A02990:248
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.
For private Christians may not usurp the authority of the church, nor the church execute her authority in undue manner. That is necessary to them that have received commission from God which is unlawful to them that want authority. In the common-wealth the execution of justice is necessary: but private persons must not challenge the sword of the magistrate. In a corporation no one must take that upon himself which belongeth to the common council. Holy things must not be given to profane persons: but every one at his pleasure must not deny holy things to unholy persons; but unholy persons must be debarred from holy things in such order as God hath prescribed. It is a thing illegal altogether and unreasonable, that a Christian man ⟨p. 191⟩laying open claim to his right in the sacrament, should by the mere discretion of a minister or private Christian be debarred from it. Men would be loth to put their lands, nay their goods and chattels, and shall we think the Lord hath put their interest in the body and blood of Christ to a private discretion. So should it fare ill with the deserving members of the church, and such as most deserved should least feel the severity of this censure. The precept then of debarring scandalous offenders bindeth them to whom God hath given this power, and them only so far as God hath put it in their power.1 But God regularly doth not leave that power in the hand of one singular steward, or some few private Christians, to discommon one from the Lords table by public censure: And therefore the steward may not by any means keep back the fat ones of the earth from his masters table, but warn them fairly of the danger ensuing, as Gratian noteth out of Augustine. And if one or few private Christians cannot debar the unworthy from the Lords table, it is manifest the ordinance of God is not defiled to them by the presence of the wicked,2 whom they desire to reform or expel, but cannot, because power is not in their hand to do it lawfully.
For private Christians may not usurp the authority of the church, nor the church execute her authority in undue manner. That is necessary to them that have received commission from God which is unlawfull to them that want authority. In the common-wealth the execution of justice is necessary: but private persons must not challenge the sword of the magistrate. In a corporation no one must take that upon himself which belongeth to the common councel. Holy things must not be given to prophane persons: but every one at his pleasure must not deny holy things to unholy persons; but unholy persons must be debarred from holy things in such order as God hath prescribed. It is a thing illegall altogether and unreasonable, that a Christian man