A92138:678
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.
3. What Luther saith is true, Excommunication can put none out of the state of saving Faith and inward Communion with God, nor doth deprive men of the fruit of the Prayers of the godly, for the godly pray that Excommunication may be medicine effectually blessed of God, for the saving of the mans soul, yea, Gods not hearing of the prayers of the godly, praying in a Church way, that he may be humbled, is a mean to humble the cast out man, nor is the man delivered to Satan morally to be hardened; but judicially and withal medicinally to be softened, that his spirit may be saved. Nor is the Church to hate him, but to admonish him as a brother, 2 Thes. 3. 15. And he is so deprived of the external society and means, as the operation of the ordinances is suspended.
3. What Luther saith is true, Excommunication can put none out of the state of saving Faith and inward Communion with God, nor doth deprive men of the fruit of the Prayers of the godly, for the godly pray that Excommunication may be medicine effectually blessed of God, for the saving of the mans soul, yea, Gods not hearing of the prayers of the godly, praying in a Church way, that he may be humbled, is a mean to humble the cast out man, nor is the man delivered to Satan morally to be hardned; but judicially and withall medicinally to be softned, that his spirit may be saved. Nor is the Church to hate him, but to admonish him as a brother, 2 Thes. 3. 15. And he is so deprived of the externall society and meanes, as the operation of the ordinances is suspended.