A92138:331
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.
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.
- aBurges rejoinder, cap. 1. Sect. 16. p. 90. Circumstances not positive religious observances as Ceremonies are.Burges rejoynder, cap. 1. Sect. 16. p. 90. Circumstances not positive religious observances as Ceremonies are.
Ans. Time and place (as I observed already) being circumstances Physical, not Moral, nor having any Religious influence to make the worship new and different in nature, from that which is commanded in the Law, though they be not expressly in the Word, do not hinder, but you may say, Such an act of worship is according as it is written: for as Praying, Preaching, hearing, is according as it is written: so is Praying and Preaching in this convenient place, proved by that same Scripture (As it is written) but one and the same Scripture doth not warrant Order and Surplice. 2. The question is not, what Gods wisdom can do, for he could set down all the names of Preaching Pastors, Doctors, Deacons, Elders in the Word; but his wisdom thus should have made ten Bibles more then there be: But all our Ceremonies might have been Comprehended in one Chapter of the Revelation, if God had thought good to Honour them with inserting them in the Canon. 3. He hath determined these by natures light, and prudence, which dwelleth with that light, revealed in the Word; That a Bishop be thus qualified, as