A92138:1597
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. 3. If the Magistrate be therefore subject to the Church not as a Magistrate, but as he scandalously transgresseth the Law of God, so that the Church may not rebuke and censure him, as either a Magistrate, or as a Magistrate doing his duty, but only as a Transgressor: Then neither 1. one particular Pastor as a Pastor is subject to the Church, yea no man in a lawful calling or relation as such is subject to the Church, for the Church cannot rebuke or censure a Husband as a Husband, a father as a father, a Painter as a Painter, no more then the Church can censure a Magistrate as a Magistrate; for then should the Church censure and condemn all these relations and callings, as husband, father, painter, Magistrate as intrinsically unlawful. Nor can the Church censure and rebuke husband, father, painter, musician, &c. when they do right, and do but fulfil their relations and callings, in doing the duties of husband, father, painter, no more then the Church can censure and rebuke the Magistrate when he doth his duty.
Obj. 3. If the Magistrate be therefore subject to the Church not as a Magistrate, but as he scandalously transgresseth the Law of God, so that the Church may not rebuke and censure him, as either a Magistrate, or as a Magistrate doing his duty, but onely as a Transgressor: Then neither 1. one particular Pastor as a Pastor is subject to the Church, yea no man in a lawfull calling or relation as such is subject to the Church, for the Church cannot rebuke or censure a Husband as a Husband, a father as a father, a Painter as a Painter, no more then the Church can censure a Magistrate as a Magistrate; for then should the Church censure and condemn all these relations and callings, as husband, father, painter, Magistrate as intrinsecally unlawfull. Nor can the Church censure and rebuke husband, father, painter, musitian, &c. when they do right, and doe but fulfill their relations and callings, in doing the duties of husband, father, painter, no more then the Church can censure and rebuke the Magistrate when he doth his dutie.
Ans. 1. This is not the total, complete, and adequate cause,1 why the Magistrate in spiritual things is subject to the Church, but the half of the cause only; you must take in the other consideration, he is in spiritualibus, subject to the Church, not only as he doth sin; but 1. As he may sin scandalously. 2. As he may be directed, informed, and swayed with precepts, promises, counsels,