A92138:1484
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.
nor yet doth the Magistrate manage his office under, or for the Devil, God save the Magistrate, datur tertium, he is for Christ as a Christian, and as a Christian; but as a Magistrate he is not for Christ as mediator, that is, as having his office of Christ as mediator, and being from Christ a Magistrate, that is, as M. Coleman expoundeth it an officer, having power of both the Swords: for Mr. Coleman saith, p. 20. Christian Magistracy is an Ecclesiastical administration; Ergo, he hath the power of the Spiritual Sword, and Paul, Rom. 13. saith, he hath from God the power of the other Sword: Yea, we cannot say that a Magistrate as a Magistrate, or a Minister as a Minister, are either redeemed and saved in Christ, nor no redeemed, or no saved in Christ, but in another reduplication: The Magistrate as a Magistrate, is not redeemed, but as an ⟨p. 567⟩elected man; nor is he damned, or not redeemed as a Magistrate, but as a reprobate and an unbelieving man; and the like▪ I say of a Minister, he that is not with Christ, as his immediate and supreme swordbearer, is not against Christ, for so all the world except the Prince, should be against him.
nor yet doth the Magistrate manage his office under, or for the Devil, God save the Magistrate, datur tertium, he is for Christ as a Christian, and as a Christian; but as a Magistrate he is not for Christ as mediator, that is, as having his office of Christ as mediator, and being from Christ a Magistrate, that is, as M. Coleman expoundeth it an officer, having power of both the Swords: for Mr. Coleman saith, p. 20. Christian Magistracy is an Ecclesiasticall administration; Ergo, he hath the power of the Spirituall Sword, and Paul, Rom. 13. saith, he hath from God the power of the other Sword: Yea, we cannot say that a Magistrate as a Magistrate, or a Minister as a Minister, are either redeemed and saved in Christ, nor no redeemed, or no saved in Christ, but in another reduplication: The Magistrate as a Magistrate, is not redeemed, but as an ⟨p. 567⟩elected man; nor is he damned, or not redeemed as a Magistrate, but as a reprobate and an unbeleeving man; and the like I say of a Minister, he that is not with Christ, as his immediate and supream swordbearer, is not against Christ, for so all the world except the Prince, should be against him.