A93091:389
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.
But we shall not need to say much, that a Congregation furnished with its Officers is a Church according to the institution of the Gospel, but there are more objections against the completeness thereof, which yet is proved thus, That Church which hath power of all the Keys given unto it for actual administration within it self, is a complete Church: But so hath a particular Congregation, Ergo. The first part is evident; because where all the Keys are with full power to administer the same, there nothing is wanting; the Assumption is proved thus, If all those Officers to whom is given the authoritative power of exercising the Keys, be given to a Congregation; then all the Keys are so given to it, but so it is; for since Apostles and extraordinary Officers ceased, there are no other Officers but Pastors, Teachers, and Rulers, called sometimes Bishops, sometimes Elders: but these Officers are given to such a Church, as is proved Acts 14. Tit. 1. 4. and is acknowledged in all Reformed Churches, who ordain such Officers in particular Churches of one Congregation: Ergo.
But we shall not need to say much, that a Congregation furnished with its Officers is a Church according to the institution of the Gospel, but there are more objections against the compleatnesse thereof, which yet is proved thus, That Church which hath power of all the Keys given unto it for actuall administration within it self, is a compleat Church: But so hath a particular Congregation, Ergo. The first part is evident; because where all the Keys are with full power to administer the same, there nothing is wanting; the Assumption is proved thus, If all those Officers to whom is given the authoritative power of exercising the Keys, be given to a Congregation; then all the Keys are so given to it, but so it is; for since Apostles and extraordinary Officers ceased, there are no other Officers but Pastors, Teachers, and Rulers, called sometimes Bishops, sometimes Elders: but these Officers are given to such a Church, as is proved Acts 14. Tit. 1. 4. and is acknowledged in all Reformed Churches, who ordain such Officers in particular Churches of one Congregation: Ergo.