A93091:36
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.
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?
First, how oft doe wee meet with that imputation, that wee make none members of a visible Church but such as are really saints and beleevers, contrary to our frequent profession, That visible saints that are such in judgement of charity are fit matter of the Church?
Secondly, that we make a vocal Church Oath or Covenant, the essential form of a Church, when as we frequently acknowledge that this Covenant which constituteth a Church, i• either implicit or explicit, and that Congregations in England are truly Churches having an implicit covenant; and it is far from our practise to use any Oath in our Covenant, and strange to us to read so many Pages against our Church Oath, and swearing to a Covenant, to make our courses horrid and too too rigorous.