A02990:257
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.
If because some members of the body be broken, lame or diseased, the rest that are sound should forsake the unity of the body, that were to destroy the whole and not to strengthen it, utterly to overthrow, not to seek its recovery: One contagious sinner let alone, not punished, not reclaimed, may infect the whole congregation: and therefore every member must look warily to his own soul that he take no harm by such bad example, and do his endeavour that such incorrigible persons be cast out of the assembly: But the ordinances of grace are not defiled to the worthy receiver by the presence of such as should be censured, nor must he withdraw himself from the holy things of God because such as ought not are suffered ⟨p. 200⟩to partake, so long as Christ is pleased to bear with their manners, and to continue amongst them for their refreshing who in truth of heart draw nigh unto him.
If because some members of the body be broken, lame or diseased, the rest that are sound should forsake the unitie of the body, that were to destroy the whole and not to strengthen it, utterly to overthrow, not to seek its recovery: One contagious sinner let alone, not punished, not reclaimed, may infect the whole congregation: and therefore every member must look warily to his own soul that he take no harm by such bad example, and do his endeavour that such incorrigible persons be cast out of the assembly: But the ordinances of grace are not defiled to the worthy receiver by the presence of such as should be censured, nor must he withdraw himself from the holy things of God because such as ought not are suffered ⟨p. 200⟩to partake, so long as Christ is pleased to bear with their manners, and to continue amongst them for their refreshing who in truth of heart draw nigh unto him.
If a brother be a fornicator, 1the Apostle exhorteth us not to eat with him: