A92138:788
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. 1. I may tell him between me and him, a public fault: this proveth only my admonition to be private, when the fault is known to twenty and scandalizeth them, and it proveth not the fault to to be private. But you will say, then I must take these twenty who are offended, no less then I am to go my self. I answer, not so; For 1. I may be ignorant that any knows it, and I am not to uncover what God hath covered, except it were a sin that bringeth wrath on the whole Land, as blood, and the Canaanites sins. 2. Though I should know twenty were offended, charity will bid me try, if I only can gain him, and then love maketh the work easier to twenty.
Ans. 1. I may tell him between me and him, a publike fault: this proveth onely my admonition to be private, when the fault is known to twenty and scandalizeth them, and it proveth not the fault to to be private. But you will say, then I must take these twenty who are offended, no lesse then I am to goe my selfe. I answer, not so; For 1. I may be ignorant that any knowes it, and I am not to uncover what God hath covered, except it were a sin that bringeth wrath on the whole Land, as blood, and the Canaanites sinnes. 2. Though I should know twenty were offended, charity will bid me try, if I onely can gaine him, and then love maketh the worke easier to twenty.
Erastus. But Matthew and Luke compared together, do teach that Christ speaketh of such sins, as one Brother may pardon another seventy seven times; and the question of Peter to Christ, how oft shall ⟨p. 297⟩my brother offend, and I forgive him? saith that Christ speaketh not1 of the sins, that the Church only can forgive, for Peter knew well, that he his alone could not forgive these sins, which only the Church and a multitude can pardon.
Erastus. But Matthew and Luke compared together, doe teach that Christ speaketh of such sinnes, as one Brother may pardon another seventy seven times; and the question of Peter to Christ, how oft shall