A93091:126
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. Your judgement concerning the Position, you deliver in three Propositions (for so many they be for substance) in respect of the persons reading the Liturgy, or the thing it self that is read; as if any part of the Liturgy be read (put case some few select prayers only) by an unable and ungodly Minister, it is unlawful (say you) for the people to join in that case. But if unlawful for the people to join, when an ungodly Minister readeth some few select prayers, it is either in respect of the Minister, or the prayers themselves; not of the Prayers themselves, for they be select and choice, faultless, in respect of matter ⟨p. 44⟩and manner, as is taken for granted, unless this distribution be to no purpose; if in respect of the Minister, then it is not lawful to join with such an one, in any ordinance of God whatsoever.
Reply. Your judgement concerning the Position, you deliver in three Propositions (for so many they bee for substance) in respect of the persons reading the Liturgie, or the thing it selfe that is read; as if any part of the Liturgie be read (put case some few select prayers onely) by an unable and ungodly Minister, it is unlawfull (say you) for the people to joyne in that case. But if unlawfull for the people to joyne, when an ungodly Minister readeth some few select prayers, it is either in respect of the Minister, or the prayers themselves; not of the Prayers themselves, for they be select and choyce, faultlesse, in respect of matter ⟨p. 44⟩and manner, as is taken for granted, unlesse this distribution bee to no purpose; if in respect of the Minister, then it is not lawfull to joyne with such an one, in any ordinance of God whatsoever.
In that you analyse our two Propositions into three, we shall not contend, but follow your method, yet we cannot but marvel at the liberty that is taken in stating the first Proposition, both leaving out and adding such things as will not stand with the terms in our Answer; and indeed this is too frequent in divers places of this Reply, which gives a great colour of strength unto the arguments; but when they come to be scanned, it will discover the impertinency of them.