A92138:791
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.
the offended cannot pardon the punishment (he ought to remit the private grudge) he is under a command of Christ to tell the Church, that is one punishment, and if he yet be obstinate, he is to be reputed as a Heathen and a Publican, that is another punishment, which a private man cannot dispense with: 1. He cannot dispense with Christs command. 2. He cannot omit all Lawful means of gaining the soul of his brother; for the Law of nature tieth him to it. Erastus will have it a matter of holding off of an injury, only by complaining to the Roman Emperor, a carnal way. Christ is on a higher and more spiritual strain to gain a soul, as is clear, If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, rest there: But if he hear thee not, go yet on to gain him: Take with thee two or 1three, then if he had been gained at first, a second admonition before two or three were needless. But if yet he be not gained, then go yet on, to seek the gaining of his soul; and tell the Church, and if the Church cannot gain him: then let him be as a Publican, and cast out: This is also a way of gaining, that his spirit may be saved, 1 Cor. 5. Therefore this is most false, that Christ speaketh of those sins which we may forgive: Who can believe that it is credible that our Saviour hath a more noble end, and more excellent then to gain a brothers soul? or that he doth teach us in these words to descend from such a spiritual end, as the repentance of an offender, to a far baser end, to hold off injuries by fleeing to a heathen Judicature?
the offended cannot pardon the punishment (he ought to remit the private grudge) he is under a command of Christ to tell the Church, that is one punishment, and if he yet be obstinate, he is to be reputed as a Heathen and a Publican, that is another punishment, which a private man cannot dispense with: 1. He cannot dispense with Christs command. 2. He cannot omit all Lawfull means of gaining the soul of his brother; for the Law of nature tyeth him to it. Erastus will have it a matter of holding off of an injury, only by complaining to the Roman Emperour, a carnall way. Christ is on a higher and more spirituall strain to gain a soul, as is clear, If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, rest there: But if he hear thee not, go yet on to gain him: Take with thee two or 1