A92138:1414
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.
Yea, the Churches had rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, walking in the •ear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the holy Ghost, and were multiplied, Act. 9. 31. Now if the Christian Magistrate be their only Head and chief Feeder, and all Elders but his servants, Edifying à & sub Magistratu, from and under the Magistrate: How were they edified, and the complete house of God, the house wanting a head, and the Church of the living God, without the chief feeder and shepherd the Magistrate, when all this time the Lord set spiritual Pastors and watchmen over them? It is true, it might be some defect, that they wanted a Christian Magistrate, who was their Nurse-father and keeper, and avenger of both Tables of the Law: But this defect was 1. A defect of the Church, as men who may be injured, and do violence one to another as men, if they want one who beareth the sword to be avenged on evil doers: But it is no defect of the Church as the Church. 2. There might be some defect in the Church as a Church, in this regard, that without the Magistrate his accumulative power, the edification of the Church extrinsically might be slower, Church Laws less vigorous extrinsically without the sword, and evil doers might infest the Church more; but there should be no privation or intrinsical defect, or want in the Church, either of an officer, or integral part of the ⟨p. 531⟩Church, because they wanted the Magistrate. 3. When the first1 three hundred year, the Churches wanted Christian Magistrates▪ afterward Constantinus convocated the Council of Nice against Arrius, yet professing that he was Episcopus, without. After him the Empire being divided into three, Constantinus, Constantius, and Constans, the second adhered to Arrius & oppressed the godly. Constans and Constantinus lived not long: Though Jovianus, Theodosius, elder & younger, Gratianus, Martianus, were favourers of the Church, yet most of the Northern Kings were persecutors. In the sixth hundred year, they began to be obstinate favourers of Heresy. In the West Antichristianism, in the East Mahumetisme rose; for the most part the Church wanted godly Magistrates, and alway hath wanted.