A92138:1454
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.
Obj. 5. When a Minister speaketh that which is treason against the Prince in the Pulpit, by way of Doctrine, the Church only doth take on them to judge him, and censure him, and he will not answer the civill judge for his Doctrine, but decline him, and appeal to a Synod; and yet if another man in private speak these same words of treason, he is judged by the civill judge, and can give no de•linature against this civill judicature, this must be unequal dealing, except the civill judge may by his office, judge whether the Minister spoke treason or not.
Obj. 5. When a Minister speaketh that which is treason against the Prince in the Pulpit, by way of Doctrine, the Church only doth take on them to judge him, and censure him, and he will not answer the civill judge for his Doctrine, but decline him, and appeal to a Synod; and yet if another man in private speak these same words of treason, he is judged by the civill judge, and can give no de•linature against this civill judicature, this must be unequall dealing, except the civill judge may by his office, judge whether the Minister spoke treason or not.
Ans. It cannot be denied, but that which is spoken by way of Doctrine by an Ambassador, speaking the word in public, and that which is spoken in private, although the •ame words, are very different: for a private man in private to slander the Prince may be treason, he hath no place, nor calling to speak of the Prince, but a Pastor hath a calling as the watchman of the Lord of hosts to rebuke▪ ⟨p. 552⟩Herod for incest, and in a constitute Church, the Church is to try whether John Baptist preached treason or not. 2. If it be a slander of the Prince and treason indeed, the Prophet who preached it, is first subject to the Prophets, who are to condemn and censure him, and then the magistrate is to inflict bodily punishment on him for it; but the Church should labour to gain the slanderers soul, before the civill judge take away his life.