A63200:26
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.
Reverend and dearly beloved Brethren,
Reverend and dearely beloved Brethren,
IT is not to be doubted but while we live here, we shall have just cause to search and try our ways, look back upon former courses, and call things done to more strict examination. For being over-clouded with ignorance, compassed about with infirmities,1 and beset with many temptations to sin, knowing what we know best, but darkly and in part, no marvel, if in many things we offend ignorantly, of frailty for want of due consideration, rashly mistaking Error for Truth, condemning Truth for Error, suspecting evil without cause, and not suspecting where is just reason, drawing erroneous conclusions from sound principles, and maintaining truths upon weak grounds; so that in examination of our ways, and endeavours of their Reformation we had need to look warily, that we turn not to the right hand or to the left, for in the one we add to the Word of God, as well as in the other, and of our selves are apt to strike aside to both. A loose conscience will be profane, a tender, scrupulous. It stands us therefore upon to have our selves in suspicion, in as much as experience teacheth that many have swerved from the path of found peace and comfort on each hand.
IT is not to be doubted but while we live here, we shall have just cause to search and try our ways, look back upon former courses, and call things done to more strict examination. For being over-clouded with ignorance, compassed about with infirmities,1 and beset with many temptations to sinne, knowing what we know best, but darkly and in part, no marvell, if in many things we offend ignorantly, of frailty for want of due consideration, rashly mistaking Errour for Truth, condemning Truth for Errour, suspecting evill without cause, and not suspecting where is just reason, drawing erronious conclusions from sound principles, and maintaining truths upon weak grounds; so that in examination of our wayes, and endevours of their Reformation wee had need to looke warily, that wee turn not to the right hand or to the left, for in the one we add to the Word of God, as well as in the other, and of our selves are apt to strike aside to both. A loose conscience will be profane, a tender, scrupulous. It stands us therefore upon to have our selves in suspition, in as much as experience teacheth that many have swerved from the path of found peace and comfort on each hand.