A92138:165
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.
3. Morals of the Law of nature and the Moral Law, do more respect occasions of Providence, customs, Laws, and the manners of people (they doing so nearly concern our Moral practise) then any Ceremonies of Moses his Law which did shadow out Christ to us, and therefore this reason shall prove the just contrary of that for which its alleged; for the Moral Law should be rather alterable at the Churches lust, then Ceremonials, for there be far more occurrences of Providence in regard of which the Laws Moral touching, what is Sabbath breaking, whether is leading an Ox to the water on the Sabbath a breach of the Sabbath? (the Jews held the affirmative, Christ the negative) touching obedience to Superiors, ⟨p. 38⟩Homicide, Polygamy, Incest, Fornication, Oppression, Lying, Equivocating: Then there can be occasions to change the Law of sacrificing, which clearly did adumbrate Christ, who was to be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world; yea, all significant Symbolical Ceremonies have their spiritual signification independent from all occasions of Providence, and depending on the mere will of the Instituter; Surplice, or white linen, signifieth the Priests holiness, without any regard to time, place, or national customs; for Christ might have made an immutable Law, touching the Symbolical, and Religious signification, and use of Saints-days, white linen, Crossing, and all the rest of humane Ceremonies, which should stand to Christs second coming, notwithstanding of any occurrences of Providence, no less then he made an immutable Law, touching the Sacramental obsignation of water in Baptism, and of Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper, if it had not been his will never to burden his Churches with such dumb and tooth-less mysteries as humane positives: 4. The assumption is false, for divers Ceremonial Laws now altered were made without any regard to occasions of Providence, and many Doctrinals that are unalterable were made with special regard to such occurrences: 5. If positives of Policy be alterable, because the occasions of such are alterable by God; it shall follow that God who hath all revolutions of Providence in his hand, must change these Positives, and not the Authority of the Church: and thus Doctrinals are alterable by God, not by men, which is now our question; for Christ hath given a Commandment;
3. Morals of the Law of nature and the Morall Law, do more respect occasions of Providence, customes, Laws, and the manners of people (they doing so nearly concerne our Morall practise) then any Ceremonies of Moses his Law which did shadow out Christ to us, and therefore this reason shall prove the just contrary of that for which its alledged; for the Morall Law should be rather alterable at the Churches lust, then Ceremonials, for there be far more occurrences of Providence in regard of which the Laws Morall touching, what is Sabbath breaking, whether is leading an Ox to the water on the Sabbath a breach of the Sabbath? (the Jews held the affirmative, Christ the negative) touching obedience to Superiors,