A92138:838
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. That they argue authority judicial, is proved already by many Scriptures, and judicial authority Ecclesiastical it must be, which agreeth to the Church, and it was never heard that the Church especially in the New Testament, doth signify the Magistrate. 2. There is no necessity to say there was a Christian Church court in Christs time, because there was not a Christian Magistrate at this time, but the Jews had then a Church-court, before which Christ was convened. Caiaphas being President, and the blind man, John 9. who was cast out of the Synagogue, for that he confessed Christ. 3. Christ speaketh of that which was to be, though in its frame not yet erected.
Ans. That they argue authority judiciall, is proved already by many Scriptures, and judiciall authority Ecclesiasticall it must be, which agreeth to the Church, and it was never heard that the Church especially in the New Testament, doth signifie the Magistrate. 2. There is no necessity to say there was a Christian Church court in Christs time, because there was not a Christian Magistrate at this time, but the Iewes had then a Church-court, before which Christ was conveened. Caiphas being President, and the blinde man, Iohn 9. who was cast out of the Synagogue, for that he confessed Christ. 3. Christ speaketh of that which was to be, though in its frame not yet erected.
Erastus. Christ hath the like words of binding and loosing, Mat. 16. which signifieth also to preach the Gospel, that he who believeth may be loosed, and he who believeth not may be made inexcusable, and therefore it is no other, but to pray a brother to desist from his injury, showing him that that is acceptable to God: for to bind and loose in all the Scripture, is never to debar any from the Sacraments; if you divert your brother from doing an injury, by declaring the will and wrath of God, out of his Word, thou hast gained him, and loosed him, if he will not be persuaded, the wrath of God abides on him, and thou hast bound him.