A63200:206
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.
1. It hath, and may fall out many times through the ignorance, rashness, or pride of a prevailing faction in the Church, that the true members of the Catholic Church, and the best members of the orthodox visible flock, or congregation of Christ may be no members of any distinct visible society. And shall their posterity be esteemed Aliens and Strangers from the Covenant, and debarred from the Sacraments, because their parents are unjustly separated from the inheritance of the Lord? Surely as parents unjustly excommunicated do continue still not only true members of the invisible body, but visible members of the flock of Christ: so the right of Baptism doth belong to the Infants of such parents, though not actual and constant members of this or that present assembly in Church order.
1. It hath, and may fall out many times through the ignorance, rashnesse, or pride of a prevailing faction in the Church, that the true members of the Catholique Church, and the best members of the orthodox visible flock, or congregation of Christ may be no members of any distinct visible societie. And shall their posteritie be esteemed Aliens and Strangers from the Covenant, and debarred from the Sacraments, because their parents are unjustly seperated from the inheritance of the Lord? Surely as parents unjustly excommunicated do continue still not onely true members of the invisible body, but visible members of the flock of Christ: so the right of Baptisme doth belong to the Infants of such parents, though not actuall and constant members of this or that present assembly in Church order.
2. If they be without, because no members of a politic body or spiritual fellowship: then all members which are of one society are without to another: For they that be not of the body are not capable of Church censures, or subject to the authority one of another. And so not being under the judgement of that particular Church to it they are without; whereas in ancient and modern times distinct Societies did communicate together, admit and receive each other as brethren, to testify their fellowship in the faith. If the reason whereupon the Apostle saith the Church of Corinth was not to judge them that were without, was because they were not within the Church of Corinth, and so not under their censure or judgement: this holds true of them that be of another society admitted to the Sacrament, as well as of such as be no set members desiring to be received to the Lords Supper.