A93091:283
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.
To this we shall here Reply so far as it lies in our way: 1 As all union is for communion, and all communion flows from union; so look of what nature the union is, such, and no other is the communion; and look of what nature the communion ought to be, of like nature ought the union to be, else it will not reach the end. And therefore here as the mystical spiritual union of the Catholic Church to Christ the head by faith, and to one another by love, is sufficient to afford spiritual communion with the same: So unto Political communion there must be a Political union into one policy. And as the nature of Political communion is, such must the nature of the union be, that it may reach the end.
To this we shall here Reply so far as it lyes in our way: 1 As all union is for communion, and all communion flows from union; so look of what nature the union is, such, and no other is the communion; and look of what nature the communion ought to be, of like nature ought the union to be, else it will not reach the end. And therefore here as the mysticall spirituall union of the Catholick Church to Christ the head by faith, and to one another by love, is sufficient to afford spirituall communion with the same: So unto Politicall communion there must bee a Politicall union into one policy. And as the nature of Politicall communion is, such must the nature of the union be, that it may reach the end.
To apply this, a Political Church is instituted of Christ for communion in all the Worship and Ordinances of Christ instituted in the Gospel, as the Ministry of the Word, the Seals and Discipline; now no Church as One can have communion with Christ and one another in these things, but it must have a Political union suitable thereunto, that is, they must be one Society that can at least meet to combine together.
To apply this, a Politicall Church is instituted of Christ for communion in all the Worship and Ordinances of Christ instituted in the Gospel, as the Ministery of the Word, the Seales and Discipline; now no Church as One can have communion with Christ and one another in these things, but it must have a Politicall union suitable thereunto, that is, they must be one Society that can at least meet to combine together.