A92138:1721
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.
A Scandal is a word or action or the omission of both, inordinately spoken or done, whence we know, or ought to know, the fall of weak, wilful or both, is occasioned to th•se, who are within or without the Church. 1. It is a word or deed seen to others▪ Sinful thoughts not being seen, are not public scandals, though to the man himself they occasion sinne. Hence non-conformitie simply to a thing indifferent, must only be scandalous, as joined with contempt, formal contempt in things indifferent, is inward and invisible to men. 2. Omission of words and deeds scandalize. Silence in Preachers, when God▪ matters go wrong is scandalous: So Sanches b3. Not every word & deed doth scandalize, ⟨p. 3⟩but such as are done unorderly. cSanches saith these words and deeds, Quae carent rectitudine, which want some moral rectitude; o• as Aquinas dsaith, of themselves are inductive to sin, doth scandalize: or that eM. Anton. De Dominis Archiep. Spalatens. saith, which is inductive to sin, or the cause of great evil, or hindereth good, as our faith, zeal, love, &c. that scandalizeth. For though none of these fall out, if the work or word, or omission of either be such, as of it self, is apt to scandalize, it is an active scandal. Hence every little scandal is a sin, either in it self, or in the unordinate way of doing •. But what objects are properly scandalous, shall be discussed. 3. When we know such words and deeds do scandalize, and they be not necessary to be done, yea, and if we ought to know; for though the proneness and proclivity of our brethren, or others to sin, be in some respect, questio facti, yet is it also questio juris, a question of Law, the ignorance whereof condemneth when the things themselves are doubtsomely evil, but not necessary to be done; Hence the practice of a thing indifferent, when there be none that probably can be scandalized, and hath some necessity, is lawful: as