A92138:931
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.
But Erastus seeth not, that Gods aim in this separation, is not only, that the cast out man may be ashamed, 2 Thes. 3. 14, 15. and so humbled and brought to repentance, when he findeth he is deprived of the blessings of the Saints, of their society, Ordinances: But also God hath a higher aim, to the end, the whole lump of Christs body, be not leavened and infected with the contagion of one man, 1 Cor. 4. 6, 7. Gal. 5. 9. 10.
But Erastus seeth not, that Gods aime in this separation, is not only, that the cast out man may be ashamed, 2 Thes. 3. 14, 15. and so humbled and brought to repentance, when he findeth he is deprived of the blessings of the Saints, of their society, Ordinances: But also God hath a higher aime, to the end, the whole lump of Christs body, be not leavened and infected with the contagion of one man, 1 Cor. 4. 6, 7. Gal. 5. 9. 10.
Erastus. The similitude of a rotten Member, proveth nothing:1 for 1. There be no such sinners desperately uncurable, of whom there is no hope so long as they live, except pertinacious Heretics erring in the foundation of salvation, and such as sin against the holy Ghost: 2. It is not necessary that men using reason and free will, be defiled and corrupted by other sinners, as the whole Member is by the rotten Member; for as a Tree cannot but be burnt by the fire that seizeth on it, so neither can the Members continuated by touching, escape corruption. 3. None can be cast out of the Church into