A02990:320
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.
Now though the Apostles framing the cities with their suburbs and territories into one church or society on the present occasion doth not exclude the constituting of any other society or congregation within the same local bounds,1 when the multitude of believers should be increased; yet it doth evidently confirm, that the number of believers requisite to the making up of a perfect or complete church in all parts and offices must not be small. The Apostles never comprehend the multitude of citizens unconverted to the profession of the faith under the name of the church; neither can it be imagined, that the whole multitude within those local circuits, united in civil society, was linked by any spiritual bond or tie: but the city had the reason of an ample continent, the church of a thing contained. Nevertheless the ⟨p. 261⟩blessing of God considered,2 which did extraordinarily accompany the labours of the Apostles, according to the prophesies foregoing touching the calling of the Gentiles, the number of believers, we may well think, within that circuit was very great. But if we take a view of particular churches, the matter will be more plain.3 The Christian church at Jerusalem was one distinct society, which did congregate upon occasion,4 and held communion in the ordinances of worship: But it grew and increased; first to three thousand, then to five thousand; afterward multitudes of men and women were added,5 and then it came to millions. 6It may be in this last number such believers are reckoned as had no fixed habitation in Jerusalem, 7but came thither upon occasion, and were there in transitu, and not as fixed members of this church: viz. such as came up by occasion of the Passover or Pentecost or other like feast, and were only there for the present. It may be the Apostles tolerated them, though more then could fitly meet together ordinarily in one congregation, because they foresaw such times to ensue, wherein many of them should translate themselves, and be dispersed hither and thither. It may be also, God let it grow more rank and abundant then ordinary churches, because it was ecclesia surcularis, many of whose branches were to be translated in their time. But whatsoever might be the reason of this great number, this is certain, the multitude was great: for after it was grown to five thousand, and multitudes of men and women