A92138:310
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.
5. Jackson saith, This (Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin) holdeth in omission of good, as in commission of evil: Ergo, Your not practising 1indifferent Ceremonies, is not of Faith, and so Sin. Ans. He that obeyeth doubtingly, is condemned, and he that obeyeth not doubtingly, is condemned; But, Master Doctor, your enumeration is not sufficient, and may strike against doubting to worship a Romish Idol, at the command of Superiors; for I show you a third, and ⟨p. 113⟩its Pauls way, Eat not, obey not, and abstain with persuasion of Faith, that what you do is agreeable Positively to Gods Word.
5. Iackson saith, This (Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin) holdeth in omission of good, as in commission of evil: Ergo, Your not practising 1indifferent Ceremonies, is not of Faith, and so Sin. Ans. He that obeyeth doubtingly, is condemned, and he that obeyeth not doubtingly, is condemned; But, Master Doctor, your enumeration is not sufficient, and may strike against doubting to worship a Romish Idol, at the command of Superiors; for I shew you a third, and ⟨p. 113⟩its Pauls way, Eat not, obey not, and abstain with perswasion of Faith, that what you do is agreeable Positively to Gods Word.
- 1Whatsoever is not of faith, &c. how true.
Jackson saith, They sin, not by doubting, if the fear of evil after mature deliberation, be not extraordinary, and such as cannot be recompensed by the goodness which appeareth in the act of Obedience. Doubting is no internal part or essential cause of sin, we sin not because we doubt, but because while we doubt, we prefer an evil, or a less good, before a good, or a greater good. So their sin was not doubting, but they preferred not eating, which was a bodily loss only, to the evil feared, which was to be partakers of the Table of Devils, and being Apostates from the Israel of God. Ans. Paul expressly saith, doubting is sin, and condemneth it ver. 23. and requireth, ver. 5. Let every man be persuaded in his conscience, v. 21. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth, v. 23. Whatsoever (more or less in Moral actions) is not of Faith, is sin: 2. Internal persuasion,