A93091:35
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.
The Learned may plainly see, how easy it had been for us and upon better grounds to have filled our margents with quotations out of Papists and Prelates as parallel with many passages of this Reply, but we have purposely abstained from so doing, that we might not cast any blur or provoke the spirits of brethren.
The Learned may plainly see, how easie it had been for us and upon better grounds to have filled our margents with quotations out of Papists and Prelates as parallel with many passages of this Reply, but we have purposely abstained from so doing, that we might not cast any blur or provoke the spirits of brethren.
And seeing we are enforced to wipe off such aspersions, we humbly desire our beloved Brethren (whose learned labours we honour) to bear with us if we lightly touch this sore, for we confess it brings blushing into our faces, and sadness to our hearts, to read so often such harsh imputations cast upon us, which we cannot conceive but (falling from such pens) they breed a strange loathing of us in the stomachs of many that read books without serious examinations thereof.
And seeing we are inforced to wipe off such aspersions, we humbly desire our beloved Brethren (whose learned labours wee honour) to beare with us if we lightly touch this sore, for wee confesse it brings blushing into our faces, and sadnesse to our hearts, to read so often such harsh imputations cast upon us, which we cannot conceive but (falling from such pens) they breed a strange loathing of us in the stomachs of many that read bookes without serious examinations thereof.
First, how oft do we meet with that imputation, that we make none members of a visible Church but such as are really saints and believers, contrary to our frequent profession, That visible saints that are such in judgement of charity are fit matter of the Church?