A92138:702
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. Christ who rebuked many abuses, and cast the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, would have rebuked the pollution of the Sacraments also; but that he never did: and Christ said that Peter should forgive his offending Brother often in one day, if he but say, It repenteth me: and he saith, This transaction shall be ratified in heaven. Will you be more cruel then God? Do not we often lie to God in our Confession to God? He meaneth well, who desires to come to the Supper: Be not Judges of mens Conscience.
Erastus. Christ who rebuked many abuses, and cast the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, would have rebuked the pollution of the Sacraments also; but that he never did: and Christ said that Peter should forgive his offending Brother often in one day, if he but say, It repenteth me: and he saith, This transaction shall be ratified in heaven. Will you be more cruell then God? Do not we often lie to God in our Confession to God? He meaneth well, who desires to come to the Supper: Be not Iudges of mens Conscience.
Ans. Christ Commanding not to cast Pearls to Swine, and scourging out those that polluted that Temple that was a type of his body, doth Argue clearly, that the holy things of God should not be profaned: But that Christ rebuked all abuses in the worship1 of God, in particular, Erastus cannot say. 2. It is one thing to forgive our brother, by putting away private grudge, and a church-pardoning in the name of Christ is another; in the former sense we are to forgive our enemy, though he repent not, Mat. 6. 12. 14, 15. Rom. 12. 19, 20. Luk. 23. 34. But this forgiveness, Luk. 17. is not said to be ratified in heaven; for God doth not alway forgive when we forgive, God doth forgive when the sinner repenteth. Erastus will have a lying confession ratified in Heaven. 3. When the Church in Christs Name forgiveth not upon words and lies; but upon Visible Testimonies of repentance, they are no more Judges of the heart, then Isaiah when he said, Except ye believe, ye shall not be established: and Paul when he said to the Jailer Believe and thou shalt be saved: for without more then lying words of mouth, yea, without true lively faith; neither could the one be established, nor the other saved.