A02990:279
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.
And therefore if a man committed a sin, whether of ignorance or otherwise, for which he was not to die without pardon, he was to be told and admonished of his offence,1 and to manifest his repentance:2 But the obstinate and presumptuous were to be cut off.3 So that the godly amongst the Jews were first to admonish the transgressor, and if he did not repent, then to proceed further, according to the Lords ordinance. But now suppose the guides temporal or ecclesiastical, to whom the matter must be brought, be so corrupt that they would countenance the offender, punish the complainant, establish the disorder rather then redress or amend it, in this case what should the innocent do? must he complain to his undoing, or leave his standing in the church as unlawful, because he cannot do the duties which God calleth for at his hands?4 The shepherds of the church of the Jews were many times blind,5 wicked,6 vain persons,7 such as Christ calleth thieves, robbers, hirelings. The scribes and Pharisees, what were they but blind guides,8 corrupt teachers, who caused the people to err: If the disciples or faithful had sought to them for reformation of abuses, or redress of offences, what could have ⟨p. 222⟩been expected? If by the church we understand either the guides and governors, or the whole society and faithful: we know the guides of the church are many times remiss, idle, partial, corrupt. 9The Corinthian Pastors built hay and stubble upon the foundation which Paul had laid: amongst them were false Apostles, deceitful workers,