A92138:664
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, By Preaching, Drunkards are excluded out of Heaven,1 and God declareth by the Preaching of the word, that they are not of the faithful on earth; but you cannot prove these four from Scripture. 1. That God hath Commanded to cast them out of the Church, whom he hath judged unworthy of life Eternal. 2. That they should not be admitted to the Sacrament, who have polluted themselves with some sin, though they say they repent, except it please the Elders. 3. That it is Gods will that they •e debarred from the Sacrament, by the voices of a Court of Elders. 4. That God hath Commanded such a Court of Elders under a Christian Magistrate, who should have a power of jurisdiction, different from the power of the Magistrate.
Erastus, By Preaching, Drunkards are excluded out of Heaven,1 and God declareth by the Preaching of the word, that they are not of the faithfull on earth; but you cannot prove these four from Scripture. 1. That God hath Commanded to cast them out of the Church, whom he hath judged unworthy of life Eternall. 2. That they should not be admitted to the Sacrament, who have polluted themselves with some sin, though they say they repent, except it please the Elders. 3. That it is Gods will that they •e debarred from the Sacrament, by the voyces of a Court of Elders. 4. That God hath Commanded such a Court of Elders under a Christian Magistrate, who should have a power of jurisdiction, different from the power of the Magistrate.
- 1P. 81, 82.
Ans. 1. Declaring by Preaching, that a Drunkard is not of the number of the faithful in the Visible Church, is materially Excommunication: This Erastus saith, We want only a Court of ⟨p. 263⟩