A63200:150
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.
It will easily be credited that the number of believers was not small at Ephesus, if we call to mind that when Paul had been there but two years, all they that dwelt in Asia had heard the word of the Lord both Jews and Grecians, 1that a great door and effectual was opened to him at Ephesus, 2That the art for making Shrines, and Diana's Temple was in danger to be set at nought, and that those that had used curious arts, came and burnt their books in the sight of all men, which could not be done without great danger unto the Church, unless a great part of the City had believed. Where a Church did comprehend a City with its Suburbs and the Country circumjacent, i. e. the believers who professed the faith within that circuit. It might well be that the number did so increase through the extraordinary blessing of God, which accompanied the preaching of the word in those primitive times, and first planting of the heavenly Kingdom, that they could not well meet ordinarily in one place, and yet continued one Society. For when a number is gathered in small Villages, or some added to the number already gathered, it is not meet they should be neglected because small, nor divided from the body, because the number not competent to make an entire and perfect body of it self. The increase of the Churches doth require an increase of Elders, and (if they grow to bigness more then ordinary) an increase of places for their assembling, when the essence of the visible Church is not changed, nor one multiplied or divided into many. And it is more available for the good of the Church, and further removed from all ambition, if the Society shall assemble occasionally in divers places as parts and members of the body, then to constitute a distinct free Society consisting of a few Believers, not fit to make up an entire body contrary to the precedent examples of the Apostles. In times of grievous and hot persecution the Churches of God could not assemble in any great number in public places, but have been compelled to meet in Woods, Caves, Dens, and dark corners, as the Lord hath offered opportunity, one and the same Society in sundry places: So that either it is not essential to the Church to meet together in one place ordinarily, or their Society is broken off by persecution, when their meeting together in one place is interrupted.
It will easily be credited that the number of believers was not small at Ephesus, if we call to minde that when Paul had been there but two yeers, all they that dwelt in Asia had heard the word of the Lord both Iews and Grecians,