A93091:430
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.
Thus having cleared our meaning, and the consideration it self, there will remain very few extraordinary cases, (if any) of whom it can be proved, they were not joined to some particular Church when baptized; as that of the Eunuch, which as it was done by an extraordinary immediate call of Philip so to do; so also there was a special reason thereof, the Lord intending thereby, rather by him to send the Gospel into Ethiopia, then to retain him in any other place, to join with his Church: And the Baptism of Paul, who as without the Ministry of the Word he was converted by the immediate voice of Christ, so he was baptized by the immediate call of Ananias so to do. Now let us proceed to consider what further is replied.
Thus having cleared our meaning, and the consideration it self, there will remain very few extraordinary cases, (if any) of whom it can be proved, they were not joyned to some particular Church when baptized; as that of the Eunuch, which as it was done by an extraordinary immediate call of Philip so to doe; so also there was a speciall reason thereof, the Lord intending thereby, rather by him to send the Gospel into Ethiopia, then to retain him in any other place, to joyn with his Church: And the Baptism of Paul, who as without the Ministery of the Word he was converted by the immediate voice of Christ, so he was baptized by the immediate call of Ananias so to do. Now let us proceed to consider what further is replyed.
Reply. The seals Baptism and the Lords-supper are given to the Church, not only in ordinary, but also extraordinary dispensation: True Baptism is not without the Church, but in it, an ordinance given to it. The Sacraments are the seals of the Covenant to the faithful, which is the form of the Church tokens and pledges of our spiritual admittance into the Lords family. Hence it is inferred, that if the seals in extraordinary dispensation were given to the Church, and yet to members of no particular Church, then also in ordinary dispensation it may be so.
Reply. The seals Baptism and the Lords-supper are given to the Church, not onely in ordinary, but also extraordinary dispensation: True Baptism is not without the Church, but in it, an ordinance given to it. The Sacraments are the seales of the Covenant to the faithfull, which is the form of the Church tokens and pledges of our spirituall admittance into the Lords family. Hence it is inferred, that if the seales in extraordinary dispensation were given to the Church, and yet to members of no particular Church, then also in ordinary dispensation it may be so.