A92138:1628
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.
As for Mr. Colemans punitive part of Church Government by the Magistrate, this by his way is done by the power of the sword of the Magistrate, saith he, and therefore citeth Rom. 13. He beareth not the sword in vain, &c. Hence either the Apostolic Church had no censures at all, and so no visible government and order, but preaching of the Word was all; and except we would add to our pattern, and be more wise then the Holy Ghost and the Apostles, we ought to have no Church Government, but only preaching the Word; or then the Apostles, Pastors, and Teachers meddled with the sword of the Emperor Nero in discharging the punitive part, for with no other instrument doth the Magistrate punish ill-doers, but with the sword, Rom. 13. 4, 5. This text Mr. Coleman citeth to make bloody Nero a Church-governor: But no ground is for this in the Word, that Paul, Peter, Timothy, Archippus meddled with the Emperors sword, or that the weapons of their warfare ⟨p. 631⟩were carnal; or that Paul was the Minister of God, bearing the sword for the punishment of evil doers: I think Paul speaketh1 of civil bodily punishing, Rom. 13. and no violence greater can be offered to the Word of God; for if that power be an Ecclesiastical administration, every soul, and so the Christian Magistrate, is to be subject to this Ecclesiastical and Church power; and if so, then to the Church: If Mr. Coleman deny the consequence, I conceive to be subject to the Magistrate, is Rom. 13. to be subject to the power civil, that is, of God: If the Magistracy be an Ecclesiastical ordinance and a vicegerent power of the mediator, as they say it is; then to be subject to the Magistrate, is to be subject to this Church power, and to be subject to the Church. 2. The punishing power of the Magistrate as such, doth not bind and loose on Earth, and open and shut Heaven; for then hoc ipso, because the Magistrate doth judge and punish evil doers, the mans sin should be bound in Heaven; now so the judging and punishing power should take hold of the conscience: But it is certain, the Magistrate as judge may take away the life of a Capital Delinquent, when he knoweth the man repenteth and believeth, and findeth mercy with God; Ergo, this magistratical power is not Ecclesiastical; for if the man to the knowledge of all repent, the Church hath no power to bind his sin on Earth, nor will God bind his sin in Heaven;