A92138:1571
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.
If as Christian, Christian Magistracy be an Ecclesiastical office and administration: Christianity, 1. Is common to the Magistrate with all other professors, Painters, Merchants, Seamen, Lawyers, Musicians; and no more can Christianity make a heathen formally a Church-officer, then it can make a Painter formally a Church-officer? can faith in Christ, and professing thereof make any to be formally Church-officers? then must all be Church-officers that are Members of the Church, for posita causa formally ponitur effectus formally: Now Master Coleman saith, The heathen Magistrate as a Magistrate is an Ecclesiastical administration; because (saith he) he 1should, and ought to manage his power for Christ; as the heathen and uttermost parts of the earth are given for Christs possession and inheritance, and Christ hath given no liberty to a great part of the world, to remain infidels and enemies to him and his Government: I suppose Christ hath all Nations given to him, and all Nations ought to receive Christ, though as yet actually they do not; God and Nature hath made Magistrates, and these Magistrates thus made, God hath given to Christ: But, 1. The title of Christian added to Magistracy, by this is superfluous, and put in only ad faciendum populum, for Christianity maketh no man formally a Magistrate by M. Colemans way; yet saith he pag. 17. a Christian Magistrate as a Christian Magistrate, is a Governor in the Church: he should say by his way, a Magistrate Christian as a Magistrate, is a Governor ⟨p. 606⟩not only in the Church, but a Governor of the Church.
If as Christian, Christian Magistracy be an Ecclesiasticall office and administration: Christianity, 1. Is common to the Magistrate with all other professors, Painters, Merchants, Seamen, Lawyers, Musitians; and no more can Christianity make a heathen formally a Church-officer, then it can make a Painter formally a Church-officer? can faith in Christ, and professing thereof make any to be formally Church-officers? then must all be Church-officers that are Members of the Church, for posita causa formali ponitur effectus formali•: Now Master Coleman saith, The heathen Magistrate as a Magistrate is an Ecclesiasticall administration; because (saith he) he 1