A93091:168
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.
Besides, public sinful actions of Ministers are either, 1 Accidental & occasional, or 2ly. known & appointed in a stated service; now the frailties of a Minister, which accidentally fall in and are not known before, nor are any part and essence of the service, unto which men that come, do or should take themselves to be called, hinder not communion; because they do not prae see far by their presence to attend and observe them, but the corruptions of the Liturgy are known and appointed, and to which and with which the imposers call others to join as in a stated service to God; the use of which if it be an humane frailty in Gods Ministers, not yet convinced of the evil thereof, yet for those to communicate herein, who know such evils, have surely passed the bounds of frailty and infirmity; because in this action of prayer there is not only communion by way of presence, as it is in hearing the word; but communion of action: public prayer being the common action of the whole Church towards God. There can be no prayer by any man offered to God, but there will be some humane frailties attending on it; if therefore for this cause we should reject communion in prayer, we should reject the ordinances of God, and never join in any prayer in this world; but the corruptions of the Liturgy are not such, but that they may be more easily cast off, then kept.
Besides, publique sinfull actions of Ministers are either, 1 Accidental & occasional, or 2ly. known & appointed in a stated service; now the frailties of a Minister, which accidentally fall in and are not known before, nor are any part and essence of the service, unto which men that come, doe or should take themselves to bee called, hinder not communion; because they doe not prae se ferre by their presence to attend and observe them, but the corruptions of the Liturgie are knowne and appointed, and to which and with which the imposers call others to joyne as in a stated service to God; the use of which if it bee an humane frailtie in Gods Ministers, not yet convinced of the evill thereof, yet for those to communicate herein, who know such evills, have surely passed the bounds of frailtie and infirmitie; because in this action of prayer there is not onely communion by way of presence, as it is in hearing the word; but communion of action: publique prayer being the common action of the whole Church towards God. There can be no prayer by any man offered to God, but there will be some humane frailties attending on it; if therefore for this cause wee should reject communion in prayer, wee should reject the ordinances of God, and never joyne in any prayer in this world; but the corruptions of the Liturgie are not such, but that they may bee more easily cast off, then kept.