A92138:749
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. The Ceremonial uncleanness does typify the justification, and washing of a sinner in Christs blood, because no unclean thing can enter in the New Jerusalem, and so the Scripture, Rev. 21. Esa. 4•. Joel 3. Acts 15. And it shadows out no such thing as Excommunication out of the Church.
Erastus. The Ceremoniall uncleannes does typifie the justification, and washing of a sinner in Christs blood, because no unclean thing can enter in the New Ierusalem, and so the Scripture, Rev. 21. Esa. 4•. Ioel 3. Acts 15. And it shadowes out no such thing as Excommunication out of the Church.
Ans. All the arguments that Erastus made to prove that legal1 separation and uncleanness, proveth not Excommunication and Moral uncleanness, will with the same force conclude, that Legal uncleanness is not that which excludes men out of heaven, As for instance; to begin with the last, Legal uncleanness signifieth sin original, not wicked actions, therefore it signifieth not scandals, then by this Legal uncleanness that caused legal separation, is signified mens exclusion out of the high Jerusalem, for only sin Original, not for actual sins. This type must be a lying type, for actual sins especially debars us out of the New Jerusalem,