A92138:298
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. If you ride ten miles with your friend and do not advise1 with his word, who says (Redeem the time) you must give account for idle actions, if Christ say, you must give an account for idle Words. 2. Though there seem to be more Liberty in actions of the second Table, then of the first; because there be far moe Positive actions, not merely Moral, which concerneth the second Table, because of Economy, Policy, Municipal and Civill Laws, Arts, Sciences, Contracts amongst men, that are not in the first Table; yet the Morality of the second Table, is as expressly in Gods Word, as the Worship of the first Table. 1. Because what is justice and mercy, and love toward man in the second Table, doth no more depend upon mans sole will, but upon Gods Moral Law & the Law of nature, then it dependeth upon mans will or human wisdom, how God should be worshipped according to the first Table. For Gods will in his Word, is called by our Divines, a perfect Canon and rule of Faith, and also of Manners: And as the grace of God, Tit 2.2 teacheth us what is Piety, so also what is Righteousness and Sobriety. 2. Because as Gods Word condemneth will-worship, which is come of no Nobler blood, then mans will, so condemneth it idle words, and idle actions, which are but will-works, and will-words, and deeds of will-justice, and will-mercy: and a will-conscience in the second Table, putteth no less a rub upon the wisdom of the Lord, the Law▪giver, then a will conscience in the first Table. But Formalists say, If mans will and authority cannot appoint Crossing, Holy humane-days, Surplice, and such, the decent expressions and incitements of Devotion, in the kind of Arbitrary, Mutable, and Ambulatory 3Worship; but they must be therein guilty of adding to the Doctrine of Piety and Religion in the first Table: by that same reason they cannot make humane Civill and Positive Laws in War and Peace, to be means of conserving justice and mercy toward humane societies in the kind of duties of Righteousness and sobriety towards our selves and Neighbours; but they must be guilty of adding to the Doctrine of the second Table. I Answer: 1. The case is not alike, we cannot be Agents in the performing of any worship to God; nor can we use ⟨p. 114⟩