A92138:696
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.
if they might eat unworthily by Gods Law, so neither would he rebuke Thieves and Murderers for appearing before him in his Temple, if they ought not, by Law, not to appear in that state. No doubt (saith Erastus) pag. 106. there were many wicked persons in the time of Joshua, Judges, and the Kings, in such a multitude, yet they were bidden all to compeare before the Lord, and none are excepted for their wickedness, and it is certain God would not both bid them compeare and not compeare.
if they might eate unworthily by Gods Law, so neither would he rebuke Theeves and Murtherers for appearing before him in his Temple, if they ought not, by Law, not to appeare in that state. No doubt (saith Erastus) pag. 106. there were many wicked persons in the time of Ioshua, Iudges, and the Kings, in such a multitude, yet they were bidden all to compeare before the Lord, and none are excepted for their wickednesse, and it is certaine God would not both bid them compeare and not compeare.
Ans. All that sinned in Israel were bidden offer Sacrifice, yet those who are wicked, as Sodom, are expressly debarred from Sacrifices, except they were morally clean, Isaiah. 1. 13. Bring me no more vain oblation, incense is an abomination unto me,—16 Wash you, make you clean. So say I here, God said expressly, Jer. 7. 9, 10. Except you be washed from your lying, stealing, come not before me to stand in my house, to profane my holy Name. Ergo, the Morally unclean are excommunicated from those holy things, so all the wicked by the same reason were forbidden, they remaining in their wickedness, without Repentance, to eat the Passover, yea, to take the Name of God in their mouth, Psal. 50. 16, 17. to Sacrifice, Isaiah. 66. 3. to touch the Altar of God, except their hands were washed in innocency,