A93091:122
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.
Reply. Th•se reasons shall be common to all, that plead for the purity of Gods Ordinances, which were never taken to be sound and true, either by the Reformed Churches abroad, or by the godly Brethren at home, dead or living, or yet by the most of the Brethren amongst whom they live, and hold society, or by any Minister and society holding the unity of the ⟨p. 43⟩Spirit in the bond of peace, these 1400. years and upward, unless within these few days, and that by a few only.
Reply. Th•se reasons shall be common to all, that plead for the purity of Gods Ordinances, which were never taken to bee sound and true, either by the Reformed Churches abroad, or by the godly Brethren at home, dead or living, or yet by the most of the Brethren amongst whom they live, and hold society, or by any Minister and society holding the unity of the ⟨p. 43⟩Spirit in the bond of peace, these 1400. years and upward, unlesse within these few dayes, and that by a few onely.
Answ. Here is a great colour of Novelty and singularity objected to be in the grounds and reasons of the Letter, used against conformity to the Liturgy: but it is easy to conceive that the same common grounds of all Reformers, may be justly carried on against such further corruptions, as they never saw: not attending their own principles in such particulars, as was said before of the first Reformers, that purged out salt, cream, oil, &c. not the cross, &c. and so here it may fall out, that as the Lord is pleased to let in more light in this or that particular corruption; so upon common grounds it is rejected, though yet but one or few apply those grounds to such a particular case. Neither here was the number so few as is pretended, when this Reply was drawn up, or else at least, it is much increased of late time, since the Assembly and Parliament in England have so openly in their Directory witnessed against such stinted Forms, and generally the Churches of Scotland renounced that Liturgy of yours, as a piece of Popery. Besides all the Orthodox Churches in New-England, and Holland, and many godly in England.