A93091:415
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.
2 Association of divers particular Churches we hold needful, as well as the combination of members into one; yet so as there be no schism of one from another, nor usurpation of one over another, that either one should deprive the rest of peace by schism; ⟨p. 114⟩or many should deprive any one of its power by usurpation; hence a fraternal consociation we acknowledge; consociation we say, for mutual counsel and help, to prevent or remove sin and schism; yet fraternal only, to preserve each others power; consociation of Churches we would have cumulative, (not in words, but in deed) to strengthen the power of particular Churches, not privative, to take away any power which they had from the gift of Christ before.
2 Association of divers particular Churches we hold needfull, as well as the combination of members into one; yet so as there be no schism of one from another, nor usurpation of one over another, that either one should deprive the rest of peace by schism; ⟨p. 114⟩or many should deprive any one of its power by usurpation; hence a fraternall consociation we acknowledge; consociation we say, for mutuall counsell and helpe, to prevent or remove sinne and schism; yet fraternall onely, to preserve each others power; consociation of Churches we would have cumulative, (not in words, but in deed) to strengthen the power of particular Churches, not privative, to take away any power which they had from the gift of Christ before.
For as on the one side it may seem strange that One Church offending should have no means of cure by the conceived power of many; so on the other side the danger may appear as great, and frequently falls out, that when many Churches are scandalous, one innocent Church may be hurt by the usurpation of all. And hence we see not, but that fraternal consociation is the best medicine to heal the wounds of both.
For as on the one side it may seem strange that One Church offending should have no means of cure by the conceived power of many; so on the other side the danger may appear as great, and frequently falls out, that when many Churches are scandalous, one innocent Church may be hurt by the usurpation of all. And hence we see not, but that fraternall consociation is the best medicine to heal the wounds of both.