A92138:757
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.
Ans. This is to dispute with God; God made a law, that he who being legally unclean, should touch men or things legally unclean, should pollute; This Law, God freely made as a positive statute; who can tie God to make the like Law touching those that are morally unclean? no man: now because God made no such Law, it leaveth not off to be the sin of the Priests, that they brought the uncircumcised in heart to the Sanctuary, as God complaineth, ⟨p. 289⟩Ezek. 44. 8, 9. c. 22, 26. And that the Church should hinder the wicked to pollute the holy things of God. 2. The adulterous woman was brought to the Priest and Temple to be judged, God had so commanded, and therefore no wonder she polluted neither Priest nor Temple, but had she not polluted the Passover Morally, though I say not Ceremonially, if she had eaten without Repentance and offering for her sin? I think she would.
Ans. This is to dispute with God; God made a law, that he who being legally unclean, should touch men or things legally unclean, should pollute; This Law, God freely made as a positive statute; who can tye God to make the like Law touching those that are morally uncleane? no man: now because God made no such Law, it leaveth not off to be the sinne of the Priests, that they brought the uncircumcised in heart to the Sanctuary, as God complaineth, ⟨p. 289⟩Ezek. 44. 8, 9. c. 22, 26. And that the Church should hinder the wicked to pollute the holy things of God. 2. The adulterous woman was brought to the Priest and Temple to be judged, God had so commanded, and therefore no wonder she polluted neither Priest nor Temple, but had shee not polluted the Passeover Morally, though I say not Ceremonially, if she had eaten without Repentance and offering for her sinne? I thinke she would.
Erastus. Though God punish not pollution of holy things, by debarring men from them, it followeth not that he winketh at them, for he punisheth them with death, and more grievously.