A92138:1914
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.
Object. But Num. 31. 21, 22. raiment and skins▪ and vessels of wood taken from Midian, though taken as spoil were purified, and the Gold and silver, brass, iron, &c. were purified by fire, ⟨p. 78⟩and not made useless, so the Churches dedicated to Mary, Peter, and to Angels, and Saints, are not to be made useless, they may be employed for the poor to dwell in▪ but they can have no religious use in the worship of God, except we would heal the wounds of the daughter of Babel.
Object. But Num. 31. 21, 22. rayment and skins▪ and vessels of wood taken from Midian, though taken as spoyle were purified, and the Gold and silver, brasse, yron, &c. were purified by fire, ⟨p. 78⟩and not made uselesse, so the Churches dedicated to Mary, Peter, and to Angels, and Sains, are not to be made uselesse, they may be imployed for the poore to dwell in▪ but they can have no religious use in the worship of God, except we would heale the wounds of the daughter of Babel.
Ans. I deny not but Churches dedicated to Saints, and in regard of their vain and ostentive spaciousness unprofitable for hearing the Word, may be employed to civill uses for ordinary dwelling; But I see no ground how this can be according to the places cited by our godly Brethren of the contrary mind except the Churches were first purified, in some Ceremonial way, as God prescribeth that the spoil of Midian be purified, which our Brethren cannot say, except we would make our selves debtors to the whole Law, for so the law was,