A93091:37
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.
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.
Secondly, that we make a vocall Church Oath or Covenant, the essentiall forme of a Church, when as wee frequently acknowledge that this Covenant which constituteth a Church, i• either implicite or explicite, and that Congregations in England are truly Churches having an implicite 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.
Thirdly, that we set up a popular government, making the Elders of the Church no more but moderators, &c. and that Ministers receive their power from the people, are their servants, and administer in their name, (as Mr. Ball and others object) when we oft profess the contrary, that all authority (properly so called) is in the hands of the Elders, and the liberty of the people is to be carried in a way of subjection, and obedience to them in the Lord: neither doth it follow from any Doctrine of ours, no more then from the ordination of Pastors by the Presbytery, that they are their servants, &c.