A92138:1394
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.
if he be obstinate, he is not only to be suspended from the Sacrament, but also if he go on in refusing to hear the admonitions of brethren, and of the Church, he is to be excommunicated; Ergo, he is not first, hac vice, to be suspended from a confirming Ordinance given to those only who are supposed to have the life of faith, and can only eat and drink spiritually and by faith the body and blood of Christ; It followeth not. I think Mr. Pryn would not have Heretics and Apostates suddenly and at the first totally (as he saith) excluded from the Church, and all Christian society, sure we owe some gentleness and patience even to them, If God peradventure may give them Repentance to scape out of the snare of the Devil, 2 Tim. 2. 24. 25, 26. yet if an Heretic and Apostate that same day that the Lords Supper were to be celebrated should deny the Resurrection, and Jesus Christ to be God blessed for ever, and not equal with the Father, nor consubstantial with him, and withal should that same day have offered his child to Molech, and yet profess his desire to come to the Lords Supper, professing he had tried and examined himself, and his desire to come to eat and drink with Jesus Christ the great Prophet of his Church; Would not Mr. Prynne think he should not be admitted to the Lords Supper, and yet that he should not totally be excluded from the Church, and all communion from the Church and holy things of God? I should think if he cannot be presently excommunicated, yet he should not be admitted to the Sacrament, for sure he cannot but be in a doggish and swinish disposition in one degree or other: And my reason is, he is as Erastus saith, non rectè institutus, not rightly instructed, but heterodox, and so cannot try and examine himself, ⟨p. 516⟩while he be better principled in the faith: so a suspension for a time from the Lords supper, and ex natura rei, without total exclusion from the Church and all Christian society, were as necessary, (whether the Magistrate or Church suspend, I dispute not now) as a degree of punishment, or a preventing of eating of damnation is necessary hi• & nunc: O, but saith Master Prinne, Christ knew that Judas was worse than an heretic, and yet he denied not to admit him to the Supper;
if he be obstinate, he is not onely to be suspended from the Sacrament, but also if he goe on in refusing to heare the admonitions of brethren, and of the Church, he is to be excommunicated; Ergo, he is not first, hac vice, to be suspended from a confirming Ordinance given to those onely who are supposed to have the life of faith, and can onely eat and drinke spiritually and by faith the body and blood of Christ; It followeth not. I thinke Mr. Pryn would not have Hereticks and Apostates suddenly and at the first totally (as he saith) excluded from the Church, and all Christian society, sure we owe some gentlenes and patience even to them, If God peradventure may give them Repentance to scape out of the snare of the Devil,