A92138:345
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.
As 1. Our Ceremonies (say they) do not respect the honour of God immediately, and in themselves, but by accident, and as parts of Divine worship by reduction, as it containeth all the adjuncts of worship.
As 1. Our Ceremonies (say they) do not respect the honour of God immediatly, and in themselves, but by accident, and as parts of Divine worship by reduction, as it containeth all the adjuncts of worship.
Ans. Such Logic was never heard of: 1. If he mean a Surplice in the materials, to wit, Linen and Crossing Physically considered, as separated from their signification, do not tend immediately to the honour of God, but as an adjunct, he speaketh nonsense, for so Bread, Wine, eating, drinking, Water in Baptism do not immediately respect the honour of God, but only as they have a Moral consideration and stand under Divine institution. But yet so the material of worship is not the adjunct thereof, but the matter, as the body of a living man is not one adjunct of a man. If he mean, that Ceremonies in a Moral (not in a Physical) consideration do not immediately respect the honour of God, but reductively, and by accident. Let him show us, if the Surplice doth not as immediately, and without the intervening mediation of any other thing, signify and stir up our minds to the remembrance of Pastoral holiness, as eating all of one bread, doth immediately stir up our minds to the remembrance of our Communion of love, that we be all one body in Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 16. 2. If he mean Ceremonies as such special ⟨p. 133⟩materials, to wit, Surplice, &c. as ordained of man, who may ordain another Ceremony, doth not immediately respect the honour of God. 1. This is to beg the question: 2. A white garment upon a priest of Jupiter Sacrificing to that Idol should immediately respect the honour of Jupiter, though the Priest might honour Jupiter with garments of white Roses, or some other like device, while he officiateth. So bowing of the knee in prayer doth immediately honour God, though I may pray sitting or standing. 3. It is a dream that the honour of the subject is given to the adjunct, yea, and properly is the adjunct, and agreeth to the adjunct, as Surplice hath the very Office and place of Gods word and Sacrament, to teach and signify, and yet they are but adjuncts, if a mans Coat, or his Hat, or Shoes could discourse and reason, as only the man can do, in reason we should say the Coat is the man.