A93091:284
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 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.
And therefore if all Churches make one Political Body, for Political communion, it must be such an union as will reach that end, which cannot be imagined in such a Catholic totum politicum as the Catholic Church. 'Tis true, distinct Churches (as distinct Kingdoms) may have communion in some political privileges answerable to their union, consisting in a fraternal ⟨p. 85⟩relation one unto another, yet not make up one Body Political; of which we speak.
And therefore if all Churches make one Politicall Body, for Politicall communion, it must be such an union as will reach that end, which cannot be imagined in such a Catholick totum politicum as the Catholick Church. 'Tis true, distinct Churches (as distinct Kingdoms) may have communion in some politicall priviledges answerable to their union, consisting in a fraternall ⟨p. 85⟩relation one unto another, yet not make up one Body Politicall; of which we speak.