A93091:387
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.
5 A particular Church therefore must be such a Society as is so combined together, that it may ordinarily enjoy Church communion, ⟨p. 108⟩to exercise Church power, to be fed by her Officers, and led by them; hence Titus was to set Elders in every Church, and these Elders were such as could ordinarily feed them, by preaching the Word, as well as rule and govern them.
Now that such a Congregational Church is the institution of the Gospel, appears first by those many Scriptures that speak of the Churches of one Country, and in small compass, as several Churches, not as one, as the Churches of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, Acts 9. the Churches of Galatia, Gal. 1. 1. yea, not only in one small Country, but in Cities, or near unto them; we read of distinct Churches, as Corinth, though God had much people there, yet it was one Congregation, 1 Cor. 14. 33. and had another Church near to it, viz. Cenchrea: Also Rome, whom the Apostle saluting, sends also salutations by them to Aquila and Priscilla, with the Church in their household, which show they were not far from that Church of Rome. To these add, that Jerusalem the first Church that was constituted by the Apostles, and whose number was the greatest of any that we read of, yet it was but one Congregation, as is evident by Acts 1. and Chap. 2. 41, 42. What is objected against this to prove it the Catholic Church, was answered before; other objections against this, and like examples, shall be considered in their due place, as we meet with them.
Now that such a Congregationall Church is the institution of the Gospel, appears first by those many Scriptures that speak of the Churches of one Countrey, and in small compasse, as severall Churches, not as one, as the Churches of Judea, Samaria, and Galile,