A92138:1814
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.
Answer. 1. The question of purpose is perversely set do •ne, for they should say, whether the precept of obedience to Superiors, in a straw lifting, in things indifferent, and merely positive, and not necessary to salvation, be more obligatory, then the precept of God, in the law of nature, in a matter necessary to salvation, as a Commandment of God forbidding soul-murder, and scandalizing him for whom Christ died? Or thus; Whether am I obliged rather to obey God, forbidding me to murder my brother, or to obey man, commanding me to kneel towards Bread and Wine, and to cross the air with my thumb upon the face of a baptized infant.1
Answer. 1. The question of purpose is perversly set do •ne, for they should say, whether the precept of obedience to Superiours, in a straw lifting, in things indifferent, and meerely positive, and not necessarie to salvation, be more obligatorie, then the precept of God, in the law of nature, in a matter necessarie to salvation, as a Commandement of God forbidding soul-murther, and scandalizing him for whom Christ died? Or thus; Whether am I obliedged rather to obey God, forbidding me to murther my brother, or to obey man, commanding me to kneele towards Bread and Wine, and to crosse the aire with my thumbe upon the face of a baptized infant.1
- 1Tannern▪ to 3. in 22. dis. 2. q. 6 dub. 9. concurrentibus d•obus praeceptis quorum utrum. que servari non potest, obligare desinit al•erum quod •im obligandi minorem habet. Ita Suarez. to. 3. di•. 66. sect. 4. Gregor. de Valenti• in. 22. q. 18. puncto 4.