A92138:323
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.
nor can God be honoured, nor these things Lawful, good, and edificative, more then unlawful, evil and unapt to edify, seeing there be no light of Scripture, or nature to make them good to us▪ and because a fallible and unnecessary consequence, is over fallible and unnecessary, and standeth (as Aristotle faith well) in an indivisible point. It is a non-consequence, and so mens will is the best house that Ceremonies are descended of. If they can be proved by a necessary and infallible consequence, we desire to hear it, for it must be thus or the like: Things not contrary to the Word, and commanded as apt to edify, may be Lawful Arbitrary Worship: But ⟨p. 122⟩Ceremonies are such; Ergo, the Proposition is not true▪ because Rulers judge either such things apt to edify, because they see them to be so in themselves, or because they judge them to be so in themselves, therefore they are so in themselves: the former cannot be said, because this light whereby Rulers see Ceremonies to be apt to edify, is either light of Scripture, or nature, or both: If this be said, they can make others see this light. Also, if there be goodness and aptitude to edify souls in Ceremonies by natures light, sound reason, or the Word of God, they cannot be Arbitrary or indifferent worship: but must be essential worship, having warrant and Commandment from God▪ for what natures light, or Scripture Commandeth, that God himself Commandeth, and what God Commandeth is essential, not Arbitrary worship. 2. And secondly, they are not Arbitrary things, but necessary and Lawful by natures light, by Scripture, or both, which they deny; if the latter be true, then is the will of Rulers, that which maketh Ceremonies good and Lawful▪ a••in and blasphemous assertion, for Pope or Prince, or mens pleasure find pre-existent goodness and Lawfulness in things, and they do not make them good: It is proper to God alone, who calleth things that are not, to create both beings and goodness of beings. 5. If Arbitrary goodness and Lawfulness of Ceremonies be thus warrantable, because nor contrary to the word, and esteemed Arbitrary; I might fail against the first four Commandments, by superstition and idolatry: so I esteem these, to wit, Idolatry and superstition Arbitrary, and not of Divine necessity, and yet in so doing, I should neither sin, nor commit acts of false worship;