A92138:662
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.
Erastus Argueth thus: If God dam any as a sinner in heaven, he1 will have the Elders to cast him out of the Church Visible in earth, so they know him to be such; yet this is not sure.
- 1Pag. 79.
Ans. It is most sure, so all the Church know him (Elders only Judicially Excommunicate, the people also by consent, and by Execution of the Sentence, and avoiding the offender) and if it be Judicially proved, the Church is to Excommunicate. But 1. he must not be without the Church, 1 Cor. 5. 12. Though the Church know Turks and Pagans, and those who live without Christ, to be damned in heaven; yet they Excommunicate them not, for they are without the Church, 1 Cor. 5. 12. and yet damned, Act. 4. 12. 2. They may know many unregenerated, Joh. 15. 18. Yet they cannot Excommunicate them for non-regeneration, or non▪ election to glory, which they cannot know judicially, except they be externally scandalous, Matth. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 1. 2.
Ans. It is most sure, so all the Church know him (Elders only Iudicially Excommunicate, the people also by consent, and by Execution of the Sentence, and avoiding the offender) and if it be Iudicially proved, the Church is to Excommunicate. But 1. he must not be without the Church,