A92138:1501
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. You may see solid answers to this, in Walens, Cabel Javius, and Jac. Triglandius. 1. The book of the Law was given to the King for his practise, that he might fear the Lord his God, and his heart not be lifted up above his brethren, Deut. 17. 18, 19, 20. and this was common to him, with the Priests and all the people of God, but to the King in an exemplary and special manner, that 1. The people might follow his Example, and therefore these same words which concern the practice of the King, Deut. 17. 19. are also given to the people, Deut. 6. 2. and 10. 13. and 111, 2, 13, 22. and 12. 1, 2, 28. and 13. 4. and 27. 1. and 28. 1. with a little change, sure no change that by any consequent will make the book of the Law to be delivered to the King to this end, that his lips by his Royal office, should preserve knowledge, and that the people ⟨p. 572⟩should require the Law at the Kings mouth, which was the special1 office of the Priest, Mal. 2. 7. as proper and peculiar to the Priest, as the Covenant of Levi, ver. 8. and that they should not be partial in the Law, but should teach the people the difference between the clean and the unclean, the precious and the vile in Judgement, not accepting the persons of father and mother, Ezek. 44. 23, 24. and 22, 26. Lev. 10. 10, 11, Jeremiah▪ 15. 19. Deut. 33. 9. Yea, it was no less peculiar to the Priests, then to offer Sacrifice to the Lord, Leviticus 10. 10, 11, 12, 13.