A92138:1709
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.
Object. Of things alike lawful and convenient; for example, sitting at the Lords Table, or not sitting, we are bound to the one rather then to the other, for lawful Authorities command; for conveniency and goodness in external circumstances standeth not in such an indivisible point, but there may be circumstances good, better, and best; a gesture, a day, a habit, may be so good and convenient, as another gesture, another day, another habit, are as good and convenient▪ in which case, either no habit, no day, no gesture at all, shall be in Gods Worship, which were impossible; else of two Circumstances, both of three degrees of goodness, one shall be chosen by the sole Will of Authority; and so people must follow one order, ⟨p. 656⟩rather then another as good, for the sole Will of Authority, without any prevalent reason in the thing commanded.
Object. Of things alike lawful and convenient; for example, sitting at the Lords Table, or not sitting, we are bound to the one rather then to the other, for lawful Authorities command; for conveniency and goodnesse in external circunistances standeth not in such an indivisible point, but there may be circumstances good, better, and best; a gesture, a day, a habit, may be so good and convenient, as another gesture, another day, another habit, are as good and convenient▪ in which case, either no habit, no day, no gesture at all, shall be in Gods Worship, which were impossible; else of two Circumstances, both of three degrees of goodnesse, one shall be chosen by the sole Will of Authority; and so people must follow one order, ⟨p. 656⟩rather then another as good, for the sole Will of Authority, without any prevalent reason in the thing commanded.
Answ. 1. In such a case as that, where two Circumstances, both of three degrees of1