A92138:537
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.
Now though the matter here be indifferent in it self, yet not so to the doubter; for Ceremonies in our persuasion are not indifferent. See here Ignatius Loyola dsay, Give over your self to your Ruler. Give the Prelate your faith to keep, while ye be in eternity, and at the last judgement he will restore the pawn; And this is (•aith Gregory de Valent. eto give your two eyes to your guide: I had rather they stick in my own head. To these Jesuits I oppose the mind of fVasquez, and gSalas, who say in that case the subject should first lay aside his error, and then obey. 2 God requireth a full persuasion by the Lord Jesus, even in things indifferent, Rom. 14. 14, 22, 23. But poor naked humane authority cannot engender persuasion of faith; and here is doubting▪ 3. It is false, That providence favoureth positive actions, more then privations, for ⟨p. 214⟩Rom. 14. God loveth better abstinence from meats in themselves lawful and clean, as the Apostle proveth, ver. 14. Because nothing is unclean of it self, then that the eater doubt, if he be not transgressing the Law of God in eating, though a great Apostle say, there is no danger in eating.
Now though the matter here be indifferent in it self, yet not so to the doubter; for Ceremonies in our perswasion are not indifferent. See here Ignatius Loyola dsay, Give over your self to your Ruler. Give the Prelate your faith to keep, while ye be in eternity, and at the last judgement he will restore the pawn; And this is (•aith Gregory de Valent.