A63200:29
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.
Wherefore (Beloved Brethren) if since your coming into New England, upon serious Review of former actions you have discovered any truths heretofore not taken notice of, we shall be so far from rejecting them because of your former judgment and practice, that we shall heartily desire to know and embrace the same with you, and bless God for you as the happy instruments of his glory, our Instruction & the advancement of the truth. But if the discoveries be of the like nature with the positions mentioned in the Letter; as before, so still, we conceive them to be new opinions, and not warranted by Scripture, which is the true Antiquity.
Wherefore (Beloved Brethren) if since your comming into New England, upon serious Review of former actions you have discovered any truths heretofore not taken notice of, we shal be so far from rejecting them because of your former judgment and practice, that we shall heartily desire to know and imbrace the same with you, and blesse God for you as the happy instruments of his glory, our Instruction & the advancement of the truth. But if the discoveries be of the like nature with the positions mentioned in the Letter; as before, so still, we conceive them to be new opinions, and not warranted by Scripture, which is the true Antiquity.
Opinions we say, not practices, for not changing your opinion, you might lawfully alter your practice; nay, what you did tolerate formerly as a burden, in case ⟨image 6⟩not free, you might well forgo being at your liberty. Your judgement being the same, you might use your liberty in forbearance of a set Liturgy, and yet retain the same judgement of a stinted Liturgy, that you had before; you might forbear for a time upon special Reason (such as present state and occasion might suggest) to receive to the Sacrament approved Christians, not set members of a particular Congregation; as some Brethren do) who yet dare not think it unlawful to communicate with such in the act of worship, or deem it just and right altogether to debar them, as having no right nor title to those privileges of this Church. It is your opinions whereto we had respect not simply your practice. It never entered into us to persuade you to a set Liturgy, much less to complain that you had not accepted ours. But that all stinted Liturgies should be condemned as devised worship, and so condemned as that none may lawfully be present at, or partake of the Sacraments administered in a stinted or devised form, this we called a new opinion.