A92138:1399
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.
Pryn grant, we may preach the Word to Heathen ⟨p. 519⟩remaining Heathen, and if they deny it, (as they yield it) the Apostles did preach the Gospel to the Heathen remaining Heathen, but they never admitted, nor can we admit to the Lords Supper Heathen remaining Heathen, nor could the Jews upon the same ground, admit to the Passover the uncircumcised: now then the preaching of the Word to some cannot make the Church and preachers guilty of casting pearls to Swine, and of partaking of their si•, whose hearing is not mixed with faith; and yet if the Church and Ministers should admit to the Sacraments Heathen remaining Heathen, they should prostitute holy things to Dogs, and be guilty of an Heathen mans eating of his own damnation; Hence this Assertion of Mr. Prynne must be a great mistake, That 1Ministers may as well refuse to preach the Word to such unexcommunicated, gross, impenitent, scandalous Christians, whom they would suspend from the Sacrament, for fear of partaking with them in their sin, as to administer the Sacrament to them, because (saith he,) unprofitable hearing is as damning a sin, as unworthy receiving of the Sacrament: 1. Because there is and may be discovered to be in the congregation, persons as unworthy as Heathen, such as Simon Magus, yea, latent Judases, Parricides, who are in the visible Church while God discover their hypocrisy; but we may lawfully preach the Word to men as uncapable of the Word as Heathen, and as unworthy; as Christ and the Apostles did, who did not contravene that, Cast not Pearls to Swine, yet we cannot give the Sacraments to men known to be as scandalous, uncapable, and unworthy as Heathen; but we must prostitute holy things to Dogs, and partake of their sin; for this is non causa pro causa, that Mr. Prynne bringeth, to say we may as well refuse to preach the Gospel to scandalous impenitents, as to administer the Sacrament, without partaking of the sins of either, because unprofitable hearing is as damning a sin, as unworthy receiving the Supper; This Because is no cause: it is true, they are both damnable sins, but how proveth he that Preachers partake equally of both▪ I can show him a clear difference which demonstrateth the weakness of this connection. 1.
Pryn grant, we may preach the Word to Heathen