A92138:1477
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.
if the Magistrate command the Church to do their duty, and they neglect to do it, the Magistrates cognizance then may be antecedent and not consequent, and the case of a Church erring in a fact, is, as if, in that fact, there were no Church.
Obj. 3. Those are subordinate to the Church, whose judgement and sentences are subjected to the Church, to be tried or condemned by the Church, but the judgement and sentences of the Magistrate are subjected to the Church; Ergo, and by the like they prove, Pastors to be subjected to the Civill Magistrate, because their preaching, their dispensing of the seals, their sentences in their Presbytery are subjected to the Magistrate, so as he may absolve, or condemn.
Obj. 3. Those are subordinate to the Church, whose judgement and sentences are subjected to the Church, to be tryed or condemned by the Church, but the judgement and sentences of the Magistrate are subjected to the Church; Ergo, and by the like they prove, Pastors to be subjected to the Civill Magistrate, because their preaching, their dispensing of the seals, their sentences in their Presbytery are subjected to the Magistrate, so as he may absolve, or condemne.
Ans. Vedelius shall never prove the Major, as touching the subjection or subordination in question; he is subject to the Magistrate, whose sentence or judgement is subject, in an antecedent cognizance, and in a coactive corporal way, it is true: But now the assumption is false, in a constitute Church, the sentence or thing sentenced or judged by the Church, is subject to the Magistrate in a subsequent cognizance, and in a corporal coactive way only: But not in an antecedent cognizance, and by a way of Ecclesiastical censuring; we acknowledge a subordination of the Churches sentence to the Magistrate, in regard of the Magistrates external care to punish iniquity in any; not in regard of intrinsical judging and dealing with the conscience, the Church is to give a reason of their sentence from the Word of God, to the Magistrate when he demandeth it.