A92138:1572
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.
Arg. 2. If the Magistrate as the Magistrate be the Vicar and deputy of Christs mediatory kingdom, then all and every Magistrate as Magistrate by his office, is obliged under the pain of Gods wrath, to command that the Gospel be preached, and that men believe and obey Christ as mediator, in all his dominions; that so he may manage his office for Christ: But the latter is utterly false, and contrary1 to the Gospel; Ergo, so is the former. The Major is undeniable, all service that Magistrates by office do, they sin before God, if they do it not; and so must be obliged under the pain of sin, and Gods wrath to do it: And therefore are obliged to command that the Gospel be preached, and that men believe and obey Christ, if by office they be the Vicars and deputies of the mediatory Kingdom. I prove the assumption, These Magistrates amongst the Americans and other Heathen, who never by any rumour heard of Jesus Christ, are essentially and formally Magistrates: But neither are they obliged to command that the Gospel be preached, nor their people they are over, obliged to believe and obey Christ as mediator; because only those to whom Christ and the Gospel cometh, can be guilty of not receiving Christ the mediator, and of not promoting the mediatory Kingdom: Such Magistrates are obliged only with their sword to glorify God the creator, and to punish sins against the Law of Nature, nor are they guilty for not punishing the not receiving of the Gospel, or for sins against the mediator, of whom they never heard; for this is invincible and insuperable ignorance, and can make no man guilty, who never heard nor could hear of the Gospel, according to that, Joh. 15. 22. If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin, Rom. 2. 12. For as many as have sinned without Law, shall also perish without Law, and as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law; Ergo, they that never heard of the Gospel or the mediator, cannot perish, nor be judged for refusing the Gospel; and it were strange, if Magistrates were invincibly ignorant of their office, which is to set up the mediator Christ and his Church and visible Kingdom, if yet they never heard, nor ever could hear of the Word of the Kingdom;
Arg. 2. If the Magistrate as the Magistrate be the Vicar and deputy of Christs mediatory kingdom, then all and every Magistrate as Magistrate by his office, is obliged under the pain of Gods wrath, to command that the Gospel be preached, and that men believe and obey Christ as mediator, in all his dominions; that so he may manage his office for Christ: But the latter is utterly false, and contrary