A92138:1791
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.
Duplyers pag. 63. n. 38.
Thirdly, if for Scandals taken, especially by the malicious, we may disclaim the authority of a Law, then we may ever disclaim the authority of all laws of Church and State, for there is nothing commanded by laws, but some, either through weakness, or through malice, may take offence at it.
Thirdly, if for Scandalls taken, especially by the malicious, we may disclaime the authority of a Law, then we may ever disclaime the authoritie of all lawes of Church and State, for there is nothing commanded by lawes, but some, either through weaknes, or through malice, may take offence at it.
Answer. 1. For scandals taken, and also given, by either weak, or wilful, when the matter is indifferent, and hath evident conformity with Jewish and Popish rites, and is not necessary, we may disclaim the authority of all such laws, true. Ergo, we may for scandal maliciously taken, deny the authority of all laws, it followeth not. Ex affirmatione sp•ciei male colligitur negatio generis. It is not for taken scandal, but for given scandal, ⟨p. 24⟩that we disclaim the authority of these laws. 2. The Doctors will have us believe, upon the sole light of their conscience, n. 36. that they think the Ceremonies lawful and expedient. But for us, they will not credit us in that, but out of malice we are scandalized, and not out of weakness.