A63200:217
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.
Answ. 5. Consideration.
WE may add hereunto for a fifth Consideration, the evil and pernicious consequences of extending communion in Church privileges beyond the bounds of Church fellowship: for thus, 1. The extraordinary office of the Apostles, and the ordinary office of Pastors and Teachers will be much confounded, if the latter be as illimited as the former in the execution of their office beyond the bounds of their own particular Churches. 2. The distinction of Church assemblies from the confused multitude is abrogated, if without ⟨p. 50⟩membership in a particular Church the parents may communicate with the Churches in the Lords Supper, and their seed in baptism. 3. The Church shall endanger the profaning of the seals, and want one special means whereby the grace and piety of men may be discerned and made known; for if without respect to their Church estate men of approved piety (as you say) are to be admitted to fellowship in the seals, how shall their piety be approved to the Church not by their own report of themselves alone without attestation of such as are approved by the Church; and how can such bear witness to their approved piety, who against light refuse to profess subjection to the Gospel of Christ by orderly joining themselves in fellowship with some approved Church of Christ as members thereof when they have opportunity thereunto, seeing such fellowship is an action of piety required of all believers in the second Commandment; and true piety frameth mens spirits to have respect to all Gods Commandments. And we have had much experience of it, that men of approved piety in the judgement of some have been found too light, not only in the judgement of others, but even of their own consciences, when they have come to trial in offering themselves to be members of Churches, with such a blessing hath God followed this order of taking hold of Church-Covenant by public profession of faith and repentance before men be admitted to the seals; but this means of discovery of mens piety and sincerity would be utterly lost, if men should be admitted unto the Lords table without entering in Church-fellowship.