A92138:968
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. The word Excommunication may be by the Church used as the Word, Sacrament, Trinity. But the thing is not ours, but an ordinance of Jesus Christ. 2. Paul saith in this very place, as Israel were to put away leaven in their Passover, so is the convened Church of Corinth in the name and power of Christ to put out, judge and purge out a corrupting and leavening incestuous man, and this is all we seek for Excommunication.
Ans. The word Excommunication may be by the Church used as the Word, Sacrament, Trinity. But the thing is not ours, but an ordinance of Iesus Christ. 2. Paul saith in this very place, as Israel were to put away leaven in their Passeover, so is the convened Church of Corinth in the name and power of Christ to put out, judge and purge out a corrupting and leavening incestuous man, and this is all we seeke for Excommunication.
Ans. We are not in such need of that interpretation, as to put the name of the one for the other. But let Erastus show where he readeth that the thing, to wit, that the one Sacrament succeeded to the other; and Beza may thence infer his point, if God would have no man to eat the Passover with leavened bread, and if eating of leavened bread, and bread it self was to be put out of all the houses of Israel, thereby signifying that incestuous and scandalous persons are to be cast out of the Church, and so from the Sacraments; let Erastus see what Beza hath said amiss here.