A92138:314
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.
and as such hath no Moral use, and by as good reason may the Church Command dancing before a new devised Ark; yea, such an action involveth a contradiction, and is Moral, and not Moral: for of its own nature it tendeth to no edification, for then it might be proved by good reason to be edificative, and an action cannot be edificative from the will of men, for Gods will, not mens will▪ giveth being to things.
and as such hath no Morall use, and by as good reason may the Church Command dancing before a new devised Ark; yea, such an action involveth a contradiction, and is Morall, and not Morall: for of its own nature it tendeth to no edification, for then it might be proved by good reason to be edificative, and an action cannot be edificative from the will of men, for Gods will, not mens will▪ giveth being to things.
4. What is beside Scripture, as a thing not repugnant thereunto, wanteth that by which every thing is essentially Lawful: Ergo, It is not Lawful. The Consequence is sure, I prove the Antecedent: Gods Commanding will, doth essentially constitute a thing Lawful, Gods Commanding will only maketh eating and drinking bread and wine in the Lords Supper Lawful, and the Lords forbidding ⟨p. 116⟩will should make it unlawful; and Gods forbidding to eat of the Fruit of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, maketh the non-eating obedience, and the eating disobedience. As the killing of Isaac by Abraham, is Lawful, and that because God Commandeth it; and the not killing of him, again is Lawful, when God forbiddeth it. But things negatively Lawful and beside the word of God, wanteth Gods Commanding will; for God Commandeth not the materials of Jewish Ceremonies to represent Christ already come, and such like: for if he should Command them, they should be according to the word of God, and not beside the word of God: If it be said they have Gods Commanding will, in so far that he doth not forbid any thing not contrary to his own word; but hath given the Church Authority to add to his worship, things not contrary to his word, as they shall see they do promove godliness, or may edify the Church: But then if the Church must see by the light of reason, and natural judgement, aptitude in these to promove godliness, they are Commanded by God, who hath even stamped in them that aptitude to edify, and so are not beside Gods word. 4. Our Divines condemn all the Traditions of the Church of Rome; as Purgatory, Prayer for the dead, Imagery, Adoring of Relics, all the Crossing, Holy water, Chrism, Oil, Babies, Bells, Beads, &c. Because God hath no where Commanded them, and sins venial and beside the Law, and sins mortal and contrary to the Law, we condemn; because, as what is capable of seeing, and life,