A63200:104
A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…
A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that learned and godly minister of Christ, John Ball of Whitmore ; penned a little before his death and sent over to the New England ministers, anno 1637, as a reply to an answer of theirs in justification of the said positions ... ; now published ... by William Rathband and Simeon Ash.A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that learned and godly minister of Christ, John Ball of Whitmore ; penned a little before his death and sent over to the New England ministers, anno 1637, as a reply to an answer of theirs in justification of the said positions ... ; now published ... by William Rathband and Simeon Ash.
London: printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons for Thomas Underhill, 1644
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.
A Church, a Minister, or a Christian may be stiff in an error (being mispersuaded it is a truth) after many means long used to convince them, with whom yet we must hold communion in the ordinances of Religion: and the error may be such as we cannot without hypocrisy or denial of the truth hold communion, though such means of conviction have not gone before. But the corruptions alleged against our form of prayer for matter or manner, are such as one Christian may and must tolerate in another where he hath no power to redress them.
A Church, a Minister, or a Christian may be stiffe in an error (being misperswaded it is a truth) after many meanes long used to convince them, with whom yet we must hold communion in the ordinances of Religion: and the error may be such as we cannot without hypocrisy or denyall of the truth hold communion, though such meanes of conviction have not gone before. But the corruptions alleadged against our forme of prayer for matter or manner, are such as one Christian may and must tolerate in another where he hath no power to redresse them.
Hath not Christian wisdom and experience of humane frailties lessoned you (deer brethren) to bear one with another in matters of greater consequence then any have or can be objected truly against the form of prayer in use among us? And why such corruptions should not be ascribed to humane frailty; we see not: For if a godly Minister make use of a book in things which he judgeth lawful for matter and manner, the corruption in him that useth it according to his judgement, from what cause can it spring but humane ignorance and frailty? We rest assured you question not the integrity of many, who make much more use of the book then only in a few select prayers. From the bottom of our hearts we desire and pray that God would remove out of his Church and worship whatsoever offendeth for matter or manner, and that all things may be so done, not only that they may be tolerated but that they might be approved in the conscience of all men. But we are persuaded that not only some few select prayers but many prayers & other exhortations may lawfully be used,1 with fruit and edification to Gods people.