A93091:145
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. First, we grant it is not always for private Christians so to leave the communion of a Church in the ordinances of God, for such a reason, but if they have first done their part according to their place to reform or cast out such an unworthy and unable ministry, and cannot, or see no hope to procure one sufficient to edify the Church, he may and ought to betake himself to some other Church, where he may be edified, and it is a great mistake to think, (in the constitution of the Gospel) that a Christian cannot reject all fellowship with such Idol Priests, but he must forsake the ordinances of Christ, or rent off from the Church, when indeed he deprives himself of many ordinances in joining with them, and attains them in forsaking of them.
Answ. First, wee grant it is not alwayes for private Christians so to leave the communion of a Church in the ordinances of God, for such a reason, but if they have first done their part according to their place to reforme or cast out such an unworthy and unable ministry, and cannot, or see no hope to procure one sufficient to edifie the Church, hee may and ought to betake himselfe to some other Church, where hee may bee edified, and it is a great mistake to thinke, (in the constitution of the Gospell) that a Christian cannot reject all fellowship with such Idoll Priests, but hee must forsake the ordinances of Christ, or rent off from the Church, when indeed hee deprives himselfe of many ordinances in joyning with them, and attaines them in forsaking of them.
Secondly, if we consider wherein the outward call of all Church Officers in the New Testament lies, viz. in a great part in the choice of the Church, or at least in their after consent and receiving of them, being chosen by others for them, Act. 1. and 6. and 14. how can any godly man receive, submit unto, or acknowledge ⟨p. 50⟩such unable wretches by receiving Gods ordinances from them, as Ministers, but they must needs countenance them in their places, and set up to themselves an Idol or means of worship to edify themselves, which God never appointed; for let it be proved that ever God appointed readers of a Liturgy to edify the people.