A92138:821
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. 2. All the wits on earth cannot make us see another place for Erastus his explication of this place Matth. 18. and of 1 Cor. 5. But we hope it shall appear we have more from Scripture, to say for Excommunication then this one place, or then Erastus and all his party can say against it; here is all that Erastus can say against this strong place, builded upon one Article •; a poor and ignorant Grammattication. 1. He culleth out the word (Publican) of less weight with us, from the word (Heathen) and would prove that no Publican because a Publican, and for the office, was debarred from the Jewish Sacraments, which we grant; for no office or place lawful in it self, debarred any from▪ Christ; Centurions were hateful to the Jews, and put over them by the Romans, 1yet I should conceive the Centurion, whose servant Christ cured, Luke 7. was a Proselyte, and a member of the Jewish Church, a lover of the Nation, else I see not how the Jews would have accepted that he should build them a Synagogue, as he did v 5. and Publicans might have bin Proselytes also, but that which was signified by a Publican to the Jews, was no less odious then the name of a hangman or a most wicked and flagitious man, as Matth. 5. 45, ⟨p. 306⟩46, 47. and by Christ decourted from the number of the children of our heavenly Father: Amongst the Jews it was counted abomination to eat with Publicans, Matth. 9. 11. Matth. 11. 19. Luk. 7. 34. And when Christ saith,