A63200:276
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.
Answer.
IF the Question had been,1 Whether the power of Excommunication lies in the body of the Congregation, consisting of officers and members; our Answer should be Affirmative, and according hereunto is also our practise, and we hope your judgement and ours are not different herein: But seeing the Question is, Whether it is so in the body of the Congregation, that what the Major part doth allow that must be done, though the Pastors and Governors, and the rest of the Assembly, do dissent upon more substantial reasons. Our Answer is Negative, viz. that the power of Excommunication is not sealed in the Congregation, neither ought it to be so in any of the Churches of the Lord Jesus, who ought not to carry matters by number of votes against God, as this Position implieth, but by strength of rule and reason according to God. The power of the Apostles was not to do things against the truth but for the truth, 2 Cor. 13. 8 and not for destruction, but for edification, 2 Cor. 10. 8. And the same may be said concerning the power which God hath given to the Church, and if any Church among us have swerved from the rule (which is more then we know) we do not allow them in such a practise, but should be ready as the Lord should help to convince them of their sin therein.
IF the Question had been,1 Whether the power of Excommunication lies in the body of the Congregation, consisting of officers and members; our Answer should be Affirmative, and according hereunto is also our practise, and wee hope your judgement and ours are not different herein: But seeing the Question is, Whether it is so in the body of the Congregation, that what the Major part doth allow that must be done, though the Pastors and Governors, and the rest of the Assembly, doe dissent upon more substantiall reasons. Our Answer is Negative, viz. that the power of Excommunication is not sealed in the Congregation, neither ought it to be so in any of the Churches of the Lord Jesus, who ought not to carry matters by number of votes against God, as this Position implyeth, but by strength of rule and reason according to God. The power of the Apostles was not to doe things against the truth but for the truth,