A92138:1547
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.
But saith Camero, it is not true that the Church must meddle with 1every sin that is scandalous; because for the circumstance it may be so hid, that the Church cannot judge it, especially in a matter of fact: A Physician killeth a man either of temerity or negligence, there is no question but it is a great sin; yet the trial of this belongeth not to the Church: so the Pastor may exhort the Magistrate to do his duty, but to give judgement what way the King should do this, and when he sinneth in this, belongeth to him who governeth the Common-wealth; for this must be true, eredendum est artifici in sua art, You must believe every man in his own Art and calling, otherwise great confusion should follow.
But saith Camero, it is not true that the Church must meddle with 1every sin that is scandalous; because for the circumstance it may be so hid, that the Church cannot judge it, especially in a matter of fact: A Physitian killeth a man either of temerity or negligence, there is no question but it is a great sin; yet the tryall of this belongeth not to the Church: so the Pastor may exhort the Magistrate to do his duty, but to give judgement what way the King should do this, and when he sinneth in this, belongeth to him who governeth the Common-wealth; for this must be true, eredendum est artifici in sua arte, You must believe every man in his owne Art and calling, otherwise great confusion should follow.
- 1Camero, 16, 17. 18.
Ans. Observe that Camero doth liberate the Magistrate from being subject to the rebukes of Pastors, but by accident; because the sins of Princes are hidden in the dark obscurity of intricate causes which they judge: But so the sins of Painters and tradesmen are hid, because judges see not the mysteries of trades. This is no Argument, but such as will equally prove, that the poisoning of a Kings son, belongeth not to the King and Parliament; for a medicinal and physical trying, how the Physician killeth a man, doth properly belong to the College of Physicians; and if it belong not for this physical reason to the Church court, because it is not their Art to judge of medicinal potions, no more shall it belong to the civill judge to try this murder by poison: for as Pastors as Pastors are not Physicians, and so cannot judge of the fact; so Kings and civill judges, as such, are not Physicians, and cannot judge for circumstances of a fact of incest, murder, parricide, and of all sins acknowledged to belong to both Church and Magistrate, in divers respects, may make the fact equally dark to all. 2. It is true Pastors cannot prescribe what way the Magistrate should judge; but if the Pastors cannot determine in hypothesie, that this is a fact