A93091:223
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. We must in treat the Christian Reader still to carry in mind with what tenderness we offered our selves in this point, and upon what considerations we durst not wholly excuse and clear such joining as the case now stood, and therefore we think these reasonings would be far differing from the case in hand, and we would not be taken so as to justify such rigid principles as these are. We heartily join in the conclusion, that such advancing of small differences, would indeed bring all to confusion, and we are far (we hope) from any such meaning. If our answer in this or any other passage, give just advantage to such separations, we are heartily sorry for it; but we hope what hath been said will satisfy the ingenuous and Christian Reader.
Answ. We must in treat the Christian Reader still to carry in minde with what tendernesse we offered our selves in this point, and upon what considerations we durst not wholly excuse and cleare such joyning as the case now stood, and therefore we think these reasonings would be far differing from the case in hand, and we would not be taken so as to justifie such rigid principles as these are. We heartily joyn in the conclusion, that such advancing of small differences, would indeed bring all to confusion, and we are far (we hope) from any such meaning. If our answer in this or any other passage, give just advantage to such separations, we are heartily sorry for it; but we hope what hath been said will satisfie the ingenuous and Christian Reader.
Reply. Sixthly, we have credibly heard, that you hold fellowship with professed rigid separatists, without acknowledging of their error, and receive them as members, or communicate with them in the privileges of the Church, though you profess you approve not their opinion or practice: and if in godly wisdom you can see grounds to join with them, we marvel you should be so timorous in this particular.
Reply. Sixthly, we have credibly heard, that you hold fellowship with professed rigid separatists, without acknowledging of their error, and receive them as members, or communicate with them in the priviledges of the Church, though you professe you approve not their opinion or practice: and if in godly wisdome you can see grounds to joyn with them, we marvail you should be so timerous in this particular.