A92138:1525
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.
now painting according to Art belongeth not at all to the conscience of the Magistrate, but sound preaching; right ruling in Gods house, belongeth in a far nearer relation to the conscience of the godly Magistrate. I Answer, As touching the formal judging Ecclesiast•cally, and as concerning this, that the Magistrate should say, it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to me▪ or his dispensing of Word and Sacraments, or his burning incense before the Lord, it no more belongeth to him as a Magistrate, to do these in his own person formally; because God hath not called him to act these, then it belongeth to him to paint an Image, to sew shoes, to si• at the helm of a Ship, and stir and guide her to such a Port, as is clearer, Heb. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 7. 17. 21. Rom. 10. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 17. and 3. 1, 2, 3. Act. 13. 23. and 20. 28, 29, 30. Heb. 13. 17. 2 Chro. 26. 18, 19, 20, 21. But in another consideration, as sound or unsound dispensing of Word and Sacraments, as right or unjust ruling in the house of God, may more or less hurt, or benefit the souls of men, which he is to care for indirectly, in ordine ad penas vel premia civilia et corporalia; it belongeth more to the Magistrate, to take care of the Church, of Religion, of preaching and, governing Gods house, then any painting or Arts in the earth:1 Again, the Church proceeding in these things, that are against common justice in all judicatures, no less then in the Church, as to condemn the party never heard, or not convinced, either by confession, or under two sufficient witnesses, or to do manifest unjustice in the manner of proceeding, leaveth a clear place to the wronged party, by the Law of nature if not to appeal yet to flee and have re-course to the Christian Magistrate, who is Parns Patrie the father of the Common wealth