A92138:1539
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. 1. This Argument, if it have nerves, shall make the great Turk, when he subdueth people and Churches of the Protestant Religion, to be the head of the Church; and as Erastus saith, by his place and office as he is a Magistrate, he may preach and dispense the Sacraments, and a Heathen Nero may make Church constitutions, and say, It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to me; and by this, Nero by office is to excommunicate, make or unmake Pastors and Teachers, judge what is Orthodox Doctrine, what not, debar heretics, Apostates and mockers from the Table, and admit the worthy; and Paul the Apostle must have been the Ambassador and Deputy of Nero in preaching the Gospel, and governing the Church, and Nero is the mixed person, and invested by Jesus Christ with spiritual jurisdiction, and the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. This Argument to the Adversaries cannot quit its cost, •or by this way Paul appealed from the Church in a controversy of Religion, to a Nero, a Heathen unbaptized Head of the Church, and referred his faith over to the will, judgement, and determination of a professed Enemy of the Christian Church; and Paul must both jure by the Law of God, and the impulsion of the Holy Ghost, appeal from the Church to a Heathen without the Church, in a matter of Religion ⟨p. 588⟩and Conscience; then Nebuchadnezzar was head of the Church of Judah, and supreme judge and governor in all causes and controversies of Religion, how can we believe the adversary, who do not believe themselves? and shall we make Domitian, Diocletian, Trajan, and such heads of the Church of Christ?
Ans. 1. This Argument, if it have nerves, shall make the great Turk, when he subdueth people and Churches of the Protestant Religion, to be the head of the Church; and as Erastus saith, by his place and office as he is a Magistrate, he may preach and dispense the Sacraments, and a Heathen Nero may make Church constitutions, and say, It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to me; and by this, Nero by office is to excommunicate, make or unmake Pastors and Teachers, judge what is Orthodoxe Doctrine, what not, debarre hereticks, Apostates and mockers from the Table, and admit the worthie; and Paul the Apostle must have been the Ambassador and Deputie of Nero in preaching the Gospel, and governing the Church, and Nero is the mixt person, and invested by Iesus Christ with spirituall jurisdiction, and the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven. This Argument to the Adversaries cannot quit its cost, or by this way Paul appealed from the Church in a controversie of Religion, to a Nero, a Heathen unbaptized Head of the Church, and referred his faith over to the will, judgement, and determination of a professed Enemy of the Christian Church; and Paul must both jure by the Law of God, and the impulsion of the Holy Ghost, appeale from the Church to a Heathen without the Church, in a matter of Religion