A92138:934
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.
I see no warrant Erastus hath to say, That Heretics erring in fundamentals are more contagious and rotten members then slaves of Satan, failing against the second Table: 5. He that is cast out of the Church, though amongst the Turks, is in the world, but not of the world: If he keep the faith, and if he do so, he shall ⟨p. 341⟩repent and come home to Christs visible Kingdom, but because he keepeth the faith, yet he is not a member of a visible Church, except he profess it, and repent; for even the sound in faith, if obstinate in Scandals, may deserve Excommunication. 6. There is nothing said against Excommunication in the two last Reasons, but what striketh against Timothy his public rebuking, and threatening wrath against those that sin openly, for they may through their own corruption, so far abuse public threatenings, as they may be led on despair and hypocrisy. Now Erastus as we shall hear, granteth those are to be rebuked openly, who sin openly. 7. We say not to deliver to Satan any man, is to deliver him to the World, but to cast him out of the Church, that consequenter he may be left to the World; but that he should sin, and be led away with the World, is neither the intrinsical end of Excommunication, or of the Church, but an event or end by accident▪ the intrinsical end is the Salvation of the man.
I see no warrant Erastus hath to say, That Hereticks erring in fundamentals are more contagious and rotten members then slaves of Satan, failing against the second Table: 5. He that is cast out of the Church, though amongst the Turkes, is in the world, but not of the world: If he keep the faith, and if he do so, he shall ⟨p. 341⟩repent and come home to Christs visible Kingdom, but because he keepeth the faith, yet he is not a member of a visible Church, except he professe it, and repent; for even the sound in faith, if obstinate in Scandals, may deserve Excommunication. 6. There is nothing said against Excommunication in the two last Reasons, but what striketh against Timothy his publike rebuking, and threatning wrath against those that sin openly, for they may through their owne corruption, so farre abuse publike threatnings, as they may be led on despaire and hypocrisie. Now Erastus as we shall hear, granteth those are to be rebuked openly, who sin openly. 7. We say not to deliver to Satan any man, is to deliver him to the World, but to cast him out of the Church, that consequenter he may be left to the World; but that he should sinne, and be led away with the World, is neither the intrinsecall end of Excommunication, or of the Church, but an event or end by accident the intrinsecall end is the Salvation of the man.