A92138:1486
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. Non concluditur negatum, We deny not but the Magistrate may judge and put to shame offenders, but it is civill shame, by which the Magistrate judgeth any offender to be an evil Citizen and hurtful member of the common-wealth, Judg. 18. 17. The Church hath no power thus to judge, or thus to put to shame: But there is an Ecclesiastical shame, in which the Church judgeth, whether such a man be a sound and faithful subject of the Kingdom of Christ, or a hurtful Member of the Church, and of this shame speaketh Paul, 2 Thess 3. 14. keep no company with him, that he may be ashamed; and the same way we are to distinguish, a good name for it is an honour, that it be said of any man, as Psal. 87. This man was borne in Zion.
Ans. Non concluditur negatum, We deny not but the Magistrate may judge and put to shame offenders, but it is civill shame, by which the Magistrate judgeth any offender to be an evill Citizen and hurtfull member of the common-wealth, Iudg. 18. 17. The Church hath no power thus to judge, or thus to put to shame: But there is an Ecclesiasticall shame, in which the Church judgeth, whether such a man be a sound and faithfull subject of the Kingdome of Christ, or a hurtfull Member of the Church, and of this shame speaketh Paul, 2 Thess 3. 14. keep no company with him, that he may be ashamed; and the same way we are to distinguish, a good name for it is an honour, that it be said of any man, as Psal. 87. This man was borne in Zion.
Obj. 6. What the Magistrate as a Magistrate punisheth, that as a Magistrate he judgeth; but as a Magistrate he punisheth Idolatry and heresy; Ergo, as a magistrate he judgeth it.