A63200:253
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.
This Answer stands of many parts, wherein things doubtful are affirmed, and that which more weakeneth the force of the consideration before alleged, and the Answer it self, then of the reason whereunto it is applied. For
THis Answer stands of many parts, wherein things doubtfull are affirmed, and that which more weakeneth the force of the consideration before alledged, and the Answer it selfe, then of the reason whereunto it is applyed. For
First, If where the holy Ghost is given and received, and where faith is professed according to Gods ordinance, there none may hinder them from being baptized, viz. by such as have power to baptize them: Then either men that have received the holy Ghost, and profess the faith, be members of the Church, or Baptism is not a privilege of the Church, then it is not essential to the first Institution of Baptism, that it should be dispensed to none but such as were entered into Church-fellowship, or were set members of a congregational Assembly. Then the Apostles in dispensing the Seals unto such, or commanding them to be dispensed, did walk according to the rules of Scripture, and upon grounds common to them and us, viz. they admitted them unto the Sacraments who had right and interest to them, according to the mind and pleasure of the Institutor, not extraordinarily revealed, besides the common rules, or by special dispensation and prerogative excepted from the common rule, but made known in the Institution it self. And then the difficulty remaining is only this, whether a Pastor or Teacher hath authority from Christ to dispense the Seals of the Covenant to one who hath right and title to them, and doth orderly desire that benefit because he is not as yet received as a set member of that particular society which your practise in admitting of set members of other Congregations unto the Seals doth manifestly convince. For if both have equal interest unto the Seals, the Pastor upon lawful suite and request hath equal authority to receive the one as well as the other.