A63200:287
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.
3. If Ecclesiastical and spiritual power be in the multitude and ⟨p. 74⟩community of the faithful, the Church doth not only call, but make Officers out of power and virtue received into her self, and then should the Church have a true lordlike power in regard of her Ministers.
3. If Ecclesiasticall and spirituall power be in the multitude and ⟨p. 74⟩community of the faithfull, the Church doth not onely call, but make Officers out of power and vertue received into her selfe, and then should the Church have a true lordlike power in regard of her Ministers.
In the Church the Officers are the Ministers of the people, whose service the people is to use for administration and executing their judgements, that is, pronouncing the judgement of the Church (and of God first) against the obstinate. Rob. against Ber. p. 136. The Officers in the Church are both Christs and the peoples Servants and Ministers. Id. p. 165.
For as he that will derive authority to the Church maketh himself Lord of the Church: so if the Church derive authority to the Ministers of Christ, she maketh herself Lady and Mistress over them in the exercise of that authority over them. For all men know it is the property of the Lord and Master to impart authority. Did the Church give power and authority to the Pastors and Teachers, she might make the Sacraments and preaching which one doth in order no Sacraments, no preaching. For it is the order instituted of God that gives being and efficacy to these ordinances. And if the power of ruling, feeding, and dispensing the holy things of God, do reside in the faithful, the Word and Sacraments in respect of dispensation and efficacy shall depend upon the order and institution of the Society. If the power of the keys be derived from the community of the faithful, then are Officers immediately and formally servants to the Church, and must do every thing in the name of the Church, Rule, feed, bind, loose, remit and retain sins, preach and administer the Sacraments, then they must perform their Office according to the direction of the Church more or less,