the stewards and dispensers of the mysteries upon a (may be) or a (may not be) reach the pearls of the Gospel to doggs and swine, whom they see to be such? It is a wide consequence, He that bringeth his gift to the Alter, may in a moment be changed; Ergo, He should not leave his gift at the Altar, and go and first be reconciled to his brother; He is presently without more adoe to offer his gift, his heart is straighted in a moment, if we beleeve Erastus. But the rather of this; that the man is in a moment changed: He is to be debarred, least his scandalous approaching to use the holy things of God, make the work of conversion suspitious to others. 4. This argument presupposeth that unvisible conversion, giveth a man right in foro Ecclesi in the Churches court, to the seals of the Covenant, and so there