A92138:986
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. 1. Let the reader judge whether Erastus refuteth Paul, or Beza, Paul forbiddeth to eat with a brother; that is a fornicator: Erastus saith, he forbiddeth no such thing. 2. Though I think Christians may eat with heathens, 1. Cor. 10. 27. and that Paul did eat with heathen; yet it is no argument to say, it is therefore lawful to eat with one cast out of the Church, because we may eat1 with heathens to gain them, and we are not bidden abstain from heathens company, that they may be ashamed of their religion, (though Christians are to use no heathens with intimate familiarity as we do our brethren in Christ;) But we are to eschew entire fellowship with a scandalous and cast out brother, to gain him, that he may be ashamed, 2 Thes. 3. 14. and in this a scandalous brother is in worse case then a heathen: But in other respects he is in better condition, as being under the medicine of the Church.
Ans. 1. Let the reader judge whether Erastus resuteth Paul, or Beza, Paul forbiddeth to eat with a brother; that is a fornicator: Erastus saith, he forbiddeth no such thing. 2. Though I think Christians may eat with heathens, 1. Cor. 10. 27. and that Paul did eat with heathen; yet it is no argument to say, it is therefore lawfull to eat with one cast out of the Church, because we may eat1 with heathens to gain them, and we are not bidden abstain from heathens company, that they may be ashamed of their religion, (though Christians are to use no heathens with intimate familiarity as we do our brethren in Christ;) But we are to eschew intire fellowship with a scandalous and cast out brother, to gain him, that he may be ashamed, 2 Thes. 3. 14. and in this a scandalous brother is in worse case then a heathen: But in other respects he is in better condition, as being under the medicine of the Church.
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