A92138:659
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.
for God may judge some worthy of life eternal in Christ, and yet they are to be excommunicated, if they refuse to hear the Church, as many regenerate may go that far in scandalous obstinacy, and many whom God judges ⟨p. 261⟩unworthy of life eternal, may so belie a Profession, as they deserve not to be excommunicated, and both these may fall out, and do fall out according to the revealed will of Christ.
for God may judge some worthy of life eternall in Christ, and yet they are to be excommunicated, if they refuse to hear the Church, as many regenerate may go that sar in scandalous obstinacy, and many whom God judges ⟨p. 261⟩unworthy of life eternall, may so belie a Profession, as they deserve not to be excommunicated, and both these may fall out, and do fall out according to the revealed will of Christ.
Erastus 4. objecteth. Excommunication must exclude men from1 only the external society of the Church, for he only can join us to Christ, or separate us from internal and spiritual society of Christ, who can beget lively faith in us, and extinguish lively faith when it is begotten, for by faith only we are made living members of Christs body, and by only infidelity we leave off to be members of his body: But no Church, no creatures can either beget lively faith in us, or extinguish it in us: or thus, men can neither give to us, nor take from us salvation, therefore Excommunication should not be defined by cutting men off from salvation.
Erastus 4. objecteth. Excommunication must exclude men from1 only the externall society of the Church, for he only can joyne us to Christ, or separate us from internall and spirituall society of Christ, who can beget lively faith in us, and extinguish lively faith when it is begotten, for by faith only we are made living members of Christs body, and by only infidelity we leave off to be members of his bodie: But no Church, no creatures can either beget lively faith in us, or extinguish it in us: or thus, men can neither give to us, nor take from us salvation, therefore Excommunication should not be defined by cutting men off from salvation.