A02990:349
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.
And so Noah's ark was a type of that church into which whosoever entereth he shall be saved. But this cannot be affirmed of the visible church.1 Peter speaking of the ark, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water, he saith, The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a ⟨p. 292⟩good conscience inwards: Gods) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His meaning is, that Noah ark was a type of that church out of which there is no salvation, in which there is most certain salvation; and the waters by which such as entered into the ark were saved, a type of baptism. But of what baptism? External? No: External baptism and the ark of Noah were types of the same rank, both types and signs of that internal baptism which is wrought by the holy Ghost, by which we are incorporated into the body of Christ, and become more undoubtedly safe from the everlasting fire then such as entered Noah's ark were from the deluge of water. If the ark which Noah built did save all such from the deluge as entered into it, how much more shall that holy and catholic church which Christ hath built and sanctified by his most precious blood, give eternal life to all such as in this world become live-members of it? Such members they are made, not by becoming members of the visible church, but by internal grace or sanctification. There is not the same reason of external and internal communion with the church. The inward is and was ever necessary, the external necessary when it may be enjoyed. Some may be of the church in respect of the profession, participation of the ordinances and other inferior privileges, who are not of the invisible church, that is, do not communicate in the most perfect work, force and effect of saving grace. And some that be not full members of the true, orthodox and visible ⟨p. 293⟩church, may notwithstanding be found and live, members of the mystical body of Jesus Christ. For all that truly believe are in the state of salvation; and all that be in the state of salvation be members of that church out of which no salvation is to be hoped for or can be obtained, which doth comprehend all the faithful and them that shall be saved. They are in act and in deed both in and of that church, and not in desire and wish only;