A92138:952
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.
Because without convening together in their daily conversation, they were to purge the leaven of malice out of their heart, it were a ridiculous thing for Paul to command them to convene altogether, to lead a godly life: 3. There was no need that they should convene with Pauls spirit, and in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ to lead a godly life, and for a personal purging of every man his own soul from this leaven. 4. They were to judge this man, ver. 12. Therefore this cannot be meant of a personal judging every one of themselves, but of a Church judging of an offender. 5. If Erastus grant that Paul expoundeth the Ceremony of leaven, and putting away leaven in the Passover: Let him see how he can apply this to killing of every single man that liveth wickedly: We apply it to the casting out of the scandalous out of the Church, as leaven was to be put out of the houses of all who were to eat the passover.
Because without conveening together in their daily conversation, they were to purge the leaven of m•lice out of their heart, it were a ridiculous thing for Paul to command them to convene altogether, to lead a godly life: 3. There was no need that they should convene with Pauls spirit, and in the name and power of our Lord Iesus Christ to lead a godly life, and for a personall purging of every man his own soul from this leaven. 4. They were to judge this man, ver. 12. Therefore this cannot be meant of a personall judging every one of themselves, but of a Churchjudging of an offender. 5. If Erastus grant that Paul expoundeth the Ceremony of leaven, and putting away leaven in the Passeover: Let him see how he can apply this to killing of every single man that liveth wickedly: We apply it to the casting out of the scandalous out of the Church, as leaven was to be put out of the houses of all who were to eat the passeover.
Erastus. I care not much whither the Lord himself immediately, or1 the Magistrate was to kill him, who eat leavened bread at that time: But I rather think that God killed him; for we find none killed for this cause: 2. Because Paul writ of those who did unworthily eat,