A63200:200
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.
Reply.
First, men are capable of Church censures in two respects, either in having the power of the keys, and authority to dispense them according to God, or as subject to the censures of the Church. In the first sense, many are capable of Church privileges that are not capable of Church censures, as the seed of Christian parents, children and women. You say you admit to the seals the known ⟨p. 46⟩and approved, and orderly recommended members of any true Church: but to fellowship in the censures, admittance of members, and choice of Officers only, the members of that particular Church whereof they and we (any of us) stand members. In the second sense also many are capable of Church privileges who are not subject to Church censures: as the children of Christian parents are capable of baptism, the known and approved members of any true Church are capable of the Seals in other Congregations among you who are not subject to the censures of that other Society. Spiritual communion in public prayer is a Church privilege, which is not denied to visible believers and godly persons, though not in Church order, and so not in subjection in your sense to Church censures.
FIrst, men are capable of Church censures in two respects, either in having the power of the keyes, and authoritie to dispense them according to God, or as subject to the censures of the Church. In the first sense, many are capable of Church priviledges that are not capable of Church censures, as the seed of Christian parents, children and women. You say you admit to the seales the knowne ⟨p. 46⟩and approved, and orderly recommended members of any true Church: but to fellowship in the censures, admittance of members, and choice of Officers onely, the members of that particular Church whereof they and we (any of us) stand members. In the second sense also many are capable of Church priviledges who are not subject to Church censures: as the children of Christian parents are capable of baptisme, the known and approved members of any true Church are capable of the Seales in other Congregations among you who are not subject to the censures of that other Society. Spirituall communion in publick prayer is a Church priviledge, which is not denied to visible beleevers and godly persons, though not in Church order, and so not in subjection in your sense to Church censures.