A63200:111
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.
Fourthly, Put case the Minister in reading such prayers gives offence, or attributes unlawful honour to a thing abused to Idolatry and Superstition, or suffer himself to be sinfully limited in the reading of them, what is that to the faithful? This can be no just ground of the peoples not joining with them in the worship of God, for that offence is personal only, and not the sin of them that be present, they join in prayer only, and not in his reading or limiting himself. Not to say that every particular person must be herein both accuser and Judge. If he give offence must they stumble at the stone, and separate from the ordinance of grace? we should rather think it is their duty to look unto their feet, that they go not awry. Let it be showed out of the Word of God, that either the Minister is guilty of giving unlawful honour, or that the people may lawfully withdraw themselves in case he should do so, and we will then say as you do, but until that be proved, (being pressed and called to proffer our judgements) we believe that separation is scandalous and sinful, never taught of God, nor confirmed by the approved example of the godly in any age or time of the Church:1 yea, against the positive Law of God, injurious to the Churches distracting Christians, bringing contempt upon the Ordinances of God, and defrauding believers of the spiritual food of their souls, which is indeed to infringe their Christian liberty, and what ever may be thought of it now, in former times it hath been accounted no small offence.
Fourthly, Put case the Minister in reading such prayers gives offence, or attributes unlawfull honour to a thing abused to Idolatry and Superstition, or suffer himself to be sinfully limited in the reading of them, what is that to the faithfull? This can be no just ground of the peoples not joyning with them in the worship of God, for that offence is personall onely, and not the sin of them that be present, they joyn in prayer onely, and not in his reading or limiting himself. Not to say that every particular person must be herein both accuser and Judge. If he give offence must they stumble at the stone, and separate from the ordinance of grace? wee should rather think it is their duty to look unto their feet, that they goe not awry. Let it be shewed out of the Word of God, that either the Minister is guilty of giving unlawfull honour, or that the people may lawfully withdraw themselves in case he should do so, and we will then say as you do, but untill that be proved, (being pressed and called to proffer our judgements) we believe that separation is scandalous and sinfull, never taught of God, nor confirmed by the approved example of the godly in any age or time of the Church: