A92138:1828
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.
They object. A Master a father, may command a servant and a son to do that, which if the servant or son refuse to do, their disobedience scandalizeth. And again, a Master, a Father, may command the contrary, and if they disobey, they scandalize culpably. Erg. The commanding will of a Master and a Father, and far more of public Rulers, may make that to be active scandal, which is no active scandal. A Carpenter may command his servant to remove a tree from the East end of his house, to the West end, and again, he may for his sole will, to try his servants obedience, command him to remove it again to the East end of his house.
They object. A Master a father, may command a servant and a son to do that, which if the servant or son refuse to do, their disobedience scandalizeth. And again, a Master, a Father, may command the contrary, and if they disobey, they scandaliz• culpably. Erg. The commanding will of a Master and a Father, and farre more of publick Rulers, may make that to be active scandall, which is no active scandall. A Carpenter may command his servant to remove a tree from the East end of his house, to the West end, and againe, he may for his sole will, to try his servants obedience, command him to remove it againe to the East end of his house.
Answer. 1. The Master, Father, Carpenter, command either these things as artificial agents, from reason of art, and then the question is not touched, for in scandals men are considered, as moral agents, or they command them as moral agents, and that either for their sole will and pleasure, and so they be idle and unreasonable actions, and cannot be lawful commandments, and so are they scandalous both to Commanders and obeyers, but they may well command upon just reasons, that which if servants and sons obey not, they give Scandal, and they may command the contrary of that same, at another time, when now contrary reasons maketh it lawful and expedient, and if servants and sons obey not the contrary, they also give Scandal, but here the change is not from the will and authority of the Commanders, but from the things themselves, which ⟨p. 32⟩