A93091:348
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.
We say also it is just so here, as God hath given reason in respect of the end to mankind first, and then to the individua; so God hath set in the mystical Church for the good of it, as chiefly intended by Christ, Apostles, Prophets, &c. but now as in the actual dispensing of this gift of reason for the good of mankind, Reason is not given to any such body, as the whole race of mankind, to descend to John, Peter, &c. but first to John, Peter, and all the individuals, that so by induction of all particulars, the ⟨p. 98⟩whole kind of reasonable man may be made up, and the end attained, and so it is here: God in giving Officers and gifts for the good of the mystical body of Christ firstly, yet in execution gives these Officers, and sets them in particular Churches, that by the edification and perfection of all particulars, the whole may be attained.
We say also it is just so here, as God hath given reason in respect of the end to mankinde first, and then to the individua; so God hath set in the mysticall Church for the good of it, as chiefly intended by Christ, Apostles, Prophets, &c. but now as in the actuall dispensing of this gift of reason for the good of mankinde, Reason is not given to any such body, as the whole race of mankinde, to descend to John, Peter, &c. but first to John, Peter, and all the individualls, that so by induction of all particulars, the ⟨p. 98⟩whole kinde of reasonable man may be made up, and the end attained, and so it is here: God in giving Officers and gifts for the good of the mysticall body of Christ firstly, yet in execution gives these Officers, and sets them in particular Churches, that by the edification and perfection of all particulars, the whole may be attained.
Thirdly, Apostles, Prophets, and all gifts and offices in general and indefinitely, are given to the Church indefinitely considered, but particular officers, Paul, Cephas, Apollo, Titus, Archippus, &c. are given or set in particular Churches; we mean, according to the several natures and extents of their offices; As unto Bees in general is given a power to gather honey, and order themselves in their hives; but in their exercise of this power it is given to the several swarms in the hives, who have their Queens, &c. to order themselves. But as this power in general makes not a universal organical body of Bees; no more here an universal organical Church.