A92138:999
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 saith, Then ••e agree, for we dispute only of those who1 acknowledgeth their sins, and promise amendment.
Erastus saith, Then ••e agree, for vve dispute only of those vvho1 acknovvledgeth their sins, and promise amendment.
- 1Erastus his contradiction, in excluding both some and none at all from the Sacraments.
Ans. We are not willing to hold up a needless controversy with Erastus; but Erastus saith, and his Arguments conclude in the Old Testament, None for Moral uncleanness, and impenitency were debarred from the holy things of God; Ergo, We are to debar none in the New Testament; yea, 2. Paul did never command to debar any, nor did Christ debar Judas, nor the Pharisees debar the lewdest Publicans, nor the Apostles Simon Magus from the Sacraments; Ergo, saith he, we are to debar none at all: now1 here Erastus clearly contradicteth himself, and saith, We dispute only of such as acknowledge their •ins and promise amendment: But let Erastus say, Did Judas acknowledge his •in and promise amendment: Did all the morally unclean in Corinth, such as repented not of their uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness which they committed, 2 Cor. 12. 21. acknowledge their sin, and promise amendment? and did those that were partakers of the Table of Devils acknowledge their sin and promise amendment? And yet I brought the very words of Erastus, in which he saith right down in a Catholic assertion, without exception, not any of those are to be debarred from the Sacraments: Why? The Sacraments (saith he) are Adminicula pitatis, et resipiscentiae, are helps to godliness and repentance: And I ask of Erastus, doth the Lord invite none to repentance, but those that do acknowledge their sin and promise amendment? And will Erastus have helps of repentance denied to all those who acknowledge not their sins? then let him give us Arguments in the Old or New Testament, by which he can demonstrate, that those who acknowledge not their sins, and promise