A92138:793
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 for us, he speaketh of such sins that the offender will persist in, against the Authority of witnesses, Synedrie, or Church and Magistrates, as Erastus thinketh while he be as a Profane Heathen; Ergo, he may deny them: 2. If we suppose three faithful witnesses, who have seen and heard, such as will testify the sin before the Church, it is like to be a grievous and public trespass. Nor would Christ have the Magistrate troubled, and the Church offended for such sins as may fall out, in a brother, seven times; yea, seventy seven times in one day, and may be, by private transactions pardoned, as Erastus saith: How should Erastus ⟨p. 299⟩his civill throne, sink under threescore and ten scandals in one day?
Ans. This is for us, he speaketh of such sins that the offender will persist in, against the Authority of witnesses, Synedrie, or Church and Magistrates, as Erastus thinketh while he be as a Profane Heathen; Ergo, he may deny them: 2. If we suppose three faithfull witnesses, who have seen and heard, such as will testifie the sin before the Church, it is like to be a grievous and publick trespasse. Nor would Christ have the Magistrate troubled, and the Church offended for such sins as may fall out, in a brother, seven times; yea, seventy seven times in one day, and may be, by private transactions pardoned, as Erastus saith: How should Erastus ⟨p. 299⟩his civill throne, sink under threescore and ten scandalls in one day?
Erastus. The Church punisheth not the man for such sins, but dismisseth him as an injurious person.
Ans. True, if we believe Erastus begging the question. 2. To declare