A92138:538
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.
And Jackson addeth of the same nature these; The good of obedience is not a consequent only of the action, but either an essential1 part, or such a circumstance and motive precedent, as bringeth a new essence for its concomitant, whereby the evil, which we out of private persuasions fear, may be countervailed by the goodness that is in the purpose of sincere obedience to lawful authority, as well as we conceited good probably included in the very object of the action, he that doth that which in his private opinion he suspecteth to be evil, because enjoined by lawful authority, doth not evil that good may come of it, seeing the goodness of obedience is no consequent of the action, but a motive precedent—authority maketh actions indifferent to be good and necessary.
And Jackson addeth of the same nature these; The good of obedience is not a consequent only of the action, but either an essentiall1 part, or such a circumstance and motive precedent, as bringeth a new essence for its concomitant, whereby the evil, which we out of private perswasions fear, may be countervaled by the goodnesse that is in the purpose of sincere obedience to lawfull authority, as well as we conceited good probably included in the very obiect of the action, he that doth that which in his private opinion he suspecteth to be evil, because injoyned by lawfull authority, doth not evil that good may come of it, seeing the goodnesse of obedience is no consequent of the action, but a motive precedent—authority maketh actions indifferent to be good and necessary.
- 1The goodness of obedience to Rulers cannot countervalue the evil in the manner of doing with a doubting conscience and so sinfully.The good nesse of obedience to Rulers cannot countervalue the evil in the manner of doing with a doubting conscience and so sinfully.