A92138:856
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 would not draw his disciples, who were otherwise1 most observant of the Law, from the Synedry then in use, to a new Court, where witnesses are led before a multitude and sentences judicially set up, it had been much against the Authority of the civil Magistrate, and a scandal to the Pharisees, and the people had no power in Christs time to choose their own Magistrate, therefore he must mean the Jewish Synedry: If by the Church we understand the multitude, we must understand such a multitude as hath power to choose such a Senate, but there was no such Church in the Jews at this time.
Erastus. Christ would not draw his disciples, who were otherwise1 most observant of the Law, from the Synedry then in use, to a new Court, where witnesses are led before a multitude and sentences judicially set up, it had been much against the Authority of the civil Magistrate, and a scandall to the Pharisees, and the people had no power in Christs time to choose their own Magistrate, therefore he must mean the Jewish Synedry: If by the Church we understand the multitude, we must understand such a multitude as hath power to choose such a Senate, but there was no such Church in the Jews at this time.
- 1Thes. 48. 34, 35.
Ans. That the Church here is the multitude of Believers, men, women, and children, is not easily believed by us. 2. And we are as far from the dream of a mere civill Synedry, which to me is no suitable mean of gaining a soul to Christ, which is our Saviours intention in the Text. 3. Erastus setteth up a christian Magistrate to intercept causes and persons, to examine, rebuke, lead witnesses against a Jew before ever Cesar their only King of the Jews, or his Deputies hear any such thing, this is as far against the only supreme Magistrate, and as scandalous to the Pharisees, as any thing else could be: 4. Had not John Baptist, and Christs disciples drawn many of the Jews and Proselytes to a new Sacrament of Baptism, and to the Lamb of God, now in his flesh, present amongst them? this was a more new Law, then any Ordinance of Excommunication was, especially since this Church was not to be in its full constitution, till after the Lords Ascension.