A93091:138
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.
Answ. To this we answer; First, that if you speak to the case in hand of those unable and ungodly Ministers of England, Readers (as they are called) of the Common-service, we grant it is not lawful to communicate in a stated way with them, in any ordinance of Worship properly Ministerial; in any act that private persons may perform, we may communicate with them, but not in Ministerial work, as Sacraments; for although being imposed on any Church as Ministers, and so received by them, their Ministerial acts are not a nullity; yet if we speak of the lawfulness of such their act of receiving them, then the Church sinneth in choosing them, or being imposed, in receiving them, and submitting to their Ministry, being such as are utterly contrary to the rule of Christ, and rejected of him. And by the like reason the godly sin in receiving Sacraments, &c. from them, as Ministers of Christ, knowing they intrude into that office, and have no authority by the rule of Christ so to do. We may hear a private gifted Christian prophecy, but if he intrude without a lawful calling into the Ministry, we may not receive him, nor approve of him therein.
Answ. To this we answer; First, that if you speake to the case in hand of those unable and ungodly Ministers of England, Readers (as they are called) of the Common-service, wee grant it is not lawfull to communicate in a stated way with them, in any ordinance of Worship properly Ministeriall; in any act that private persons may performe, wee may communicate with them, but not in Ministeriall worke, as Sacraments; for although being imposed on any Church as Ministers, and so received by them, their Ministeriall acts are not a nullity; yet if wee speake of the lawfulnesse of such their act of receiving them, then the Church sinneth in choosing them, or being imposed, in receiving them, and submitting to their Ministery, being such as are utterly contrary to the rule of Christ, and rejected of him. And by the like reason the godly sinne in receiving Sacraments, &c. from them, as Ministers of Christ, knowing they intrude into that office, and have no authority by the rule of Christ so to doe. Wee may heare a private gifted Christian prophecy, but if hee intrude without a lawfull calling into the Ministery, we may not receive him, nor approve of him therein.