A92138:1965
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. The•e is not required properly a conformity in us with Rome in doctrinals, as if Rome were our Rule, nor is the word of God properly conform to the Protestant religion, but the Protestant religion must be conform to the Word. Wh••nesse is not properly like to Snow or Milk, but Milk or Snow are like to whiteness. Nor have we properly a […] with Papists in doctrine, they are not our pattern, nor we theirs. 2. We do not plead for a Government in all things to be commanded ⟨p. 99⟩in the Word, but to be warranted by the Word, either according to command or promise, or moral practise, fo• the1 Scripture is our Rule, but 1. not in miraculous things. 2. Not in things temporary, as Community of Goods. 3. Not in things Literally exponed, as to cut off our hands and feet. 4. Not in things of Art and Science, as to speak Latin, to demonstrate conclusions of Astronomy. 5. It is not properly our Rule in Circumstances, which are but natural conveniences of time, place, and person, and such like. But it is our Rule 1. in fundamentals of salvation. 2. In all morals of both first and second table. 3. In all institutions, and we conceive the Government2 of the Church to be a proper institution, to wit, it is a supernatural ordinance, or help above nature to guide the Church to a supernatural happiness, nor can the Church be governed by the light of nature, or by the rules of moral Philosophy, or civill prudence or humane laws, as Cities, Common-wealths, and Kingdoms, are. 4. It is a rule in Circumstantials of worship: because some time some thing, as the Lord, day is both worship, and a Circumstantial of worship; but not properly a Circumstance, in all these the Church, as the Church must ••ir by the Word of God. 3. What ever is in Rome in physical or natural circumstances is not by us judged Popis••. But what ever religious observance Symbolical sign, new worship, such as •renging to Bread, Altars, humane Festivals, Surplice, and the like, that are neither things of nature, nor 2. things of prudence and civill policy, nor 3. Miraculous things, nor 4. Things of art and science, nor 5.