A92138:316
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.
III. Conclus. Opinion of Sanctity, holiness and Divine necessity, is not essential to false worship. Formalists will have their Ceremonies innocent and Lawful, so they be not contrary to the word of God. 2. So they be not instamped with an opinion that they bind the Conscience, and are of Divine necessity, holiness and efficacy; So aMorton their Prelate, for opinion of justice, necessity, efficacy and merit, (saith he) make them Doctrinals and so unlawful: But this is but that which Papists say: So Suarez bsaith, That their ⟨p. 117⟩unwritten Traditions are not added to the word of God, as parts of the word of God; but as things to be believed and observed by the Churches Commandment; and these who did swear by Jehovah and Malcom, Zeph. 1. esteemed Malcom, and an oath by Malcom, not so Religiously and so holy, as an oath by Jehovah and Malcom; and yet no doubt, they ascribed some necessity to oaths by Malcom and Jehoram saying, (Am I Jehovah to kill and make alive) who yet worshipped Jeroboam's Calves, esteemed the worshipping of these Calves less necessary, and less holy and meritorious, then the worshipping of the true Jehovah; yet the Calves called their gods, which brought them out of the Land of Egypt, had some necessity and opinion of holiness.
III. Conclus. Opinion of Sanctity, holinesse and Divine necessity, is not essentiall to false worship. Formalists will have their Ceremonies innocent and Lawfull, so they be not contrary to the word of God. 2. So they be not instamped with an opinion that they binde the Conscience, and are of Divine necessity, holinesse and efficacy; So aMorton their Prelat, for opinion of justice, necessity, efficacy and merit, (saith he) make them Doctrinals and so unlawfull: But this is but that which Papists say: So Suarez bsaith, That their ⟨p. 117⟩