A93091:220
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. Fourthly, put case the Minister in reading give offence, give unlawful honour to a thing abused to Idolatry, and suffer himself to be sinfully limited in reading? what is that to the faithful? This can be no ground that the people may not join, &c.
Reply. Fourthly, put case the Minister in reading give offence, give unlawfull honor to a thing abused to Idolatry, and suffer himself to be sinfully limited in reading? what is that to the faithfull? This can be no ground that the people may not joyn, &c.
Answ. We do not conclude that they do sin, but fearful we are lest they may so do; all things considered in this case, as have been before propounded. If indeed the case stood as formerly it hath done in England, we would have been less scrupulous and doubtful of the matter: but if by the out-breaking of light, after so long toleration of the book, we see so many evil effects of it, and see such superstitious opinions of it increasing, and such pressing the same to the oppression of the Churches, so many fall, so many weak ones stagger, and look at the example of their Guides: if now when all are called of God to rise up against it with zeal and detestation, a Minister godly and able will use any part of it with offence, &c. we suppose we had cause to fear and leave it doubtful, whether the godly might lawfully join with them therein, and therefore we desire you to call back your sharp censure of such withdrawing, as you conclude this passage withal, or else we shall appeal to the reverend Assembly of Ministers, and their late and godly Directory herein.
Answ. We doe not conclude that they doe sin, but fearfull we are lest they may so do; all things considered in this case, as have been before propounded. If indeed the case stood as formerly it hath done in England, we would have been lesse scrupulous and doubtfull of the matter: but if by the out-breaking of light, after so long toleration of the book, we see so many evill effects of it, and see such superstitious opinions of it increasing, and such pressing the same to the oppression of the Churches, so many fall, so many weak ones stagger, and look at the example of their Guides: if now when all are called of God to rise up against it with zeal and detestation, a Minister godly and able will use any part of it with offence, &c. we suppose we had cause to fear and leave it doubtfull, whether the godly might lawfully joyn with them therein, and therefore we desire you to call back your sharp censure of such withdrawing, as you conclude this passage withall, or else we shal appeal to the reverend Assembly of Ministers, and their late and godly Directory herein.