A93091:423
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 Let us consider whether the Apostles ordinarily did not baptize into particular Churches; and this may be proved from the stories of their ordinary practice: First, it will be easily granted that the Apostles did gather disciples into particular visible Churches, but there is no other time or season of doing it can be showed in all the stories of their Acts; yea, sometimes they were so suddenly called away, or enforced away by persecution after they had converted disciples, that it is very improbable, if not impossible, they should do it at all, but when they converted and baptized them, as Acts 16, 40. & 17. 5. &c.
2 Let us consider whether the Apostles ordinarily did not baptize into particular Churches; and this may be proved from the stories of their ordinary practice: First, it will be easily granted that the Apostles did gather disciples into particular visible Churches, but there is no other time or season of doing it can be shewed in all the stories of their Acts; yea, sometimes they were so suddenly called away, or enforced away by persecution after they had converted disciples, that it is very improbable, if not impossible, they should do it at all, but when they converted and baptized them, as Acts 16, 40. & 17. 5. &c.
But to come more particularly unto the story it self, the Apostles first, and exemplary practi•• being the best interpreter of their commission, and of their ordinary proceeding therein; the first converts which the Apostles baptized after the visible kingdom of Christ was set up▪ were those in that famous place, Acts 2. 41. concerning whom observe, first; that the Apostle Peter not only preached unto them repentance and faith in the name of Christ, with promise of remission of sins, and that they should be baptized, but according to that commission,