A92138:300
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.
For the Scripture giveth not to us, precepts of Grammar, of War, of Trades, and Arts, teaching us to speak right Latin, to make accurate demonstrations: nor is the end of the work here a thing that pitcheth upon that tender and excellentest piece in us, our Conscience, and our Moral duties to God and men, but to make such humane Laws, just and suitable with sobriety and justice, is not left to Lord-will, but right reason, the principles of a natural Conscience (which are parts to us of Scripture) and the Word of God it self hath determined; whether, to carry Armour in the 1night, in such a case? Whether to eat flesh in such a season of the year▪ when the eating thereof hurteth the Common-Wealth, and the like belong to works of justice and mercy, or no? Now it is no marvel that in things belonging to our natural life, peace, societies, policy, where the end of the work is natural or civill, and belongeth not, as such, to the Conscience, and Salvation of the soul, that there men be Artificers or Agents according to Art, Economy, Policy, whereas the end of the work, Finis operis, in the Worship of God, is Moral, and a matter of an higher nature; and so the means and manner of Worship here, are determined by Gods Word. But when ⟨p. 119⟩actions of Arts, Sciences, Trades, Economy, Policy, and Laws positive, are elevated above themselves, Ad finem operantium, to the end that Agents are to look unto, as they be Moral Agents; Gods Word is as perfect a rule for acts of good manners in the second Table, as in the first: For example, that I speak good Latin, I am to see to Disputers Precepts; but that I lie not, and speak not Scandals or Blasphemies, while I speak Latin, there I am to look to Gods Law given by Moses. That a Tradesman make works according to Art, he is to advise with Art, but that he sell not his work at too dear a price, he is to advise with the eight Commandment; and when all these acts of Art are referred to Conscience▪ Salvation, and the glory of God, as they ought to be Respectus finis operantis▪ in respect of the Moral intention of the doer, all their Morality is squared by Gods-Word. Hence there be no actions of Worshipping God, but they be purely Morall, Et respectu finis operis, Et respectu finis operantiis;