A93091:359
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.
Answ. 1 Some answer that he is cast out of all only consequenter, by reason of communion of Churches; neither do we see that this is taken away by saying, that, As when the left hand cutteth off a finger of the right hand, it is not the left hand only that cuts it off, but the whole man, deliberate reason and will consenting: For if this similitude would suit, then the whole Catholic church must be called to consult and consent antecedenter, before a particular Church can cut off any member, which ordinarily is impossible to be attained.
Answ. 1 Some answer that he is cast out of all onely consequenter, by reason of communion of Churches; neither doe we see that this is taken away by saying, that, As when the left hand cutteth off a finger of the right hand, it is not the left hand onely that cuts it off, but the whole man, deliberate reason and will consenting: For if this similitude would suit, then the whole Catholick church must be called to consult and consent antecedenter, before a particular Church can cut off any member, which ordinarily is impossible to be attain'd.
2 But further▪ according to our former principles laid down, we say he that is justly cast out of one Church, he is morally excommunicated out of all, but not politically and formally: For to excommunicate politically and formally, is by virtue of a superior authority next under Christ; so that what is bound by them, is bound in heaven. In which act the Minister doth not ⟨p. 101⟩only bind the person, but also by virtue of his▪ Office chargeth the Church not to have communion with him. But we do not think that our Brethren will say that one Church putteth forth such an act of superior authority binding or charging all Churches politicè and judicialitèr not to have communion with him; for so one Church should exercise jurisdiction overall Churches, and that without their actual approbation, for, quod spectat ad omnes, debet ab omnibus approbari.