A92138:783
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. By this same place, I cannot prove there is such a thing1 as Excommunication, what is said to one is said to the whole Church; but it is said to one, that he should forgive an offending brother, seventy seven times in one day, if he acknowledge his fault; Ergo, there can be no just cause why the whole Church should not do▪ that which every member is obliged to do, but your Presbyters vvill punish though any one should confess his fault.
Erastus. By this same place, I cannot prove there is such a thing1 as Excommunication, what is said to one is said to the whole Church; but it is said to one, that he should forgive an offending brother, seventy seven times in one day, if he acknowledge his fault; Ergo, there can be no just cause vvhy the vvhole Church should not doe▪ that vvhich every member is obliged to doe, but your Presbyters vvill punish though any one should confesse his fault.
- 1Page 156. 157.
Ans. There is a twofold forgiving, one private, in passing the1 private revenge of the fault and grudge against the person of the offender: thus the whole argument is granted, for Members and Church both are to pray, Forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us: I hope the Synedrie, the Roman President, the Magistrate, thus are obliged to forgive those whose heads they justly take from them, so Luke 17. We are to forgive our brother seventy seven times a day, though he neither repent nor crave pardon, but far more, if he crave pardon. But by this Argument the Christian Magistrate should use the sword against no bloody Parricide, for he is thus to forgive him, and much more, if he say he repenteth. 2. To forgive, is to remit all punishment, and so what is