A02990:362
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.
The church-ministry,1 in respect of the main and substantial duties belonging thereunto, doth pertain to the second commandment in part, not wholly or only: but in respect of things circumstantial annexed to the ministry, it belongeth not to the second commandment. And if we consult scripture, that is a new or devised ministry which for substance of the office is not of God, be the outward calling never so orderly or legal; and that ministry is not new or devised which for the substance of the office is of God, though the entrance was disordered in the person administering ⟨p. 308⟩many things be amiss, and in the execution many defects or superfluities. If a minister orderly chosen and ordained shall preach false and corrupt doctrine in points fundamental, or administer false sacraments, his ministry is new, devised, false, notwithstanding his lawful entrance. If a minister enter unlawfully, either by the tumult of the people, partiality of the overseers, or corruption of patrons, if he preach Christ crucified soundly, and rightly administer the sacraments, his ministry is true and of God, though his entrance be of men. If a minister preach sound doctrine in the main, though mixed with some errors, and administer the holy sacraments, though with some superstitious rites, his ministry is not to be esteemed new or devised for these weaknesses. If some things humane be mixed with Divine, a sound Christian must separate the one from the other, and not cast away what is of God, as a nullity, fruitless, unprofitable, defiled, because somewhat of men is annexed unto them. In the body we can distinguish betwixt the substance and the sickness which cleaveth unto it; betwixt the substance of a part and member, and some bunch or swelling, which is a deformity, but destroyeth not the nature of that part or member. Which of the prophets doth not cry out against the pride, oppression, covetousness, tyranny of the priests in the time of the law? Their offices were bought and sold; they themselves despised knowledge, opposed the prophets of the Lord, strengthened the hands of the wicked, and were enemies to all ⟨p. 309⟩piety, and yet their ministry was not false and devised for the main substance of it.2 It is objected by the rigidest Separatists, with great confidence, That to communicate in a false ministry, is certainly a breach of the second commandment.