A92138:152
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.
for New Testament Ceremonials, as to take Bread, Eat and drink, are not so necessary, nor so weighty to us under the New-Testament, as the precept of believing in Christ, and of repentance from dead works, yet I hope it shall be a weak inference, from thence to infer, we may therefore alter and change any thing of the Sacrament, for the same Christ who commanded us to believe in him, said also, Drink 1ye all of this; and if we may not remove drinking from the last Supper, because enjoined by Christ upon the authority of the Lawgiver, as signifying the spiritual drinking of Christs Blood, how can any dare to add Crossing to Baptism, which signifieth the dedication of the Baptized to Christs service? But 1. Divine Ceremonials, and positives which were to be changed, have these notes and impressions of God, which Surplice, Cross in Baptism, Corner-cap, (which by Analogy answereth to Moses his Ceremonies) hath not; and yet if they be of the New Testament, and so2 of a more excellent spirits devising then the people of the Jews were capable of, in regard of their Bondage under Carnal Precepts, they ought to have them in a more excellent manner: As 1. In regard of the manner of Revelation; all the Laws and Ceremonial Ordinances were revealed to Moses when he was forty days in the Mount with God, and was in Heaven and above men, Exod. 25. 40. Heb. 8. 5. The length measure and pattern of the Temple was revealed to Ezekiel when he was in the spirit, and saw the Visions of God, Ezech. 40. 2, 3. And a writing of the form of the Temple by Gods hand, was delivered to David, 1 Chro. 28. 19. Now if a more free and glorious spirit teach the Positives of policy, under the New-Testament, such as Surplice, Crossing, then Prelates ⟨p. 30⟩must be in a higher mount with God, then Moses was, and in a deeper ecstasy of the visions of God, then Ezekiel was in,