A02990:328
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.
it cannot be that the community of the faithful in any particular society should be understood by the church, seeing Christ the Lord of the church hath not communicated power to them to do such things themselves, nor to deliver it over to the governors to have such things done in their name, but hath immediately given power to his officers and ministers to do such acts or service in his name for the good and benefit of the society, and as it may stand with respect to the honour, and estate which Christ hath put upon the society, as his flock and people.
it cannot be that the community of the faithfull in any particular society should be understood by the church, seeing Christ the Lord of the church hath not communicated power to them to do such things themselves, nor to deliver it over to the governours to have such things done in their name, but hath immediately given power to his officers and ministers to do such acts or service in his name for the good and benefit of the society, and as it may stand with respect to the honour, and estate which Christ hath put upon the society, as his flock and people.
Two scriptures are so plain,1 clear, evident, and perspicuous for excommunication,2 the former Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. for the order and degrees of proceeding, the other 1. Cor. 5. 4. for the persons interested in the business, as that to bring in other scriptures for the expounding of them, is in truth as needless and lost a labour as to light the sun and moon a candle. They among whom the fornication was, out of the midst of whom he was to be put, and which were puffed up when they had rather cause of sorrowing, to them the Apostle writeth, them he reproveth, they were to be gathered together for the excommunicating, purging out and judging of the offender, vers. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And therefore the duty here enjoined