A93091:238
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. All possible care to keep the ordinances of God from contempt, we allow and commend, so you deny not Church privileges, to whom they are due, nor the name of Churches to such as God hath blessed with means of grace, and have received the Tables and Seals, and entered Covenant with God. Your liberty to receive such satisfaction as is ⟨p. 71⟩meet, is not questioned, nor whether you are to keep the bond of the spirit inviolable according to order: but whether this be according to▪ order, to exclude from the Sacrament true visible Christians, or known recommended Christians, formerly members of visible Churches amongst us, and their children; and to put such difference between them, and such as are in your Church order.
Reply. All possible care to keep the ordinances of God from contempt, we allow and commend, so you deny not Church priviledges, to whom they are due, nor the name of Churches to such as God hath blessed with meanes of grace, and have r•ceived the Tables and Seales, and entred Covenant with God. Your liberty to receive such satisfaction as is ⟨p. 71⟩meet, is not questioned, nor whether you are to keep the bond of the spirit inviolable according to order: but whether this be according to▪ order, to exclude from the Sacrament true visible Christians, or known recommended Christians, formerly members of visible Churches amongst us, and their children; and to put such difference between them, and such as are in your Church order.
Answ. 1 If the learned Author would hold to what here is granted, we hope this controversy would soon be at an issue; but it will appear after this order allowed binds only in case of the Ministers to dispense Sacraments, but Christians are left at a loose end, in respect of combining themselves unto particular Churches according to the order of Christ, which is the thing we plead for.