A92138:1464
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.
He cannot as King be capable of internal power of jurisdiction, he cannot preach, he cannot dispense the Sacraments, but he is (say they) capable of external power of jurisdiction, to govern the Church, excommunicate, to debar Apostates and Heretics from the Sacraments, to create Prelates, Primates, Metropolitans, and such cattle, to call and ordain, make and unmake Ministers, to make all Canons and Ecclesiastical Laws, and appoint religious Ceremonies, as holy Surplice, crossing, oil and spittle in Baptism, to create holy days, to command men to kneel to bread, and to order all the external worship of God, and beside the Word, to order many little and smaller things in the borders of worship external, such as is some little Idolatry, and Superstition: And (for ought I know) by their way, who hold there is no certain form of Government of Gods House in the Scripture, some harmless and innocent golden 1Calves, as lawful as religious symbolical Ceremonies. This power is no more due to the Magistrate as the Magistrate, then to dispense the Sacraments, as I have said before: Nor do the Arminians much honour the Magistrate, who walking in the steps of Erastus do hold, that the Magistrate having power of public places, Preachers are obliged not to preach in public places, if the Magistrate forbid them, but they may preach in private places. But 1. These same Arminians hold that Pastors are to preach whatever in their conscience seems to be the truth of God; a principle of those who are for toleration of all Religions; though Judaism & Turkism, a way (I am persuaded) most abominable, and which the Lord of his Church will crush, when he shall bring down other Antichristian untruths to the ground; Now it seems to the conscience of Papists and many Heretical teachers, that they are obliged to preach Turkism, & Judaism in the Temple, and in public, & that distinction is false & vain, as it is in very deed contrary to the truth of God, to preach what they think the truth of God, & to preach it in public or private, or in any place is indifferent as touching the place. 2. The Lord hath no more given to Magistrates power of places, or actions religious in places, then he hath given to them power of truths: Ergo, they must be obliged in conscience, rejecting a ••i• ⟨p. 558⟩and sapless distinction, to preach in public places: