A92138:1491
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. 8. But Pastors have authority equally immediate and independent under God, as the magistrate hath, and what more can they have except the Crown and Sceptre? is not this an emulous and odious equality, beside a collaterality? hence they cry the liberty, the liberty of the Kingdom of Christ, the right, the power of the Church is taken away, so often as the magistrate punisheth scandals.
Obj. 8. But Pastors have authority equally immediate and independent under God, as the magistrate hath, and what more can they have except the Crowne and Scepter? is not this an emulous and odious equality, beside a collaterality? hence they cry the liberty, the liberty of the Kingdome of Christ, the right, the power of the Church is taken away, so often as the magistrate punisheth scandals.
Ans. Non-subordination can never infer equality, who denieth that the Magistrate may command the Husband and Wife to do a duty to each other, the father not to provoke the son, the son not to disobey the Father, the Pastor and People, the Master and Servant, the Captain and Soldier, to do a duty each, one to another. And there is a proper right and liberty, and power immediately given by God, without the King or Magistrates interposing of their authority: to all these, the Kings authority maketh not the man a Father, nor the Son subject to the Father, nor the Servant to the Master, nor the Soldier to the Commander. God immediately made those powers, and God in the Law of nature hath given a power to the Father over the son, without the Magistrate; yea, though there had never been a Magistrate in the world: so the Pastors and Elders by divine institution, have a power and liberty to feed and govern the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers, and set them over as those who must ⟨p. 569⟩give an account to the great Shepherd, Acts 20. 28, 29. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13.