A93091:149
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. The Text proves that God rejects such Priests as these are, (just like Jeroboam's Priests of the meanest of the people) and that was all it was alleged for, and that receiving such as Ministers doth countenance them in their places, was proved before. And if it be meant of Jeroboam's Priests, as you say, the approved practise of the godly in those days, 2 Chron. 11. 16. will well justify and lead us to reject and leave these also.
Answ. The Text proves that God rejects such Priests as these are, (just like Jeroboams Priests of the meanest of the people) and that was all it was alledged for, and that receiving such as Ministers doth countenance them in their places, was proved before. And if it bee meant of Jeroboams Priests, as you say, the approved practise of the godly in those dayes, 2 Chron. 11. 16. will well justifie and lead us to reject and leave these also.
Secondly, there seems to be four arguments, why the people should withdraw from these kind of Priests: First, in regard of their miserable perishing for want of knowledge by their means. Secondly, because the people in receiving them, rejected knowledge, as Calvin notes upon the place. Thirdly, because God would take a time to disburden the Church of them, whence Drusius ⟨p. 51⟩in locum wisheth, utinam tales body à ministerio amoverentur. Fourthly, because the Lord would cast off their children from being his, for this sin, as Calvin also notes upon the place; the promise of showing mercy to a 1000. generations, being chiefly annexed to the observers of the second Command, and the instituted means of worship, which those Priests never were.
Secondly, there seemes to bee foure arguments, why the people should withdraw from these kind of Priests: First, in regard of their miserable perishing for want of knowledge by their meanes. Secondly, because the people in receiving them, rejected knowledge, as Calvin notes upon the place. Thirdly, because God would take a time to disburthen the Church of them, whence Drusius