A63200:145
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.
5 If it be granted that the seals are the prerogative of a particular visible Church, known and approved Christians among us, and their seed are members of true and visible Churches, and so to be esteemed among you before they be entered into Church membership as you call it. For every society professing the entire and true faith,1 and joining together in the right use of the Sacraments in matters substantial is the true Church of God, and every visible believer receiving the word and professing, the true entire faith, admitted to the right and lawful participation of the Sacraments is a visible member of the true Church, if he have neither renounced that society, nor deserved justly to be cast out by excommunication or Church censure. For the entire profession of the truth, the dwelling of the truth among men, the right use of the Sacraments (which is ever joined with truth of Doctrine, and to be esteemed by it) is proper to them that be in covenant with God. And they that truly partake of the Seals must needs be of a Church, for the seals are not without but within the Church an ordinance given unto it, and if they be true members of the true Churches of Jesus Christ, other Churches, are bound to hold communion with them in the ordinance of worship as divine providence shall minister occasion.
5 If it be granted that the seales are the prerogative of a particular visible Church, known and approved Christians among us, and their seed are members of true and visible Churches, and so to be esteemed among you before they be entred into Church membership as you call it. For every society professing the intire and true faith,1 and joyning together in the right use of the Sacraments in matters substantiall is the true Church of God, and every visible beleever receiving the word and professing, the true intire faith, admitted to the right and lawfull participation of the Sacraments is a visible member of the true Church, if he have neither renounced that society, nor deserved justly to be cast out by excommunication or Church censure. For the intire profession of the truth, the dwelling of the truth among men, the right use of the Sacraments (which is ever joyned with truth of Doctrine, and to be esteemed by it) is proper to them that be in covenant with God. And they that truly partake of the Seales must needes be of a Church, for the seales are not without but within the Church an ordinance given unto it, and if they be true members of the true Churches of Jesus Christ, other Churches, are bound to hold communion with them in the ordinance of worship as divine providence shall minister occasion.