A63200:222
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.
IF it be repugnant to Divine Institution to admit of approved Christians lawfully baptized, walking in the faith, members of the visible Churches, and partakers of Church privileges among us to the Lords Supper,1 or their children to baptism, because they be not entered into Church fellowship according to your order, then it is unlawful though no such evil consequences are to be feared.
IF it be repugnant to Divine Institution to admit of approved Christians lawfully baptized, walking in the faith, members of the visible Churches, and partakers of Church priviledges among us to the Lords Supper,1 or their children to baptisme, because they be not entred into Church fellowship according to your order, then it is unlawfull though no such evill consequences are to be feared.
- 1What though this inconvenience do arise sometimes through mans corruption it should be otherwise; and we must ever consider of the nature of Gods ordinances in their right use, &c. Rob. against Ber. pa. 213.
But if by accident some abuse should fall out, the evil is to be prevented by all lawful means:1 but the faithful are not utterly to be debarred of the order of God, whereto they have right and title by his free grant and gracious invitation. And no question but the seals of the Covenant may be profaned many times when it is not in the power of the dispensers to put back or expel such as profane them. If the Congregation shall admit of, or tolerate an unworthy member, the Churches privileges are profaned; and yet we ⟨p. 51⟩conceive you will say the Pastor is not faulty in receiving him, when the Church doth tolerate unworthily, if he do what pertaineth to his office to keep the holy things of God from contempt. But in the case propounded there is no fear or danger of such consequences necessary to follow: for the question is not of all sorts at random,