A93091:351
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 have been thus large in clearing this Scripture, because we conceive the chief strength of the contrary opinion to lye in it. And this being answered, the light of it we hope will scatter the darkness that is brought upon divers other Scriptures which are drawn to prove such a kind of Catholic Church, as Rom. 12. 4. &c. Col. 1. 25. 1 Tim. 3. 15. Ephes. 4. 11. In which last Scripture we never doubted but that the Officers were given, not for that particular Church of Ephesus only, much less to such a diminutive Congregation consisting of 40, 60, or 100 only, as if we intended to impawn all power in this or that Congregational body; but to a congregational Church considered as the genus of all particular Congregations of the world. Neither to this congregational Church only, but to all that are to be gathered to the unity of the faith. But doth this argue one political body consisting of all these? For though, vers. 16. the whole body be said to be compacted; yet that this should be understood of a political, not spiritual way of compacting, we confess (with submission) our weakness cannot apprehend.
We have been thus large in clearing this Scripture, because we conceive the chief strength of the contrary opinion to lye in it. And this being answered, the light of it we hope will scatter the darknesse that is brought upon divers other Scriptures which are drawn to prove such a kinde of Catholick Church, as Rom. 12. 4. &c. Col. 1. 25. 1 Tim. 3. 15. Ephes. 4. 11. In which last Scripture we never doubted but that the Officers were given, not for that particular Church of Ephesus onely, much lesse to such a diminutive Congregation consisting of 40, 60, or 100 onely, as if we intended to impawn all power in this or that Congregational body; but to a congregationall Church considered as the genus of all particular Congregations of the world. Neither to this congregationall Church onely, but to all that are to be gathered to the unity of the faith. But doth this argue one politicall body consisting of all these? For though, vers. 16. the whole body be said to be compacted; yet that this should be understood of a politicall, not spirituall way of compacting, we confesse (with submission) our weaknesse cannot apprehend.