A92138:1587
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.
Ans. If eyes and ears be members of the body, and watchmen members of the city, then are they, ex officio, by their office members of the Church▪ But if the Magistrate as a Magistrate be a member of the Church, then all Magistrates, Heathen, and Turkish are members of the Christian Church, ex officio, by virtue of their office.
Ans. If eyes and ears be members of the body, and watchmen members of the city, then are they, ex officio, by their office members of the Church▪ But if the Magistrate as a Magistrate be a member of the Church, then all Magistrates, Heathen, and Turkish are members of the Christian Church, ex officio, by vertue of their office.
Arg. 7. That opinion is not to be holden which layeth ground, that Christ Mediator is a temporary King, hath under him Magistrates, even heathenish, who have nothing to do with a Mediator1 to bear a temporal sword: for a supernatural and spiritual end as Christ• under heirs, he himself being the first heir of all such▪ and so maketh heathens within the verge of the mediatory Kingdom; as if Christ were as Mediator, a King to Heathen, and all and every one of mankind, who must have Magistrates, and so maketh the Kingdom of men as men, and the Kingdom of Grace commensurable, and of alike latitude and extension, and maketh nature and grace of equal comprehension: But such is the former opinion, the proposition cannot be denied, except by Arminians, Socinians, Papists, who do maintain an universal redemption, a grace universal, a Catholic Kingdom of Grace comprehensive of all and every man, of Pharaoh, Evil▪merodach, Belshazzar, all the Kings of Romans, Persians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and of Turk, India, and such as worship the Sun and Moon, the Devil, and the work of mens hands: The assumption is granted by Master Coleman who saith, Christ is the rightful King of the whole earth, he meaneth Christ as Mediator, to whom the Father hath given a Kingdom.