A63200:176
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 was not their office proper and essential to travail from Country to Country as did the Apostles, nor were they pastors of the Infidels,1 but by private instruction and public teaching (if any of them would be penitent) they were to labour the coming of them to God. And these Infidels converted to the faith were to be baptised of the Elders ordinarily in those Cities, though the number might be so great as they could not well meet in one Congregation, nor be subject to the same Pastor; for either they must be baptized by the pastors among whom they lived, (being converted to the faith) or continue unbaptized until they were a number convenient to make a distinct society, or grow together into one body, and to elect and choose their own Minister by whom they may be baptised: But that either they must stay so long without baptism, or that a society of unbaptized men had power in those times to elect and choose their Minister, by whom they should be baptised is contrary to all presidents in Scripture.
It was not their office proper and essentiall to travail from Countrey to Countrey as did the Apostles, nor were they pastors of the Infidels,1 but by private instruction and publique teaching (if any of them would bee penitent) they were to labour the comming of them to God. And these Infidels converted to the faith were to be baptised of the Elders ordinarily in those Cities, though the number might bee so great as they could not well meete in one Congregation, nor be subject to the same Pastor; for either they must bee baptized by the pastors among whom they lived, (being converted to the faith) or continue unbaptized untill they were a number convenient to make a distinct society, or grow together into one body, and to elect and choose their own Minister by whom they may be baptised: But that either they must stay so long without baptisme, or that a society of unbaptised men had power in those times to elect and choose their Minister, by whom they should be baptised is contary to all presidents in Scripture.
- 1Jam 5. 19, 20. Act. 4. 16. 40 & 9 38. & 10. 5. & 11 19. 21