A92138:1664
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.
The Reader may perceive that Bullinger, Gualther, and Musculus 1. Do acknowledge, that the place Mat. 18. and 1 Cor. 5. do clearly prove an Ecclesiastical excommunication, which Erastus denieth. 2. That Erastus expoundeth these two places against the1 mind of those his friends: And never Divine in the world, Protestant, Papist, Lutheran, never Council, Father, Doctor, Ancient, or Modern, expounded the place Let him be to thee as a Heathen, as Erastus doth. 3. These Divines difference the Magistrate and the Church, in censures, power, function. Erastus confoundeth them, and saith as the Anabaptists of old did; against whom, Luther, Bullinger, Gualther, Lavater, Musculus, Wolfius, Aretius, Simlerus, disputed, that the civil Magistrate may lawfully dispense the Word and Sacraments. 4. They never condemned the Discipline of Geneva; Erastus doth. 5. They acknowledge there was in the apostolic Church, an Ecclesiastical Senate or Presbytery: Erastus saith, this is a devise wanting Scripture. 6. They denied Excommunication to be exercised by all the Church, as a devise of the Anabaptists: Bullinger saith, 1 Cor. 5. a dilectis ad hoc hominibus. Erastus saith, it must be exercised by the whole Church, if there be any such thing. 7. Bullinger and Gualther, think that Discipline is necessary in the Church: Erastus refuseth any such thing.
The Reader may perceive that Bullinger, Gualther, and Musculus 1. Do acknowledge, that the place Mat. 18. and 1 Cor. 5. do clearly prove an Ecclesiastical excommunication, which Erastus denieth. 2. That Erastus expoundeth these two places against the1 mind of those his friends: And never Divine in the world, Protestant, Papist, Lutheran, never Councel, Father, Doctor, Ancient, or Modern, expounded the place Let him be to thee as a Heathen, as Erastus doth. 3. These Divines difference the Magistrate and the Church, in censures, power, function. Erastus confoundeth them, and saith as the Anabaptists of old did; against whom, Luther, Bullinger, Gualther, Lavater, Musculus, Wolfius, Aretius, Simlerus, disputed, that the civil Magistrate may lawfully dispence the Word and Sacraments. 4. They never condemned the Discipline of Geneva; Erastus doth. 5. They acknowledge there was in the apostolick Church, an Ecclesiastical Senate or Presbytery: Erastus saith, this is a devise wanting Scripture. 6. They denied Excommunication to be exercised by all the Church, as a devise of the Anabaptists: Bullinger saith,