A92138:1584
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.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: By which v. 5. as a great Anti-royalist, He strikes through Kings in the day of his wrath: Now Christ as Mediator sendeth not out Kings and Princes to conquer souls to him with their sword: Renowned Salmasius saith, When Christ sent his Apostles first to preach the Gospel, and to lay the foundation of the Christian Church, did he send out with them lictors, pursuivants, men of war with a bundle of rods, and with axes to compel men to come in to his Kingdom? Commanded he to smite them with swords and axes, who would not receive the Gospel? No, yea he would not have them to take with them a staff, a scrip, or shoes: But though Christ subdue all his enemies, Devils, and wicked men, it shall never follow that Christ is for that, King and head of Devils, and wicked men: For Christ is as Mediator King and Head, or mediatory King and Head of those that are the subjects, ⟨p. 613⟩and redeemed conquest of this King, and of those who are members of the body of which he is Head, now this body is his Church only, Col. 1. 18. He is the Head of the Body the Church, Eph. 1. 22, 23. And gave him to be Head over all things to the Church, Which is his Body, the fullness of him that filleth all: The Body of Christ to be edified, Ephesi. 4 12. Till we all (all that body of the Saints to be perfected, v. 11.) come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, v. 16. from whom the whole Body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love: Now never Divine can say, that Devils and wicked men, who shall bow to Jesus, are the subjects of this Kingdom of Christ, who have right to the fruits of the Kingdom, Righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17. far less that they are of the Body; that is, Christs Body, Christs fullness, Christs Body to be perfected, edified, to Come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, &c.