A92138:833
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. Christ saith not, if two or three Presbyters, or two or three1 Ministers agree in one, I will hear them, but where two or three Christians agree.
Erastus. Christ saith not, if two or three Presbyters, or two or three1 Ministers agree in one, I will heare them, but where two or three Christians agree.
- 1Page 199.
Ans. Nor do we say, that two or three can make an Excommunicating Church, but Christ argueth a minore, if the Lord hear two or three on earth, far more will he hear a Church, and ratify in heaven what they do in binding and loosing offenders in Earth; But how shall these words agree to the interpretation of Erastus? for he expoundeth two or three and the whole Church, to be but one Christian Magistrate; can he be said to agree to himself? Or can one or two or three meet together in Christs Name? And what coherence is here? Two or three conveneth to pray that he that will not hear the Christian Magistrate may be ⟨p. 310⟩dealt with as a Heathen man before the Roman judge, how violent and far off is this gloss, and how unsuitable to the Text?
Ans. Nor doe we say, that two or three can make an Excommunicating Church, but Christ argueth a minore, if the Lord heare two or three on earth, farre more will he heare a Church, and ratifie in heaven what they doe in binding and loosing offenders in Earth; But how shall these words agree to the interpretation of Erastus? for he expoundeth two or three and the whole Church, to be but one Christian Magistrate; can he be said to agree to himselfe? Or can one or two or three meet together in Christs Name? And what coherence is here? Two or three conveeneth to pray that he that will not hear the Christian Magistrate may be