A92138:870
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. Paul could not profess this; for he had not assayed to work any miracle of this kind, as Christ had done, Matth. 13. But only showeth them of a report came to him of the fact, and of their security, and not mourning: 2. Paul should then rather have rebuked their unbelief, and not praying that God would miraculously destroy the man; but this Paul doth not. 3. Paul rebuketh them, for not judging him, not putting him out of the midst of them: Must that be Pauls meaning; pray to God that I may have grace and strength immediately from God, to kill him miraculously, and to judge him. Now they knew the Apostle miraculously thus judged those that are without, as he stroke with blindness; Elymas who was without the visible Church: I conceive the whole Churches were to pray, as the Apostles do with the Saints, Act. 4. 29. 30. That miracles may be wrought both on those that are without and within: But of this judging he saith, ver. 12. What have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? 4. It is directly contrary to Christs direction, Matth. 18. Which is, that by rebukes we gain the offending brothers soul: Now Erastus will have him gained to Christ, ⟨p. 321⟩by removing his soul from his body, and by killing him. Yea, the Apostle writing of the censuring of those in Thessalonica, who walked unorderly, and obeyed not the Apostles Word, which doth include such as break out in Incest, Adulteries, Murders, is so far from giving direction to kill them miraculously, that he biddeth only keep no Church company, nor Christian fellowship with them, but yet they are to be admonished as brethren; Ergo, they were not to be miraculously killed, for then they should be capable of no admonition at all being killed; And could there be worse men then was amongst the Philippians, Enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God was their belly? Yet there was no blood in the Apostles pen, he chides not the Philippians, nor the Galatians who had amongst them men of the same metal, Gal. 5. 7, 8, 9, 10. Ver. 19. 20, 21. Nor the Timothies who would have to do with far worse men, 2 Tim, 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Nor Titus who had to do with wicked Cretans,