A92138:919
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 exclusion of men from the Sacraments did creep into the Church when men did ascribe salvation to the Sacraments, therefore the Supper was given to dying men, though excommunicate; as the denial of the Supper damneth, Ergo, the receiving of it saveth. And so of Baptism they reasoned.
Erastus.The exclusion of men from the Sacraments did creep into the Church when men did ascribe salvation to the Sacraments, therefore the Supper was given to dying men, though excommunicate; as the deniall of the Supper damneth, Ergo, the receiving of it saveth. And so of Baptisme they reasoned.
Answ. Erastus nameth this his own probable conjecture. But it is to beg the question, he may know how singular Augustine was for the necessity of Baptism, and how many of the Ancients were against him in it. 2. He may know this consequence to be a conjecture, and that it is not stronger, because it is his own. 3. He granteth that exclusion of the unworthy from the Sacraments is ancient, so much gain we by his conjectures.
Answ. Erastus nameth this his own probable conjecture. But it is to beg the question, he may know how singular Augustine was for the necessity of Baptisme, and how many of the Ancients were against him in it. 2. He may know this consequence to be a conjecture, and that it is not stronger, because it is his owne. 3. He granteth that exclusion of the unworthy from the Sacraments is ancient, so much gain we by his conjectures.
Erastus. When the Church wanted a Magistrate and the sword▪ 1Paul commanded that the Corinthians might obtain by their prayers, that the incestuous man might be put from amongst them, that is, that he might be killed; if he command not that the man be killed, but cast out of the Church only, he should say as much as if one should bid preserve the chastity of a Virgin by casting her out of the society of chaste matrons, into a bordel-house; and Paul biddeth not the Corinthians deliver the man to Satan; but only that they would convene, that he might, as present in Spirit, deliver him to Satan; and that they would deliver him to Satan, and put him out of the midst of them, by prayers and mourning: for in my corrected Thesis, I said, that this, put away evil out of the midst of you,