A93091:256
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.
Propos. 3. As this Church comes to be visible, so it becomes a fit and capable subject of visible policy, and visible communion with Christ their Head, and one with another in all the visible ordinances of Christ, a capable subject we say, or matter fit for such a state; for by its visibility it self it is not so, having yet no more then a spiritual relation to Christ and one another: no visible combination one with another; for visible believers may be so scattered in several Countries, that they cannot make up one Society.
Propos. 3. As this Church comes to be visible, so it becomes a fit and capable subject of visible policy, and visible communion with Christ their Head, and one with another in all the visible ordinances of Christ, a capable subject we say, or matter fit for such a state; for by its visibility it self it is not so, having yet no more then a spirituall relation to Christ and one another: no visible combination one with another; for visible beleevers may be so scattered in severall Countreys, that they cannot make up one Society.
Propos. 4. And therefore we add, That there is no way for this Church to enjoy actual visible communion under the visible government of Christ, and in the visible instituted ordinances of Christ, but in a Society. A thousand uncombined persons meeting occasionally in one place, though their natural relations were as near as brethren, yet have no power of government or actual communion in any Civill privileges, if they stand not in relation to one another as a combined Society; as after shall be shown; so here: And therefore, Acts 2. 41, 42. first they were added to the Church, and then followed their fellowship in all the ordinances of the Church; as after will more fully appear. And hence it is said, Acts 5. 14. Believers were added; first they were believers, standing in that spiritual relation to Christ and his whole body, and then added to the Church by visible combination.
Propos. 4. And therefore we add, That there is no way for this Church to enjoy actuall visible communion under the visible government of Christ, and in the visible instituted ordinances of Christ, but in a Society. A thousand uncombined persons meeting occasionally in one place, though their naturall relations were as near as brethren, yet have no power of government or actuall communion in any Civill priviledges, if they stand not in relation to one another as a combined Society; as after shall be shown; so here: And therefore,