A92138:1600
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. It is enough if I prove that the Magistrate is subject to the Church, to Pastors and Doctors in things belonging to his soul, and as a man and a Christian in civill things are subject to him,1 which to me is clear in the Word of God, as 1. Because Timothy and all watchmen in their person are commanded to rebuke them that sin before all, and that in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus, and the elect Angels, without preferring one before another, or doing any thing by partiality, 1 Tim. 5. 20, 21. 2 Tim. 4. 2. And if Levi must not know his father or his mother, in the Lords cause, Deut. 33. 9. and Jeremiah in rebuking not be dismayed of Kings, Princes, and Prophets, Jer. 1. 17. neither must Ministers accept the persons of judges, Christ rebuked his mother to whom otherwise he was subject, Joh. 2. 4. Luke 2. 51. 2. There is the practise of the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles, that they have rebuked Kings, Rulers, Magistrates, Priests, Prophets, every page almost of the Old and New Testament saith this. 3. God hath no whit exempted the Rulers from rebukes, as they be men, they can and do sin. 4. Princes are the sheep of Christ, and redeemed as a part of the flock for the which Christ gave the blood of God; Ergo, they are to be fed and watched over, lest they also as grievous wolves prey upon the flock, Acts 20. 28, 29, 30. then there must be some over them, and those who should speak the word of the Lord to them, and so the word of rebuke, and who should watch for the souls of Magistrates, as those who must give an account, whom the Magistrates must obey as others in the same condition who have souls, Heb. 13. 7, 17.