A93091:382
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.
3 It must therefore be a Society combined, and that by a Covenant explicit or implicit, for it must be such a combined Society where the whole have power over its members; now whatever power one hath over another, if it be not by way of conquest or natural relation, (as the father over the child) it is by covenant, as husband and wife, Master and servant, Prince and people; other powers are but usurpations: it is noted as a profane speech in Brennus, who professed he knew no other rule of Justice, then for the greater to subdue the less. Again, it is ⟨p. 107⟩such a Society as hath an ordinate power, to subject it self to Officers, by electing of them to administer ordinances amongst them; but this is only a federal Society.
3 It must therefore be a Society combined, and that by a Covenant explicite or implicite, for it must be such a combined Society where the whole have power over its members; now whatever power one hath over another, if it be not by way of conquest or naturall relation, (as the father over the childe) it is by covenant, as husband and wife, Master and servant, Prince and people; other powers are but usurpations: it is noted as a prophane speech in Brennus, who professed he knew no other rule of Justice, then for the greater to subdue the lesse. Again, it is ⟨p. 107⟩such a Society as hath an ordinate power, to subject it self to Officers, by electing of them to administer ordinances amongst them; but this is onely a federall Society.
Again, it is such a Society, to the making up of which is required something more then faith, Acts 5. 14. Believers were added to the Lord, or to his Church; so that they were first believers, before they were added to the Church; for there may be a number of believers converted at one Sermon, and immediately scattered into many Towns or Countries: Now, if faith professed alone, makes not a Church, but somewhat more is required, what can that be but federal combination?