A92138:1790
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.
So if the Israelites should give their sons and daughters to marry strange women of the Canaanites, if they should ordain the Priests to teach carefully their married children, to beware, that they were not drawn away, by these idolatrous marriages, to serve the Gods of the Canaanites, they should not lay a stumbling-block before their sons and daughters. Yea, these who excel in light, may be weak in grace, and in hazard to be ensnared, by the idolatry and superstition of Ceremonies.
So if the Israelites should give their sonnes and daughters to marry strange women of the Canaanites, if they should ordaine the Priests to teach carefully their married children, to beware, that they were not drawne away, by these idolatrous marriages, to serve the Gods of the Canaanites, they should not lay a stumbling-block before their sonnes and daughters. Yea, these who excell in light, may be weake in grace, and in hazard to be insnared, by the idolatrie and superstition of Ceremonies.
4. The law of nature provideth all possible and lawful means for the removal of every thing, that may ruin his soul, for whom Christ died, but not only information of the danger of Ceremonies, but also the removal of the pits themselves, to wit, the Ceremonies are possible and lawful means.
4. The law of nature provideth all possible and lawfull meanes for the removall of every thing, that may rnine his soule, for whom Christ died, but not onely information of the danger of Ceremonies, but also the removall of the pitts themselves, to wit, the Ceremonies are possible and lawfull meanes.
5. 1. This were an idle Sabbath work to expound such themes as these Sacramental bowing is an humble adoring of God, not of bread, (and as it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save believers, so it pleased Prelates, by the foolishness of holy days and Saints days, to teach the people articles of faith, and by the Surplice to teach pastoral innocency, and by confirmation to bless children ) 2