A92138:995
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.
Erastus. I said before, that God doth not exclude sinners from the1 Sacraments, but gather them in to them, that they may be more and more invited to repentance, and more easily raised up again; for Sacraments, and so many Ceremonies also, were for this end ordained, that they might draw men to the love and care of true piety and holiness, as Moses saith, Deut. 14.
Erastus. I said before, that God doth not exclude sinners from the1 Sacraments, but gather them in to them, that they may be more and more invited to repentance, and more easily raised up again; for Sacraments, and so many Ceremonies also, were for this end ordained, that they might draw men to the love and care of true piety and holynesse, as Moses saith, Deut. 14.
- 1Pag. 249.
Ans. Erastus acknowledgeth this to be no new Argument; therefore we may pass it, it is the chief pillar of his opinion: But I put it in form thus, to Erastus.
Ans. Erastus acknowledgeth this to be no new Argument; therefore we may passe it, it is the chief pillar of his opinion: But I put it in forme thus, to Erastus.
Those whom God inviteth to repentance, those he will not exclude from the Sacraments: But now under the Gospel, he inviteth all, even many Pagans and Heathen to repentance,