A92138:1509
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. 14. Its true in several respects, he that is a Governor, may be a subject, but in one and the same spiritual respect, to judge1 and to be judged, to sit on the Bench, and stand at the bar of Christ Jesus, is as impossible as to reconcile the East and the West together, so The Bloody Tenet, I demand if the Church be a Delinquent, who shall judge? It is answered the, magistrate. Again if the magistrate ⟨p. 574⟩be a delinquent, I ask who shall judge it? It is answered, The Church. Whence I observe (which is, in most cases of the world monstrous) that one person, to wit, the Church or the Magistrate, shall be at one time2 the delinquent at the Bar, and the judge upon the Bench: for the Church must judge when the magistrate offends; and yet the magistrate must judge when the Church offends, whether she contem•• civill authority, in the Second Table for thus dealing with him, or whether she hath broken the rules of the first table of which (say they) God hath made him a keeper and preserver, what blood, what tumults hath been, and must be spilt upon these grounds? Ib. so3 the Church calleth one of her members to office, and ordaineth him an officer: The Magistrate opposeth him as an unworthy officer, and according to his conscience suppresseth him; upon this the Church complaineth of the Magistrates violation of her privileges, and that he is turned persecutor, and not prevailing with admonition, She excommunicateth the Magistrate: The Magistrate again not enduring such violation of ordinances, he cutteth off with the sword, such profaners of ordinances.
Object. 14. Its true in severall respects, he that is a Governour, may be a subject, but in one and the same spirituall respect, to judge1 and to be judged, to sit on the Bench, and stand at the barre of Christ Iesus, is as impossible as to reconcile the East and the VVest together, so The Bloodie Tenent, I demand if the Church be a Delinquent, who shall judge? It is answered the, magistrate. Again if the magistrate