A63200:149
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.
The Christian Church at Jerusalem was one and distinct,1 but it grew and increased first to 3000. then to 5000. afterwards multitudes of men and women were added, and the multitude of Disciples increased; it is also noted that a company of the Priests received the faith. The Syriac hath it of the Jews, (scil.) inhabiting Judea, but the Greek, Arabian, vulgar, Chrysostoms & Ethiopians approve the former, and the number of the Priests was not small:2 there is mention also of millions of believers. And when all the Apostles, or the greatest part of them remained at Jerusalem for a time continuing in the ministry of the word and prayer,3 and that they might do it the more earnestly and diligently, left the care of the poor to others: how can we think but that Church did grow exceedingly, and the number of believers there to be more then could fitly meet ordinarily in one congregation. Without question the number of believers in Antioch was not small, of which it is said expressly, that a great number believed, turned to the Lord and that a great multitude was added to the Lord by the preaching of Barnabas, and that Paul and Barnabas continued there one whole year preaching the word of God,4 and teaching the multitude, so that the Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. 5After that this Church was visited by Paul ⟨p. 27⟩and Barnabas, 6who continued there teaching and preaching the Word of God with many others also, and may we not think that this Church did quickly rise to such bigness that they could not well assemble in one congregation as now we call them?
The Christian Church at Ierusalem was one and distinct,1