A92138:1952
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.
WE are altogether of this mind, that a material1 Similitude between the true Church and the false, is not scandalous. Because Rome holdeth that there is one God, it followeth not, therefore it is unlawful for us to hold there is one God. 2. There is a formal Similitude, as because the heathen kill their children to Molech, ergo, the Children of Israel should not do so to the Lord their God. M. Hooker granteth there should be a dis-similitude between the true Church and Heathens in this, and the Similitude (say they) is unlawful. But 3. the Adversaries draw us to a third dis-similitude between the true Church, and the Popish, and heathenish Church, and this is a mixed Similitude, that we should use indifferent R•tes and Customs in Gods worship, as Crossing, new devised days, Surplice &c. which are used by Papists, and Heathens. This say our Adversaries, is not an unlawful Similitude, yea with edification and profit (say they) we may thus far conform with them.
WE are altogether of this mind, that a materiall1 Similitude between the truee Church and the false, is not scandalous. Because Rome holdeth that there is one God, it followeth not, therefore it is unlawfull for us to hold there is one God. 2. There is a formall Similitude, as because the heathen kill their children to Molech, ergo, the Children of Israel should not doe so to the Lord their God. M. Hooker granteth there should be a dis-similitude betweene the true Church and Heathens in this, and the Similitude (say they) is unlawfull. But 3. the Adversaries draw us to a third dis-similitude betweene the true Church, and the Popish, and heathenish Church, and this is a mixt Similitude, that we should use indifferent R•tes and Customes in Gods worship, as Crossing, new devised dayes, Surplice &c. which are used by Papists, and Heathens. This say our Adversaries, is not an unlawfull Similitude, yea with edification and profit (say they) we may thus farre conforme with them.
- 1What Conformity with Idolaters is unlawful.What Conformitie with Idolaters is unlawfull.