A92138:578
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.
7. Such an expression as this, (Let him to thee as an heathen man and a Publican) is never taken for the civill complaining of him before an Heathen judge, nor doth it express the use of the sword by the Magistrate; its so insolent a phrase, that all the Greek Authors that ever wrote, cannot parallel it; for this is a Spiritual and Moral reproach put on the offender, the Magistrates way is a real inflicting of punishment.
7. Such an expression as this, (Let him to thee as an heathen man and a Publican) is never taken for the civill complaining of him before an Heathen judge, nor doth it expresse the use of the sword by the Magistrate; its so insolent a phrase, that all the Greek Authors that ever wrote, cannot parallel it; for this is a Spirituall and Morall reproach put on the offender, the Magistrates way is a reall inflicting of punishment.
8. This remedy is contrary to Pauls, 1 Cor. 6. For there the offended brother, though the offending party be never so contumacious, hath not this remedy of Christs to implead his brother before an heathen Magistrate, that the Apostle taketh for a sinful scandal, and sin cannot be Christs remedy: Pauls remedy is, Suffer rather wrong and defraudation; Paul by this interpretation should have commanded them the contrary.
8. This remedy is contrary to Pauls, 1 Cor. 6. For there the offended brother, though the offending party be never so contumacious, hath not this remedy of Christs to implead his brother before an heathen Magistrate, that the Apostle taketh for a sinfull scandall, and sin cannot be Christs remedy: Pauls remedy is, Suffer rather wrong and defraudation; Paul by this interpretation should have commanded them the contrary.