A93091:119
A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…
A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible church. In answer to the reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball. By Thomas Shepherd, sometimes fellow of Emanuel-College in Cambridge, and late pastor of Cambridge in New-England.A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible church. In answer to the reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball. By Thomas Shephard, sometimes fellow of Emanuel-Colledge in Cambridge, and late pastour of Cambridge in New-England.
London: printed by E. Cotes for Andrew Crooke, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1 That letter acknowledgeth no such distinction of separation, rigid, and moderate, only (if you will) a separation from Churches, and separation from the sins and corruptions of Churches, which latter is all we profess.
1 That letter acknowledgeth no such distinction of separation, rigid, and moderate, onely (if you will) a separation from Churches, and separation from the sins and corruptions of Churches, which latter is all we professe.
2 Those Reasons which the letter ascribes to them, qua tales, will we suppose be found in their Books thus far, that the Prayers, Preachings, Sacraments, &c. are unlawful, because offered in a false Church by a false Ministry for the subjects of Antichrists kingdom.
2 Those Reasons which the letter ascribes to them, qua tales, will wee suppose bee found in their Books thus farre, that the Prayers, Preachings, Sacraments, &c. are unlawfull, because offered in a false Church by a false Ministery for the subjects of Antichrists kingdome.
That there should be no Separatists in the world, because none, it is said none, plead against the Book of Common-prayer as unlawful, because offered up in a false Church; is strange to us, that this learned Author should not read or observe the same, exceeding frequently in the Separatists writings; take but a taste in the first pages of Mr. Smith against Bernard in his parallels, censures, and observations, his words pag. 9. are these, He would prove that an erroneous constitution of a Church, is a real Idol; and the prayers they offer with the prayers of the wicked, coming from that false constitution, are tainted with the Idolatry of that constitution. And pag. 10. It is Idolatry to offer up service to God in a Church of a false constitution. And pag. 13. Tell me Mr. Bernard, can there be a true Ministry, true baptism, true faith, true prayer, true preaching and administering the supper, true excommunication, in a Church which is falsely constituted? Did the Lord accept the sacrifice of the Church constituted by Jeroboam? so page 14. A Church falsely constituted, is not accepted of God, neither are their actions ecclesiastical, as prayer, preaching, &c. acceptable in the sight of God. And again, a false Ministry, Worship, government, may be in a true Church, through ignorance, and the like: but a true Ministry, worship, government cannot possibly be in a false Church. We think it needless to recite more testimonies; Aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus, A good memory may sometimes fall asleep, and not see that, which is sometimes most obvious and visible. But what other arguments they have, are, or may be common to others studious of Reformation, as their arguments against ceremonies are common with Non-conformists, and therefore if some of our grounds be found in them, it doth not follow, they are shafts taken out of the same quiver, and peculiar to them, as you object.