A92138:668
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. He only can cast out of the Church who seeth the heart;1 But men, or the Church, seeth not the heart; Ergo, men can do no more but debar from the Sacraments: It is not enough to say, that whom they cast out, as the Ambassadors of God in the name of Christ, declaring those to be bound on earth, whom Christ hath bound in heaven are excommunicated: for the Argument is not, whether Pastors may pronounce on earth, that which God hath ratified in Heaven; but whether they may so cast out of the Church, as they may cut men off from Salvation; and whether one Pastor may not do this, no less then a Presbytery.
Erastus. He only can cast out of the Church who seeth the heart;1 But men, or the Church, seeth not the heart; Ergo, men can do no more but debar from the Sacraments: It is not enough to say, that whom they cast out, as the Ambassadors of God in the name of Christ, declaring those to be bound on earth, whom Christ hath bound in heaven are excommunicated: for the Argument is not, whether Pastors may pro•ounce on earth, that which God hath ratified in Heav•n; but whether they may so cast out of the Church, as they may cut men off from Salvation; and whether one Pastor may not do this, no lesse then a Presbytery.
- 1Pag. 83.
An•. So I may Argue a Prophet cannot warn a wicked man, that he shall dye eternally▪ because a Prophet in ordinary, knoweth not the heart more then a Senate of prophets, yet are all prophets to exclude from Salvation, wicked and impenitent men, but conditionally, so they repent not, in which God goeth before them,