A92138:1496
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.
Object. 9. But the Magistrate is unproperly subject to the Pastor, who is but a mere Herald, servant, and Minister, who hath all his1 authority from the word of another, and so it is but imperium alienum, a borrowed power, he is subject properly to Christ speaking in his Word. Titius is subject to the King properly, but unproperly to the Kings Herald.
Object. 9. But the Magistrate is unproperly subject to the Pastor, who is but a meer Herald, servant, and Minister, who hath all his1 authority from the word of another, and so it is but imperium alienum, a borrowed power, he is subject properly to Christ speaking in his Word. Titius is subject to the King properly, but unproperly to the Kings Herald.
- 1Ità videlius Ep. Const. quest. 11.
Ans. 1. Let the subjection be unproper, there can no conclusion from thence be drawn against us, If 1. The Pastors as Pastors have their commissions from Christ and be his immediate Servants, and have no Commission Pastoral from the Magistrate, as the power of the Herald floweth immediately from the royal power of the King, and he is the Kings immediate servant; then to obey him in those acts which he performeth in the Kings name, is to obey the King; and in those acts subjects do properly obey the Herald; and so here Heb. 13. Obey those that are over you in the Lord, according to that, He that heareth you, heareth me, he that despiseth you despiseth me. 2. It is enough for our purpose that Magistrates ⟨p. 571⟩are so to obey Pastors in the Lord, and Pastors are so supreme under Christ as the Magistrate is not above them, and they have their Embassy, calling, and commission immediately from Jesus Christ, without the intervention of the Magistrates Authority.