A02990:151
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulness of a stinted liturgy and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keys: tending to satisfy the doubtful, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulnesse of a stinted liturgie and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keyes: tending to satisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.
Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the University of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640
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.
As for the reformed churches,1 we are not to consider what they do, but what they ought to do.
- 1Object. 4. Copy of a Letter, pag. 21. Shall I in your heat be pressed with the multitude of churches? Greenwood pag. 17. then hear what the Lord saith, Thou shalt not follow a multitude, &c.Object. 4. Copie of a Letter, pag. 21. Shall I in your heat be pressed with the multitude of churches? Greenwood pag. 17. then heare what the Lord saith, Thou shalt not follow a multitude, &c.
It is most true:1 but we must consider wisely, and not censure unadvisedly. The churches of God are companies of men called out of this world, in part only enlightened, subject to error: they have erred, they may err: their sole testimony cannot be the ground of divine faith and assurance: Nevertheless the constant judgement of the churches of God for many ages in a matter of this nature, in the times of reformation, when clouds and darkness are expelled, when the sun is risen, and great light given to the scriptures by the benefit of languages, translations and commentaries; I say, the judgement of the churches at these times, and in a matter of this nature, is not lightly to be regarded. A man should try and examine his grounds and reasons and mistrust himself ⟨p. 110⟩rather then so many wise, learned and godly sweetly consenting in a matter of this nature, unless his evidence be very good. He had need be well advised before he charge them to maintain a worship not allowed, an idol-prayer for the spiritual worship of God, a strange form of prayer, which was never approved, whereat a Christian may not safely be present, against which he is bound to witness. Be it that the churches do err herein; yet I hope they be not obstinate, and such as will not give consent to the truth when it is showed and manifested: How cometh it then to pass that none of them hitherto have subscribed to their opinion and practice? Either their arguments are not sufficient to convince, and then their Separation is unjust; or they generally want eyes to see the light (for they will not say they want conscience to acknowledge what they cannot but see) and then in meekness they are to be born withal, if upon well tried grounds a man be assured, that they all, and not he himself, is in the error. The testimony of the church then is not infallible; because it may err, and hath erred, and some members of it at this day do err in the particular differences that be amongst them: but yet the constant testimony of the whole church in the times of light and reformation is of great weight;