A92138:322
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.
Arbitrary goodness and Lawfulness hath either a particular warrant and cause of its goodness, and Lawfulness from Gods express Commandment, or 2. From the light of nature, or 3. From the sole will of men, or 4. partly from natures light, partly from mans will, but any of these ways it cannot ⟨p. 121⟩be Lawful, I prove the Antecedent: for it cannot have its warrant from Gods general will whereby the Proposition of a Syllogism is warranted, but not the Assumption▪ for thu• the golden Calf of Jeroboam; the worshipping of Satan should be lawful: for I can form a Syllogism to it from Scripture (all worship commanded in the Word is Lawful▪ but Jeroboam's golden Calf is Commanded in the Word; Ergo, It is Lawful. And if both Major▪ Proposition and Assumption be warranted by the Word, then are Ceremonies essential and not Arbitrary worship. If Ceremonies be warranted by the light of nature, this is a part of Gods Word, and Rom. 1. 19, 20. God hath showed it to us, as, Rom. 2. 14, 15. We would see natures light to prove that whiteness of linen signifieth Pastoral holiness, rather then whiteness in the wall, and that the cross signifieth dedication of a child to Christs service, rather then lifting up of the child toward Heaven signifieth the same; and yet Ceremonies must be by this reason essential worship; yea, to Sacrifice a sheep to represent Christ already Crucified▪ is as Lawful this way as all our Ceremonies. If the third be said, that Ceremonies have their goodness and Lawfulness from the sole will of men; then Ceremonies are Will-worship: for worship instituted by the sole will of men, without light of Scripture, or nature, is Will-worship. 2. The devisers of them are either Brutish, or void of reason, and the practicers are servants of men, because they serve will, or rather lust of men, without any reason Commanding. 3. If Ceremonies come partly from mens will, partly from the light of reason▪ then do they conclude the Lawfulness of Ceremonies either fallibly or necessarily: If the former be said, we have little warrant of conscience to practice them;