A92138:1867
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.
Ans. All occasions whether ill in themselves or indifferent, are occasions of sin by accident, and through our fault who abuse them, but all occasions because occasions, and not because evil are forbidden, when as they are not necessary, and this is Gods argument to prove that the Jews are not to marry with the Canaanites for (saith the law) they will turn away your heart, after their Gods, to send abroad a goring ox, to seek his food, hath no sin in it, save only it may occasion the killing of men; and the building of houses without battlements, and the going by the door of the whore, or coming near her house, are not of themselves ill, but only forbidden under this reduplication, because they are occasions of ill: sins, as sins are forbidden, and as occasions of sins, they are also new sins, having a distinct illegality and guiltiness in them, from this that they occasion sin: and Gods law (as all Divines reach) forbiddeth sin, and all occasions of sin. Drunkenness is both forbidden as intemperance, and also as an occasion of lust, and of speaking perverse things, as is evident, Pro. 23. 33. For then the spirit of Gods argument were null to dissuade from drunkenness, as he doth in these wo•ds, Thine eye shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Now we can show that many ways Ceremonies occasion sin, as 1. they trim and decor a Church for harlot lovers, from Rome, forbidden, Jer. 2. 33. Suarez, Franciscus de sancta clara, Gretserus, and other Papists, for these, were in love with the Church of England. 2. They occasion dissension in Gods house, and are contrary to peace, Ps. 34. 14. Heb. 12. 19. Rom. 12. 18. and so to be rejected. 3. They bear false witness of Popery, which we disclaim. 4. They are against the spiritual worshipping of God, and lead us back to the carnal commandments, and beggarly rudiments of the law, from the Gospel, against the word of God, Joh 4. 24. Gal. 4 9, 10.