A92138:330
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.
If God accept of Ceremonies, they must be Divine service, if he accept them not, they must be unlawful. They Answer, He accepteth them as Arbitrary worship, not as essential: I Answer, God might have accepted so Samsons sacrifice, and Noah's, as arbitrary worship, and yet not be gracious to them, nor reward their sacrificing, as good service, contrary to the Texts alleged; but I doubt much, if the Lord be gracious to men, and accept in Christ corner Caps, Surplice, Crossing, humane holy days.
If God accept of Ceremonies, they must be Divine service, if he accept them not, they must be unlawfull. They Answer, He accepteth them as Arbitrary worship, not as essentiall: I Answer, God might have accepted so Sampsons sacrifice, and Noahs, as arbitrary worship, and yet not be gracious to them, nor reward their sacrificing, as good service, contrary to the Texts alledged; but I doubt much, if the Lord be gracious to men, and accept in Christ corner Caps, Surplice, Crossing, humane holy dayes.
They object, Our Circumstances of time, place, persons, &c. are ⟨p. 127⟩no more warranted by the Scripture, then Ceremonies are. And God might in his wisdom (•aith aBurges) have calculated the order of times and places, such climates and seasons; but he hath left these, as he hath left our Ceremonies to the Churches liberty.
They object, Our Circumstances of time, place, persons, &c. are ⟨p. 127⟩no more warranted by the Scripture, then Ceremonies are. And God might in his wisdom (•aith aBurges) have calculated the order of times and places, such climats and seasons; but he hath left these, as he hath left our Ceremonies to the Churches liberty.