A02990:277
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
Chapter 11: Of holding communion with that assembly in the worship of God, where we cannot perform…
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 this is to be a revealer rather then a healer of our brothers infirmities. If I know an offence committed by another whereof I can make no proof,1 in love I must admonish him privately, mourn and pray for him, and so leave him to the Lord, to whom the judgement of secret things doth belong. This is acknowledged by them who interpret this text of sins secretly committed against God.2 In those sins which are so hid and secret that he who should deny them can be convinced with no witnesses, there is none or very little place left to this saying of Christ.3 Some would have it, that Christ speaketh of secret offences against God; because the word is most properly used for sin, and another for wrong and injury: but this will bear no weight. For the word is general, but the phrase, To sin against thee, is spoken of wrongs and injuries against men.4 As, Let not the King sin against David his servant: that is; Do not evil unto him; Plot not evil or death against him: because he hath not sinned against thee: that is, He hath hurt thee in nothing; He hath offended thee in no matter. ⟨p. 219⟩Did I not say unto you, 5Sin not against the lad? that is, Hurt him not; or, Kill him not: for so Reuben spake unto his brethren when they thought of killing Joseph. When any one hath sinned against his neighbour; 6that is, hath hurt or offended him by any means. What have I sinned against thee or against thy servants? 7that is, Wherein have I done wrong or injury to thee? And so in this passage, If thy brother sin against thee: that is, If he hurt or wrong thee;8 not, If thou be privy to his sin. This is plain, if it be compared with that of Luke, If thy brother sin against thee seven times a day: