A92138:681
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. Beza saith, Those that were morally polluted with heinous sins, were more unclean then those who were typically only unclean: Ergo, They should be far rather excluded from the holy things of God. Erastus answers, If God had commanded them to be punished with the same punishment, and not with diverse; it would follow, that those that are morally impure, should rather be debarred then the other.
Erastus. Beza saith, Those that were morally polluted with hainous sins, were more unclean then those who were typically only unclean: Ergo, They should be far rather excluded from the holy things of God. Erastus answers, If God had commanded them to be punished with the same punishment, and not with diverse; it would follow, that those that are morally impure, should rather be debarred then the other.
Ans. But the Ceremonial uncleanness was punished so to signify Gods detestation of moral uncleanness, and how hateful they were, who would multiply sacrifices, and yet had hands full of blood, Esa. 1. And who would steal, murder, whore, and yet come and stand before God in his house, and cry, The Temple of the Lord are these, Jer. 7. 49. And that God punished the one with heavier plagues then the other, is much for us, that adulterers far more and the uncircumcised in heart were to be holden out of the Sanctuary, as the Lord saith, Ezech. 44. 7, 8, 9. then those who were only uncircumcised in flesh.
Ans. But the Ceremoniall uncleannesse was punished so to signifie Gods detestation of morall uncleannesse, and how hatefull they were, who would multiply sacrifices, and yet had hands full of blood, Esa. 1. And who would steal, murther, whore, and yet come and stand before God in his house, and cry, The Temple of the Lord are these, Ier. 7. 49. And that God punished the one with heavier plagues then the other, is much for us, that adulterers far more and the uncircumcised in heart were to be holden out of the Sanctuary, as the Lord saith,