A92138:1537
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. This proveth that Christians as Christians, and Magistrates as Christians, may judge & determine of all things that concerneth their practise, and that they are not with blind obedience to receive things; Mr. Pryn cannot say, that 1 John 4. 1. is meant of a Royal, Parliamentary, or Magistratical trial, John speaketh to Christians as such: But this is nothing to prove the power of the Magistrate as the Magistrate, for thought the man were neither King nor Magistrate, he ought to try the Spirits, 1 John 4. 1.1
Ans. This proveth that Christians as Christians, and Magistrates as Christians, may judge & determine of all things that concerneth their practise, and that they are not with blinde obedience to receive things; Mr. Pryn cannot say, that 1 Iohn 4. 1. is meant of a Royall, Parliamentary, or Magistraticall tryall, Iohn speaketh to Christians as such: But this is nothing to prove the power of the Magistrate as the Magistrate, for thought the man were neither King nor Magistrate, he ought to try the Spirits, 1 Iohn 4. 1.1
- 1Of Pauls appeal to Cesar, that it proveth not that in Ecclesiastical controversies we may appeal to Heathen or Christian Magistrates as to Judges of matters Ecclesiastic, from the Church.Of Pauls appeal to Cesar, that it proveth not that in Ecclesiasticall controversies we may appeal to Heathen or Christian Magistrates as to Iudges of matters Ecclesiastick, from the Church.
The special objection moved for Appeals is, that which Paul did in a matter of Religion, that we may do in the like case, but Paul,