A02990:294
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.
But if the power of ordinary ministers be in the church, and the power of ordinary teaching be given to every believer, all should be made Doctors, though not to continue so in exercising the power.1 God hath set some in the church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, &c. Teachers in respect of their function,2 office and jurisdiction are immediately from God, as well as the Apostles: and God hath set some only to be Teachers, not all. The steward is appointed of the master of the family alone, and hath all his authority and jurisdiction from him: but the ministers of the Gospel are the stewards whom he hath set over his house.3 The harvest is the Lords,4 and to him it belongeth to send forth labourers into the harvest.5 There be differences of ministries, 6but the same Lord. But if they have their order, office and authority from God immediately, they derive it not from the community of the faithful. Every ambassador in the cause of his embassage doth immediately depend upon him from whom he is sent, both with the incorrupt and indelible instrument of commandments or mandates: But the ministers ⟨p. 237⟩of the word are the ambassadors,7 not of men but of Christ:8 they are the ministers of Christ, as having received power, office and gifts from him, and not of the church, as if they derived their power from the faithful.9 The Pastors may be called the ministers of the church,