A92138:954
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.
Ans. There is no ground that God any way would have them to be killed, that did eat unleavened bread, and that we find none for that cause ever killed, is much for us: for then God did not execute any such Law, which (as Erastus saith) was broken by many: It is like God never made any such Law: 2. Because it is said, he shall be cut off, who eateth leavened bread, it followeth not that therefore this was done immediately by God; for it is said, Lev. 18. 29. Whosoever doth any of these abominations, even the soul that committeth them, shall be cut off from amongst the people; if that be killing; it is known, the Magistrate was to kill such as committed incest, & did lie with beasts: But Vatablus expoundeth it of Excommunication, ⟨p. 347⟩thus, Id est, Deus non agnoscet illum tanquam Israelitam & circumcisum: and Vatablus understood the Hebrew Tongue better, then Erastus who professeth he understandeth nothing of it. 3. That which Erastus saith of Paul, That God himself killed these at Corinth, who did eat and drink unworthily; may as well insinuate the Magistrate should kill with the sword, all that communicateth unworthily (which is absurd) as it can prove, that those that eat leavened bread were immediately killed of God.
Ans. There is no ground that God any way would have them to be killed, that did eat unleavened bread, and that we finde none for that cause ever killed, is much for us: for then God did not execute any such Law, which (as Erastus saith) was broken by many: It is like God never made any such Law: 2. Because it is said, he shall be cut off, who eateth leavened bread, it followeth not that therefore this was done immediately by God; for it is said, Lev. 18. 29. Whosoever doth any of these abominations, even the soul that committeth them, shall be cut off from amongst the people; if that be killing; it is known, the Magistrate was to kill such as committed incest, & did lie with beasts: But Vatablus expoundeth it of Excommunication, ⟨p. 347⟩thus, Id est, Deus non agnoscet illum tanquam Israelitam & circumcisum: and Vatablus understood the Hebrew Tongue better, then Erastus who professeth he understandeth nothing of it. 3. That which Erastus saith of Paul, That God himself killed these at Corinth, who did eat and drink unvvorthily; may as well insinuate the Magistrate should kill with the sword, all that communicateth unworthily (which is absurd) as it can prove, that those that eat leavened bread were immediatly killed of God.