A92138:899
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. The destruction of the flesh must be the destruction of the body, not of concupiscence, because he addeth that the spirit [Greek or Hebrew] may be saved, here the soul is opposed to the body.
Erastus. The destruction of the flesh must be the destruction of the body, not of concupiscence, because he addeth that the spirit 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 may be saved, here the soul is opposed to the body.
Ans. Though we should grant, that by the flesh is meant the body, yet it followeth not, it is the miraculous killing of the man, as I observed before. 2. It maketh nothing against Excommunication; for many learned Protestants teach, that though to deliver to Satan were a bodily punishment or conjoined therewith, as the Learned Anto. Waleus doth observe; yet the Apostle is clear for Excommunication in this chapter; & the learned Molineus denieth delivering to Satan to be expounded of Excommunication, and will have the destruction of the flesh to be some bodily tormenting of his body by Satan, & so doth sundry of the Fathers, especially Ambrose, Hyeronimus, Augustinus, and Chrysostom; though Augustine be doubtful: Yet Molineus saith, Certum est paulum velle hunc incestum moveri communione Ecclesia: sed id vult fieri ab ipsa Ecclesia Cor•nthiacâ, dicens, ver. 13. Tollite istum sceleratum è medio vèstrúm: And that grave and judicious Divine Piscator saith, on the place; That the form of Excommunication is this delivering to Satan: but the destruction of the flesh, he thinketh to be the exhausting of the natural strength of the body with sorrow for his sin, according to that Prov. 17. 22. A broken heart dryeth the bones: And therefore ⟨p. 344⟩it is to be observed that •rastily, Erastus insisteth most on those points and syllables of a Text, whereon all Divines, Ancient and Modern do place least strength for Excommunication; I might therefore pass all Erastus his force against Excommunication in these, and he shall be not a whit nearer his point. 2. But I shall follow him; when [Greek or Hebrew] the flesh, and [Greek or Hebrew] the spirit are put together, I see no reason that the one should signify the body, the other the soul: I know the contrary to be,