A92138:994
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.
and if the reason of Erastus be good, The Church is to deny no helps of godliness and salvation to him, though we deny private food to his body, because the Sacraments are necessary helps. Then 1. I much doubt, if the Church be to deny the necessary helps of godliness and salvation to a Pagan living amongst us; Ergo, shall we not deny the Sacraments to a Pagan? 2. We are not to avoid his company,1 and deny the edifying acts of Communion, which I named before, for these are necessary helps of salvation. 3. It is not the mans sin by this reason, That he eateth and drinketh unworthily; for if it be not the Churches sin to give him the seals, because the Seals are adminicles and helps of piety, and saving of the soul; by the same reason, it is not the mans sin to receive the Lords Supper, for it must be equally an help of godliness and salvation to the Communicant receiving, as to the Church giving: Now Paul saith, 1 Cor. 11. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh to ⟨p. 362⟩himself judgement. So Erastus teacheth us, that it may be a sin to Swine publicly known to be such, to receive pearls, when it is no sin, but the Churches duty to give these pearls to such known Swine, which is most absurd and impious.
and if the reason of Erastus be good, The Church is to deny no helps of godlinesse and salvation to him, though we deny private food to his body, because the Sacraments are necessary helps. Then 1. I much doubt, if the Church be to deny the necessary helps of godlinesse and salvation to a Pagan living amongst us; Ergo, shall we not deny the Sacraments to a Pagan? 2. We are not to avoid his company,1 and deny the edifying acts of Communion, which I named before, for these are necessary helps of salvation. 3. It is not the mans sin by this reason, That he eateth and drinketh unworthily; for if it be not the Churches sin to give him the seals, because the Seals are adminiclees and helps of piety, and saving of the soul; by the same reason, it is not the mans sin to receive the Lords Supper, for it must be equally an help of godlinesse and salvation to the Communicant receiving, as to the Church giving: Now Paul saith,