A93091:332
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.
Secondly, suppose there were such a binding in civill Courts, and appeals may be yet made from them, yet this is because there is supposed a supreme Court in being, to which the appeal may be prosecuted and there determined, (as in the highest Sanhedrin of Israel.) But there is not in the Church, nor like to be, such a supreme Court where such appeals may be ended: Ergo.
Secondly, suppose there were such a binding in civill Courts, and appeals may be yet made from them, yet this is because there is supposed a supreme Court in being, to which the appeale may be prosecuted and there determined, (as in the highest Sanhedrin of Israel.) But there is not in the Church, nor like to be, such a supreme Court where such appeals may be ended: Ergo.
Object. 2▪ If it be said, that what a particular Church binds on earth is bound in heaven, except they err, but then appeals may be made, and their power is gone.
Object. 2▪ If it be said, that what a particular Church binds on earth is bound in heaven, except they erre, but then appeals may be made, and their power is gone.
Answ. On this ground the universal Church should not have power to bind on earth so as in heaven without appeals, for they may err; and that not only rarely but frequently; witness the complaint of Nazianzen and others of the time passed; yea, they may be as much inclined to err▪ considering the greatest part ⟨p. 94⟩of Churches in the world are for the most part corrupt, yea, though they may have better eyes, yet they are further from the mark; if particular Churches have no power of excommunication, because they may err, be corrupt, be partial, or be divided; upon the same consideration, neither Classical, National, or oecumeniall Councils have any such power; for they may err, grow corrupt, be partial, and be miserably divided, as well as a congregational Church; other Churches may admonish in case of scandal, and counsel, when a particular congregation wants light; and moderate (if desired) in case of difference; but still the power is in the particular Church.