A02990:333
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.
That virtue or efficacious power by which he is with his church to the end of the world,1 and promiseth to be in the midst of two or three that should be so gathered together in his name.2 And Paul encourageth the Corinthians to minister the discipline of excommunication upon the incestuous man, arming them thereunto by the mighty presence of Christ, by which it should be made effectual. Or if by the power of Christ we understand both that which is proper to Christ and that which is communicated to his officers for the good and benefit of the church (which is less probable) yet there is no syllable, that this power is given immediately to the whole community, and from them derived to the officers; much less, that it is given originally and executivè both to a small company of believers without officers. For the Apostle speaketh not of the power but of the execution of that power which God hath given, and that by a church completely ⟨p. 278⟩furnished with officers for that purpose. The principal cause of that casting forth was the power, that is, the commandment and authority, of Christ, who is the author of ecclesiastical power; the near cause, the commandment of the Apostle, Let him be delivered to Satan; the next cause, the authority of the governors to whom Christ hath committed the care of his flock. But as the authority of Christ doth not take away the judgement of the Apostle, nor the judgement of the Apostle the authority of the governors, no more doth the authority of the governors the due regard and respect which must be had of the people in the execution of that dreadful sentence. To this purpose is the distinction of a twofold excommunication or power of the keys used by Divines: The first concionalis, per modum doctrinae, which is the first part of the power of the keys; and so the pastor alone may excommunicate the impenitent according to the commandment of Christ: The second judicialis, per modum sententiae, which is not in the power of every pastor, but of the church, sc. of the rulers or officers in respect of authority derived, but to be exercised with due regard had to the community, as the flock and sheep of Christ.3 When the Apostle writeth to the Corinthians in behalf of the incestuous person, to confirm their love towards him, he