A92138:517
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.
5. Conclus. Humane Laws, whither civill or Ecclesiastic, in that particular positive matter, which they have of Art, Economy, policy, and in Gods matters of mere humane coin and stamp, do not binds the conscience at all, per se, kindly and of themselves.1 1. Nothing, but what is either Gods express word, or his word by consequence doth lay a band on the conscience of it self: But not to eat flesh in L•nt, upon civill reasons, Not to carry Armour in the night, To wear Surplice, and to Cross infants in Baptism, are neither Gods word expressly, nor by consequence. The major is sure; because the word is the perfect and adequate object of matters of Faith, and moral practice, which concerneth the conscience, Psal. 19. 7. 8. Psal. 119. 9. John 20. 31. Prov. 8. 9. 2. Because whatever thing layeth a band on the conscience, the not doing of that would be a sin before God, if the Ruler should never command it (But the carrying Armour in the night (the not wearing Surplice in Divine service) should be no sin before God, if the ruler should never command them, as reason, Scriptures, and adversaries teach. The Proposition I instruct from the definition of an obligation of conscience, for to lay a band on the conscience is defined, to lay a command on the soul, which ye are obliged before God to do, as you would eschew sin, and obtain eternal salvation: So the learned Pareus bso cDr. Field; so dGerson, and so teach eGregorius de Valentia, and fSuarez. 3. None can lay on a band of not doing, under the hazard of sin, but they that can remit sins, for the power that looseth, the same bindeth: But mortal men cannot bind to sin, nor loose men from sin, but where God goeth before them in binding and loosing, for they cannot bestow the grace of pardoning sin: But he only who hath the keys of David, who openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth. 4. Whoever can lay on bands of Laws, to bring any under