A92138:1379
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.
this we teach, as the power of saying peaceably from danger of Pirates and Robbers is from the King; but the Art of Navigation is not from the King. But the Question is, whether the Magistrate by virtue of his office, as a Magistrate, hath Supreme power to Govern the Church, and immediately as a little Monarch under Christ above Pastors, Teachers, and the Church of God, to Judge and determine what is true Doctrine, what Heresy, to censure and remove from Church-Communion the Seals and Church offices, all scandalous persons, and that if Pastors, or Doctors, or the Church, Teach or dispense censures, they do it not with any immediate subjection to Christ, but in the Name and Authority of the Magistrate, having power from the Magistrate as his servants and delegates?
this we teach, as the power of saying peacably from danger of Pirats and Robbers is from the King; but the Art of Navigation is not from the King. But the Question is, whether the Magistrate by vertue of his office, as a Magistrate, hath Supream power to Govern the Church, and immediatly as a little Monarch under Christ above Pastors, Teachers, and the Church of God, to Iudge and determine what is true Doctrine, what Heresie, to censure and remove from Church-Communion the Seals and Churchoffices, all scandalous persons, and that if Pastors, or Doctors, or the Church, Teach or dispense censures, they do it not with any immediate subjection to Christ, but in the Name and Authority of the Magistrate, having power from the Magistrate as his servants and delegates?
To this we answer negatively, denying any such power to the1 Magistrate, and do hold, that the Church, and Christs courts and ⟨p. 505⟩Assemblies of Pastors, Doctors, and Elders, hath this power only and immediately from Jesus Christ, without subordination in their office, to King, Parliament, or any Magistrate on earth by these Arguments. 1. Because in the Old Testament, the Lord distinguished two courts,