A92138:1439
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.
But the magistrate as the magistrate cannot judge of the spirituality, sincerity, zealousness, affectionateness of that obedience, which the Church yieldeth to his command: for if the Pastors dispense word and Sacraments, and bind and loose by the keys following the rules of the word, the magistrate cannot judge the heart or intention, whether they do those with conscience to God, and reverence and subjection of spirit to his holy Law, nor can the manner of doing be proved by witnesses to the magistrate. 2. The Magistrate as Magistrate doth not command what he doth not praise or reward, for well doing is the object of the Magistrates praising and rewarding power, Rom. 13. 3. But as a Magistrate he doth not praise and reward the qualification, or spirituality, or sincerity of Pastors dispensing of word and seals; if they feed the flock, the Magistrate is to take care they be rewarded with wages, no• can the Magistrate as the magistrate withhold praise or wages from labourers in the vineyard, because they preach Christ out of envy, as some did Phil. 1. 15. or because they feed not the lambs out of a love to Christ, as they ought to do, Joh. 21. 15, 16, 17. it is true, magistrates as godly men, may love and commend sincerity in faithful labourers, and hate the contrary; but this they do as Christian men, not as magistrates, not by their office, and authoritatively. 3. Magistrates command that as magistrates, the not doing of which they can a• magistrates punish with the sword, for the object of their vindicative and revenging power is ill doing, Rom. 13. 4. But if Pastors feed the flock and rule them, the magistrate cannot use the sword against the feeders, for that they want sincerity, love, cheerfulness in the manner of doing these things, for the sword of the magistrate doth only reach men for their external facts, not for opinions in the mind, not for crooked intentions, not for hollow-heartednesse, hypocrisy, infidelity in the manner, or inward principles of the actions.
But the magistrate as the magistrate cannot judge of the spirituallity, sincerity, zealousnesse, affectionatenesse of that obedience, which the Church yieldeth to his command: for if the Pastors dispense word and Sacraments, and binde and loose by the keys following the rules of the word, the magistrate cannot judge the heart or intention, whether they do those with conscience to God, and reverence and subjection of spirit to his holy Law, nor can the manner of doing be proved by witnesses to the magistrate. 2. The Magistrate as Magistrate doth not command what he doth not praise or reward, for well doing is the object of the Magistrates praising and rewarding power,