A92138:855
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 will prove nothing, John hath much which we believe with equal certainty of Faith, as we do any Divine institutions; shall therefore Erastus call the turning of water into wine, the raising of Lazarus: The healing of the man, born blind, and of him that lay at the Pool of Bethesda, Christs heavenly Sermons, Jo•. cap. 14. 15, 16. his prayer▪ cap. 17▪ which the other Evangelists mention not, Fi•men•a hominum, mens fancies, as he calleth Excommunication? 2. Did the Disciples understand well the dream that Erastus hath on the place, and took they it as granted, that to tell the Church is to tell the civill Magistrate? And that not to hear the Church is civill Rebellion, and to be as a Heathen is to be impleaded before Cesar or his Deputies only? This is a wonder to me; Matthew setteth ⟨p. 315⟩up this way, an institution of all Church-Government, which no Evangelist, no word in the Old, or New Testament establisheth.
Ans. This wil prove nothing, Iohn hath much which we believe with equall certainty of Faith, as we do any Divine institutions; shall therefore Erastus call the turning of water into wine, the raising of Lazarus: The healing of the man, born blinde, and of him that lay at the Pool of Bethesda, Christs heavenly Sermons, Io•. cap. 14. 15, 16. his prayer▪ cap. 17▪ which the other Evangelists mention not, Fi•men•a hominum, mens fancies, as he calleth Excommunication? 2. Did the Disciples understand well the dream that Erastus hath on the place, and took they it as granted, that to tell the Church is to tell the civill Magistrate? And that not to hear the Church is civill Rebellion, and to be as a Heathen is to be impleaded before Cesar or his Deputies only? This is a wonder to me; Matthew setteth ⟨p. 315⟩up this way, an institution of all Church-Government, which no Evangelist, no word in the Old, or New Testament establisheth.