A02990:319
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 sometimes put for believers,1 few or many; But to the making up of a visible distinct society or congregation properly so called, or body political, furnished with the power of Christ for government, and the exercise of all religious duties and ordinances of worship, a competent number is requisite and necessary. At first Adam and Eve were the church, when there were none other persons in the world, and might perform all the officers of a church at that time required of them: But two or three are no sufficient number to make up that society which now we speak of. There is a twofold church,2 as the society of Christians is twofold;3 public, or private. The private society may be in one family, though small: The public society is a convenient number of such as do in one uniform agreed course of outward joint worship of God profess that righteousness which is by the faith of Jesus Christ.4 The number of men worshipping God aright is a church,5 be it few or many:6 be it few or many: but two or three cannot make up an entire society, consisting of all its parts, fitted to the execution of all substantial offices pertaining to the body or corporation. A competent and fit number there must be to make up this body; but no precise number is or can be determined: it may be more or less according to the circumstances of time, place, and other occurrences. Therefore for our direction in this case it is good to look at their pattern who first planted ⟨p. 260⟩the churches of God, according to the wisdom of God, and by the direction of his Spirit. And to begin with the Apostles, because we speak of Christian churches, first by comparing passages of holy scripture together we shall find,7 that to ordain elders city by city,