A02990:348
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
Chapter 13: An examination of sundry positions laid down by Mr Jacob in his Exposition of the secon…
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 Christ, the prince of his people, is in the middest of them,1 and goeth in when they go in. And for certain, they are gathered in the name of Christ, who being lawfully called do assemble to worship God and call upon his name in the mediation of Jesus Christ. In times past the church was acknowledged by these signs; of continuance in the apostles doctrine and fellowship,2 and breaking of bread,3 and prayer, of true fear, entire service,4 holy profession, and religious prayer. The weightiest matter therefore in religion that concerneth a Christian, is to know God and Christ, to repent heartily and believe unfeignedly, which is ever accompanied with holiness of conversation, if God give time and opportunity: because without these there is no salvation to men of age and discretion. It is a matter of weight and importance also, to know where and how God is to be worshipped, and the right use of his ordinances, as of prayer, and the sacraments; because otherwise we cannot know how to join our selves in holy communion with the people of God in the ordinances of worship, which is a necessary duty if God give opportunity. ⟨p. 291⟩But to know the external order or constitution of a particular, ministerial, political church, is not a matter of weight or importance, to be matched with either of the former. And if Mr Jacob comprehend all these things under the name of the church, his speech is false, deceitful, and confused, because he distinguisheth not things that be of different kinds. If the latter, it is most inconsiderately spoken and weakly proved. For out of the catholic invisible church or society there is no salvation; but out of a particular, visible, ministerial church salvation is to be had. Internal society with the members of Christ, and communion with Christ himself which is invisible, is necessary; external not so. Christ is the Saviour of his body, and saved he cannot be by Christ that is not a live-member of his body. Noah's ark builded by Gods appointment for the safety of all such as were obedient to his preaching, was a type and figure of this only holy catholic church, not of a visible, particular, ministerial church: for as none of the sons of men besides such as entered into Noah's ark were saved from the deluge,