A02990:290
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.
Power, 1might, or efficacious force is not all one with authority or power. Matter, Sense, Understanding, Will, are called faculties or power: Magistracy, Principalities, Governments we call powers or authorities: which import not only might or power to an action, but preeminence, jurisdiction, authority and government. Ecclesiastical power or administration of government is twofold: proper to Christ, and communicated to his church. The proper government is that which Christ hath reserved only to himself, as not being shut up within any bounds of laws or orders revealed unto the creature, but is executed according ⟨p. 232⟩to his infinite wisdom,2 by the secret hand of his Divine power, and that both extraordinarily and ordinarily: And this power is Lordly and Regal, power absolute and of excellency, which is called Power of right. Communicated government is that which being limited within the compass of certain laws and canons of his holy word, he hath committed to be outwardly executed by the hand of his ministers and churches designed and appointed thereunto: This power is ministerial only, which consisteth in the outward using of the word,3 sacraments, &c. and in the political guiding of the church,4 concerning both the manners and necessities of all and every of them.5 Though this latter part only of the communicated government, which is the political guiding of the church, is that discipline which generally all ecclesiastical writers speak of, yet is not that all nor the principal of his authority. And though Christ useth it many times as a chariot for his holy word to ride upon, to subdue rebellious spirits,6 yet it is neither the chief nor the most ordinary means:7 but the simple preaching of the word is his continual sword and sceptre,