A92138:358
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.
QUEST. IV.
Whether humane Ceremonies can consist with Order, Decency, and the sincerity of our profession of true Religion?
Ceremonies fight with Order and Decency. 1. These Rites pretended1 by Gods command, to add order and decency to Gods worship, and yet deface his worship, and addeth none thereunto be unlawful: But humane Ceremonies be such; Ergo, That they pretend Order is proved. D. Burges saith, They have no place in all the New-Testament, save only, 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done in order, and decency, a place as (a) Estius citeth, Magnified by Papists, 2for all their Ceremonies: The Major is undeniable, I prove ⟨p. 141⟩the Assumption: 1. Because Magic-like Rites honoured with Gods name as Christian-Mass, Christs-Mass, an Adored Tree called Gods board, when there is no use for a Table, a Crossing honoured with dedication to Christs service, is like Gods name used by sorcerers in Charming, Spelling, Divining, where virtue is ascribed to signs, characters and words, which have no such virtue from God or nature, and this Valentia justly calleth Superstition. bSo the Jews called the Calf Jehovah, Papists call a creature of their making, Agnus Dei, a stile due to Christ only, Joh. 1. 29. 2. All creatures are means of glorifying God,