A92138:1804
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 n. 43.
Men are ready to stumble, and to be scandalized at our refusing obedience to the lawful Commandments of our Superiors: for they will take occasion by our carriage, to do that, unto which by nature they be most inclined, to wit, to vilipend Laws and Authority.
Men are ready to stumble, and to be scandalized at our refusing obedience to the lawfull Commandements of our Superiours: for they will take occasion by our cariage, to doe that, unto which by nature they be most inclined, to wit, to vilipend Lawes and Authoritie.
Answer. If any stumble at our non-obedience to Perth Articles, and thence be induced to vilipend Laws and Authority, it is a scandal merely taken, no ways given, as is clear, because they stumble at our obedience to God, in that we refuse to kill one for whom Christ died. 2. It is no ways true, that men are naturally inclined to vilipend Laws in a matter indifferent, (as you hold Ceremonies to be) from whence ariseth Scandal, yea, we are by nature much bent to extol and love-laws commanding soul-murder, and all laws inductive to Popery, which is but a mass of carnal propositions of heterodox Divinity, every way suitable to our flesh. The third exception is answered already, the fourth is to be discussed in the following Chapter.
Answer. If any stumble at our non-obedience to Pearth Articles, and thence be induced to vilipend Lawes and Authoritie, it is a scandall meerely taken, no wayes given, as is cleare, because they stumble at our obedience to God, in that we refuse to kill one for whom Christ died. 2. It is no wayes true, that men are naturally inclined to vilipend Laws in a matter indifferent, (as you hold Ceremonies to be) from whence ariseth Scandall, yea, we are by nature much bent to extoll and love-lawes commanding soul-murther, and all lawes inductive to Poperie, which is but a masse of carnall propositions of heterodox Divinitie, every way sutable to our flesh. The third exception is answered already, the fourth is to be discussed in the following Chapter.