A92138:1449
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.
Ans. There is a twofold goodness here to be considered, one of the magistrate as a magistrate, another as a good and Christian ⟨p. 548⟩magistrate. The former is an official goodness, or a magistratical prudence, justice, and goodness; this is required of all magistrates as such, to judge the people: so the acts of an heathen magistrate done according to common natural equity, by Nebuchadnezzar, Pilate, Cesar, Felix, Festus, are to be acknowledged as acts of a Lawful Magistrate, valid and no less essentially Magistratical, then if performed by King David; and of this goodness the Scriptures speak not as essential to a Magistrate as a Magistrate: But there is another goodness required of Magistrates as1 they are Members of the Jewish Church, and as they are Christians, and of these the Scripture speaketh; and so Magistrates not as Magistrates, but as good and Christian, are to be such as fear God, hate covetousness, respect not the face and favour of men; so its denied that the fear of God, hating of covetousness, are essential ingredients of Kings as Kings: For Kings as Kings intend justice, peace, godliness, materially considered, both ex conditione operis, and operantium. But for justice and righteous judgement in a spiritual and an Evangelic way, that belongeth not to the essence of a Magistrate nec ex conditione seu ex intentione operis, nec ex conditione operantis: The Holy Ghost requireth it of judges, as they would approve themselves as truly Holy and Religious, and would be accepted of God, and in this sense Kings as Kings do not serve God, nor the mediator Christ, nor yet as men; only they serve God and the mediator Christ as Christian Kings, or as Christian men rather.
Ans. There is a twofold goodnesse here to be considered, one of the magistrate as a magistrate, another as a good and Christian ⟨p. 548⟩magistrate. The former is an officiall goodnesse, or a magistraticall prudence, justice, and goodnesse; this is required of all magistrates as such, to judge the people: so the acts of an heathen magistrate done according to common naturall equity, by Nebuchadnezzar, Pilate, Cesar, Felix, Festus, are to be acknowledged as acts of a Lawfull Magistrate, valide and no lesse essentially Magistraticall, then if performed by King David; and of this goodnesse the Scriptures speak not as essentiall to a Magistrate as a Magistrate: But there is another goodnesse required of Magistrates as