A92138:1545
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.
4. Moreover Paul appealed not to Cesar, in ordine ad censuram au• pen•m Ecclesiasticam▪ in order to a Church censure, as if he thought Cesar should principally excommunicate and cast him out of the synagogue, or judge him in an Ecclesiastical way, whether he had done or preached against the Temple, and Law of Moses or not, which must be proved, if the adversaries will prove a proper appeal from the Church to the Prince, which is now our question. All this which is our mind is well explained by our Countryman Joh. Camero. prelectio, in Mat. 18. 15. p. 151. Christiani principes sunt precipui in Ecclesia in sensu diviso, sunt precipui et sunt in Ecclesia, non in sensu conjuncto, non sunt prec•pui Ecclesiastici: Non enim obtinent principes direct authoritatem Ecclesiasticam, sed indirectè▪ non quod velimus ulla in causa ullum eximi jurisdictione principis, sed quia ejus jurisdictio non nisi per media Ecclesiastica pertinet ad conscientiam, nempe, princeps non predicat Evangelium, non ligat et solvit ⟨p. 592⟩peceatores, at de officio principis est dare operam, ut sint qui predicent Evangelium, ut sint qui ligent et solvant peccatores, uno verbo perinde principis est curare salutem animarum, ac eiusdem est saluti corporum prospicere, non est enim principis providere ne morbi grassentur directè, esset enim medicus, at indirectè princeps id studere debet, Itaque Collegium Magistratuum nullo modo Ecclesia dici potest, imo quatenus Magistratus est de Ecclesia, subjicitur hac in part Collegio Ecclesiastico neque tamen ista inter se pugnant, idem ut imperet Collegio Ecclesiastico, et pareat idem, imperat enim quemadmodum medi•o imperat Rex, paret ut medicao, nam si medicum facientem officium morte multet, non faciet quod decet sapientem principem, sed quod faciunt furiosi et insani, sin veneficum assiciat extremo supplicio, faciet quod jus et fas, et quod non facere ne•as esset. Sic imp••reges et insani prophet as jusserunt interfici, pius Rex et idem sapientissimus David Nathanem exosculatus est, Ceterum accipiatur Caute parendi verbum, Rex enim cum senatui Ecclesiastico paret, non paret illi obedientia civili quae Collegium respiciat, sed obedientia Religiosa que deum respiciat. Sic qui lictori misso a senatu parebat non parebat lictori, sed senatui.