A63200:140
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.
This society is one in the inward fruition and enjoying of the benefits of Christs Death and Resurrection,1 and in outward profession of those things which supernaturally appertain to the very essence of the Church, and are necessarily required in every Christian, this acceptation of the word is not unusual in Scripture. As God hath set some in the Church. His bodies sake which is the Church. The Church viz. whereof Paul was made a Minister, and whereunto the rest of the Apostles were ordained,2 which was the Catholic visible Church, the society of men professing the faith of Christ throughout the world,3 divided into many particular Churches whereof some are pure,4 others impure, some more, others less sound. Hereunto it may be added, that every multitude and society of believers are indefinitely called the Church, I persecuted the Church of God. The house of God which is the Church of the living God.5 In which sense all the Churches in the world may truly be called one.6 And thus the Apostle Peter writing to many dispersed Churches,7 who could not assemble in one place nor be fed by one Shepherd,8 speaketh of them singularly as one flock.9 Feed the flock of God which is among you. But that flock are the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Asia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia, which could not possibly join together in the Ordinances of Worship,10 or make one distinct congregated assembly. ⟨p. 23⟩