A92138:313
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.
2. What is negatively Lawful here, cannot be admitted; If1 Rulers may Command one thing that is negatively Lawful, they may Command all things; because what they Command under this formal reason, as not against Scripture, they should not add nor devise new worship, though they Command all of that kind: But the latter is absurd, for so they might Command in Gods worship. 1. The actions of sole imagination, the lifting of a straw, and all idle actions that cannot edify. 2. They might Command a new Ark to represent Christ incarnate, as the Jews Ark did represent him to be incarnate, a new Passover, to represent the Lamb already slain, and all the materials of the Ceremonial Law ⟨p. 115⟩with reference to Christ already incarnate, dead, and risen again: For all these are by Formalists Learning negatively Lawful; Show us a Scripture where they are forbidden, more then Surplice, Crossing, except because they be not Commanded. If it be said, They do not Command things negatively Lawful, as such, but as they edify and teach: Well then, 1. As they edify and teach, they are positively good, and apt to edify, and so must be proved by the Word as Commanded, and so not negatively Lawful, and not as beside, but as Commanded in the Word. 2. Yet it will follow, that all these may be used in Faith, that is, out of a sure persuasion that they are not contrary to Gods Word, and so Lawful. I might dance in a new linen Ephod, before a new Jewish Ark, representing Christ already incarnate, and that in the negative Faith of Mr. Sanderson, Hooker, and Jackson, for this Ark is not against Scripture, yet this Ark is not Commanded, and so not forbidden. 3. Idle actions that have no use or end, might be Lawfully Commanded by this, because they are not forbidden, yet are such unlawful, Quia carent justâ necessitate et utilitate, as Gregorius saith: I prove the connection, because an action Moral, such as (to Sign with the Cross) performed by a Subject of Christs visible Kingdom, for Gods glory and edification of the Church, which yet is neither Commanded nor forbidden by God, nor Commanded by natures light (for none but those that are beside reason will say this) nor light of Gods word, or the habit of Religion, hath no more reason, then the making or forming a Syllogism in Barbara, which of it self cometh only from Art;
2. What is negatively Lawfull here, cannot be admitted; If