A92138:564
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.
Object. 1. If thy brother trespass against thee, is, if thy brother1 trespass against God, thou knowing him to be guilty, art to deal with him, and to bring his fault to public hearing that he may be punished.
Object. 1. If thy brother trespasse against thee, is, if thy brother1 trespasse against God, thou knowing him to be guilty, art to deal with him, and to bring his fault to publike hearing that he may be punished.
- 1Objections against excommunication removed.
Answ. 1. The same phrase in the same doctrine of scandals is, Luke 17. 3. Take heed to your selves, [Greek or Hebrew]: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him, and if he repent forgive him. But it cannot be said that if our brother transgress against God, we knowing of that, we are not to forgive him a sin committed against God, though he should come to us, and say that he repenteth, for then might any private brother pardon murders and sorceries, and if this private brother were a Magistrate, by this he is to forgive bloods, and not use the sword against the evil doer, and is to dispense with it seventy seven times, if the offender say, he repenteth. 2. The text saith expressly, If thy brother trespass [Greek or Hebrew] against thee, not [Greek or Hebrew] against God. It is true, sins against a brother, are sins against God, but it is evident from the text, that Christ speaks of such sins in a special manner, committed against me, or a particular brother, which are within the verge of my power or his to pardon, as no• being yet publicly scandalous. ⟨p. 224⟩3. Camero saith, to sin against any here, is not to sin against