A92138:1574
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.
Obj. 1. When the Heathen Magistrate is converted to the faith, and becometh a Christian Magistrate, he is obliged by his office as a Magistrate, to command his people to honour and receive the Lord Jesus, and the Ministry of reconciliation, and to punish such as blasphemeth the mediator Jesus Christ, such as Arians, Antitrinitarians, and others; Ergo, that official obligation lay on him before as a Magistrate: for you say that the heathen Magistrate turning Christian, acquireth no new Magistratical power by turning Christian, which he had not before while he was a heathen Magistrate; only Christianity maketh him use the official power of a Magistrate, which he had before, while he was a heathen ignorant of Christ, now for the honour of the mediator Christ, and the promoting of his mediatory Kingdom.
Obj. 1. When the Heathen Magistrate is converted to the faith, and becometh a Christian Magistrate, he is obliged by his office as a Magistrate, to command his people to honour and receive the Lord Jesus, and the Ministery of reconciliation, and to punish such as blasphemeth the mediator Iesus Christ, such as Arrians, Antitrinitarians, and others; Ergo, that officiall obligation lay on him before as a Magistrate: for you say that the heathen Magistrate turning Christian, acquireth no new Magistraticall power by turning Christian, which he had not before while he was a heathen Magistrate; onely Christianity maketh him use the officiall power of a Magistrate, which he had before, while he was a heathen ignorant of Christ, now for the honour of the mediator Christ, and the promoting of his mediatory Kingdome.
Ans. 1. The Antecedent is denied, for when the heathen Magistrate is converted to the Christian faith, he is not obliged by his office, as a Magistrate to command his people (whom we suppose now to be hearers of the Gospel, and possibly converted also) to believe and profess Christ, nor is he obliged as a Magistrate to promote the mediatory Kingdom of Christ, as his mediatory and spiritual Kingdom (he or his sword have nothing to do with spirits or consciences as they are such, nor with the subjects of a spiritual Kingdom) nor can he punish blasphemers of Christ as such: nay, nor can he punish such as sin against God the creator, as they sin against God the Creator, by virtue of his office of a Magistrate, for so formally he commandeth obedience to Christ mediator, or to God creator, and punisheth sins and blasphemies against the mediator, or against God the creator only as such obedience and such blasphemies, may promote the external safety, prosperity, and peace of the civill society, whereof he is head, or may dissolve the sinews and nerves of that society. What he doth to uphold that society which is a part of Christs redeemed Kingdom, e doth it as a Magistrate in a far other Notion then the Pastors and reachers, who by office as spiritual watchmen, are to promote Christs mediatory Kingdom, as such a spiritual incorporation professing union with Christ the head of the body the Church.