A92138:848
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. Here is nothing but Grammatications that cannot convince: it is true, that Christ speaking of two, he speaketh of private men, but many will not grant so much, for they say, that by two the smallest number is meant, a Church of the fewest, by a Synecdoche, and two may be taken for a small convention and number which do literally exceed two, Jer. 3. 14. Rev. 11. 3. I will give power to my two Witnesses; they be more Martyrs who witnessed against Babylon then two literally, and this Exposition seemeth to me as good as the other, and then if the smallest Church do bind and loose in heaven and earth, so much more the Church; and so all shadow of this unsolid Grammattication is removed. 2. The proportion is well kept, if two praying on Earth be so heard in Heaven, as by their prayers, they may obtain that these be ratified in Heaven which they ask on earth; far more is that ratified in heaven, which the Church in a judicial and authoritative way, doth on earth, in the Name of Christ: for praying of private Christians, and public and authoritative binding of the Church do both agree in this, that the Father of Christ ratifieth both in heaven, which is a due keeping of proportion, and not such a crooked comparison ⟨p. 313⟩as Erastus would make between an aged man, & a rich & good man 3. Though two private men have the same Analogical binding in Heaven and earth with the Church, it followeth not that the binding of the Church is not a Church-binding, as the binding of the two private men is also a binding, but no public, no Church binding. 4. How shall Christs words keep either sense or Logic with the exposition of Erastus? If he will not hear the Christian Magistrate, complain to the Heathen Magistrate; and again I say, if the Lord hear two praying on earth, far more will he ratify in Heaven, what a profane Heathen Magistrate doth on earth against a Christian offender; judge what sense is in this gloss.
Ans. Here is nothing but Grammatications that cannot convince: it is true, that Christ speaking of two, he speaketh of private men, but many will not grant so much, for they say, that by two the smallest number is meant, a Church of the fewest, by a Synecdoche, and two may be taken for a small convention and number which doe literally exceed two,