A02990:309
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.
The church is a Queen,1 a Mother, a Lady, a Spouse, and to whom should Christ first commit his power but to his Queen?2 we know well the church is the wife and spouse of Christ, and the Ministers stewards. Cant. 8. 9. Ephes. 5. 29, 30, 32. 1. Cor. 4. 1.
- 1Object. 6.
- 2Robins. Against Bern. Pag. •23. & 133.
To let pass,1 that this title of Spouse or Queen may be applied to one believer as well as two or three; and that the guides and officers are known by those titles and relations as well as believers not in office. Considering this power is not a Lordly power, but a power of doing service to the church for Christ his sake, and his kingdom: therefore it is fit it should be committed to some persons, and not to the whole community, which is the Queen of Christ. For Christ the King of his church hath not committed power to his ⟨p. 251⟩Church or Queen to serve her self properly; but to have persons, who in this relation should stand distinguished from her, who are in his name to do her service. The power of priesthood was not first in the church of Israel, and so derived to the priests; but immediately from Christ seated in Aaron and his sons. The community of the faithful have neither the power of government, nor the use of that power. Not the power: for it is immediately from Christ seated in such officers or principal members as Christ himself the King of his church shall authorize, and not in the body considered apart from the officers. Nor the use of that power; because that cannot be enjoyed without officers. And if it may stand with the honour of the church to want the exercise or dispensation of that power or authority, it derogateth nothing from the prerogative of the faithful to want the power it self. For it is as much for the welfare and good of the church, that Christ out of respect to his Spouse hath given her commandment, as his steward, to elect and choose officers according to his appointment who should receive power and authority from him for such and such offices and services in the church, as that he should seat the power it self in a few or many believers, to be derived from them unto others according to pleasure. For though their authority and power be from Christ and not from the church, yet the service and authority is for the church in the name of Christ: and in that sense they are subject to the church.