A92138:1619
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. But God hath forbidden in the Law of nature to kill infants to God upon any pretence.
Ans. In the Law of nature God hath forbidden all false worship. 2. The Law of nature hath forbidden to offer any blood to God, that is, the Law of nature will never warrant us to offer in a whole brunt offering an innocent Beast to God, created for the use of man, and it should be against the Law of nature, to kill Beasts for any religious use, or for any use, except to be food or medicine for man: Except God in a positive Law, had commanded whole burnt offerings, and offering of Beasts to God: so the Law of nature forbids Indians to kill infants; but they tell you, there is a positive Law of their God, and in conscience they are obliged to kill their children to this God, and you must convince their conscience, that this is murder, not right worship, by reason and light of truth, not with a club and force of sword, which hath no influence upon the conscience.
Ans. In the Law of nature God hath forbidden all false worship. 2. The Law of nature hath forbidden to offer any blood to God, that is, the Law of nature will never warrant us to offer in a whole brunt offering an innocent Beast to God, created for the use of man, and it should be against the Law of nature, to kill Beasts for any religious use, or for any use, except to be food or medicine for man: Except God in a positive Law, had commanded whole burnt offerings, and offering of Beasts to God: so the Law of nature forbids Indians to kill infants; but they tell you, there is a positive Law of their God, and in conscience they are obliged to kill their children to this God, and you must convince their conscience, that this is murther, not right worship, by reason and light of truth, not with a club and force of sword, which hath no influence upon the conscience.
3. It followeth not, that God hath subjected God, Christ, Heaven, the Spirit to natural men; for an Indian Magistrate remaining an Indian, never received power from men as men, nor from God, to judge of Christian worship: yea, Indian Magistrates as Indians are uncapable of judging or punishing what is against Christ, Heaven, the Spirit, and yet they are Lawful Magistrates; for their ignorance of Christ excludeth them from having any such formal power; what Magistratical power they have which they cannot put forth in acts, is not to a purpose for this power, which they cannot exercise, shall never subject, Christ, Heaven, the Spirit to the