A63200:93
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.
Against this Prayer-book (saith he) divers have pleaded in a different manner. First some arguments are proper to the Separatists qua tales, viz. that it is offered in a false Church; 2. By a false minister; 3. In the behalf of the subjects of the Kingdom of Antichrist. These are properly theirs, being the grounds whereupon they make a total separation from all the Churches in this Land, as no Churches of Christ. These I approve not, yet note them that ye may see ⟨p. 9⟩upon what different grounds, the same Position is maintained by several persons, and that ye may be delivered from the prejudice, which hinders many from receiving those truths, because they fear the reproach of Brownism. Secondly, there are other grounds which are common to all that plead for the the purity of Christs ordinances, and which do not necessarily infer such separation, but only serve to show the unlawfulness of that practise, and our communicating therein.
Against this Prayer-booke (saith he) divers have pleaded in a different manner. First some arguments are proper to the Separatists qua tales, viz. that it is offered in a false Church; 2. By a false minister; 3. In the behalfe of the subjects of the Kingdome of Antichrist. These are properly theirs, being the grounds whereupon they make a totall separation from all the Churches in this Land, as no Churches of Christ. These I approve not, yet note them that yee may see ⟨p. 9⟩upon what different grounds, the same Position is maintained by severall persons, and that yee may be delivered from the prejudice, which hinders many from receiving those truths, because they feare the reproach of Brownisme. Secondly, there are other grounds which are common to all that plead for the the puritie of Christs ordinances, and which doe not necessarily inferre such separation, but only serve to shew the unlawfulnesse of that practise, and our communicating therein.
Thus the Epistle wherein the same distinction of separation is noted: but how truly, let the indifferent judge. If none must be counted Separatists, but such as have pleaded against the book of Common prayer as unlawful, because offered up in a false Church, &c. then are there none such in the world, that we have known or heard of: for it is apparent they cast us off as no Churches of Christ, because our Service is a humane devise, will-worship, Idolatry; And not on the contrary, that our Service is will-worship, or Idolatry, because our Churches are false Churches. Against all Communion with us they plead, because we are a false Church, but against our stinted Liturgy they argue not in that manner.