A92138:1562
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.
3. The adversaries are to answer this also; for if Pastors and Doctors be as such, but servants under the Magistrate; and if he have that same Architectonica potestas, that same supremacy and headship in Ecclesiastical matters, as in civill matters, to command alike in both by the same power: Then, 1. The Pastors and Doctors are obliged to follow his judgement, without appeal or examination, and they are servants and slaves, and ruled, and not [Greek or Hebrew] not over the Magistrates as Christians, neither over the people in the Lord. 2. The Elders as Elders, are not to examine what the Magistrates as Magistrates command in Ecclesiastical matters or in Religion, they may possibly not as Elders but as as Christians, judge with the judgement of discretion, as all other Christians may do; For Videlius, Erastus, and other Adversaries say, the Magistrate may not command what he pleaseth; for in Church matters he may command but according to the rule of the word, and in civill matters according to equity, justice, and prudence. True: But, 1. The Magistrate as supreme head of the Church, is by office, to judge what government of the Church is most agreeable to the word, what is sinful, Antichristian, and tyrannical; and the Magistrates lips in thus judging, as he is a Magistrate, and not the Pastors are to preserve knowledge; and both Pastors as Pastors, and the people as members of the Church, and as they may worship and serve God in this government, or may sin, are to seek the Law at the Magistrates mouth, and directions for their conscience from him, as from a Magistrate, and not as from a Christian, not from Pastors as Pastors that handle the Law. And if the government as a way of serving God, may be prescribed and held forth to the consciences of all by the Magistrate as the Magistrate; by the same reason all the ways of God, in which the Church of Ephesus, Pergamus, Thyatira, may so approve themselves to Christ, and as he is to walk in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks, and as a Magistrate, he is to forbid such sins in Government, as may procure the removing of the Candlestick; and why may he not by the same ⟨p. 600⟩reason, hold forth to their conscience all the other parts of the Gospel? If any say, who can deny but the Magistrate as the Magistrate may command that which is obedience to Christ, and reward it, and forbid sin and punish it?
3. The adversaries are to answer this also; for if Pastors and Doctors be as such, but servants under the Magistrate; and if he have that same Architectonica potestas, that same supremacy and headship in Ecclesiasticall matters, as in civill matters, to command alike in both by the same power: Then, 1. The Pastors and Doctors are obliged to follow his judgement, without appeal or examination, and they are servants and slaves, and ruled, and not not over the Magistrates as Christians, neither over the people in the Lord. 2. The Elders as Elders, are not to examine what the Magistrates as Magistrates command in Ecclesiasticall matters or in Religion, they may possibly not as Elders but as as Christians, judge with the judgement of discretion, as all other Christians may do; For Videlius, Erastus, and other Adversaries say, the Magistrate may not command what he pleaseth; for in Church matters he may command but according to the rule of the word, and in civill matters according to equity, justice, and prudence. True: But, 1. The Magistrate as supream head of the Church, is by office, to judge what government of the Church is most agreeable to the word, what is sinfull, Antichristian, and tyrannicall; and the Magistrates lips in thus judging, as he is a Magistrate, and not the Pastors are to preserve knowledge; and both Pastors as Pastors, and the people as members of the Church, and as they may worship and serve God in this government, or may sin, are to seek the Law at the Magistrates mouth, and directions for their conscience from him, as from a Magistrate, and not as from a Christian, not from Pastors as Pastors that handle the Law. And if the government as a way of serving God, may be prescribed and held forth to the consciences of all by the Magistrate as the Magistrate; by the same reason all the wayes of God, in which the Church of Ephesus, Pergamus, Thyatira, may so approve themselves to Christ, and as he is to walk in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks, and as a Magistrate, he is to forbid such sins in Government, as may procure the removing of the Candlestick; and why may he not by the same