A92138:306
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. 1. Let Formalists explain themselves; Doctrinals, Substantials, and essential worship, is such as God hath commanded in the Proposition, and in the Assumption, and particularly in Gods word; Accidentals are such, as he hath commanded in general, but left particulars to mens will, so they define, like M•sters of Arts.
Ans. 1. Let Formalists explain themselves; Doctrinals, Substantials, and essentiall worship, is such as God hath commanded in the Proposition, and in the Assumption, and particularly in Gods word; Accidentals are such, as he hath commanded in generall, but left particulars to mens will, so they define, like M•sters of Arts.
But this our Masters say, in all that Christ hath particularly Commanded, his Testament is perfect, and so I believe, what God hath set down, he hath set down, and so we have Scripture right down as perfect as the Fables of Aesop, & Nasoes Metamorphosis: what is in Aesop's and Nasoes books, is in their books, and what they command you,1 are with certainty of Faith to believe they command, and what the Prophets and Apostles writ, that they writ, and that is essential worship; what they writ not, they writ not. 2. Mr. Sandersons lifting up a straw, is a straw for an instance; actions of imagination are not Moral, we give him leave to rub his beard without Faith, as he weareth white sheets above his garments in Divine service against Faith. 3. To do in Faith, is to know, that, in that I serve Christ, and ⟨p. 111⟩am accepted of God, Rom. 14. 2. To do that which condemneth me not, and maketh me happy in the doing thereof, v. 21. 3. It is a Faith that I have before God in my conscience, v. 2•. 4. It is a persuasion by the Lord Jesus, that it is clean. 5. It is such, as I know is positively Lawful by Scriptures express warrant, 1 Cor. 10. 26. The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof; Ergo, I have certainty of faith, that it is positively conform to Scripture what I do: but in things negatively Lawful, as lifting a straw, wearing a Surplice, I have no persuasion by the Lord Jesus, that I serve Christ, and am accepted of God in so doing, and know not from