A93091:436
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.
Answ. In these words, and that which follows in the second Paragraph, there seems to be a double scope: First, to prove the Word proper to the Church; to which is answered afore. Secondly, that where-ever the Word of God is, there is the true visible Church; and so where the true Worship of God is, there is a mark of the Church, especially where it is received and confessed. To which we answer:
1 There is a covenanting between God and man, which is personal, and so whosoever receives the Word of Gods grace by faith sent unto him by God, enters into Covenant to be his, and that before he makes any visible profession thereof, and so every believer is a disciple, a servant of God, and one of Gods people, ⟨p. 120⟩but many thousands of these considered only in this their personal relation to God, do not make a visible Church, many such might be in the world, but no members of the visible Church, until they came and joined to the Church of Israel of Old, or to the visible Churches in the New Testament.
1 There is a covenanting between God and man, which is personall, and so whosoever receives the Word of Gods grace by faith sent unto him by God, enters into Covenant to be his, and that before he makes any visible profession thereof, and so every beleever is a disciple, a servant of God, and one of Gods people, ⟨p. 120⟩but many thousands of these considered onely in this their personall relation to God, doe not make a visible Church, many such might be in the world, but no members of the visible Church, until they came and joyned to the Church of Israel of Old, or to the visible Churches in the New Testament.
2 There is a social or common covenanting between God and a people, to be a God to them, and they a people unto God in outward visible profession of his Worship; and so the Lord took Abraham and his seed into Covenant, and renewed that Covenant with them, as an holy Nation and peculiar people to him; and in this covenanting of God with a people, whereby they become a Church, there is required, first, that they be many, not one. Secondly, that these many become one body, one people. Thirdly, that they make visible profession of their Covenant with God really, or vocally. Fourthly, that this Covenant contain a profession of subjection to the ordinances of Gods Worship, wherein God requires a Church to walk together before him: and all these may be seen in the Church of Israel, who received Gods laws indeed, but so as they became one people to God, visibly avouched God for their God, received and submitted unto all the laws of his Worship, Government, and other Ordinances. And this is expressly or implicitly in every true visible Church, though more or less fully and purely.
2 There is a sociall or common covenanting between God and a people, to be a God to them, and they a people unto God in outward visible profession of his Worship; and so the Lord took Abraham and his seed into Covenant, and renewed that Covenant with them, as an holy Nation and peculiar people to him; and in this covenanting of God with a people, whereby they become a Church, there is required, first, that they be many, not one. Secondly, that these many become one body, one people. Thirdly, that they make visible profession of their Covenant with God really, or vocally. Fourthly, that this Covenant contain a profession of subjection to the ordinances of Gods Worship, wherein God requires a Church to walk together before him: and all these may be seen in the Church of Israel, who received Gods laws indeed, but so as they became one people to God, visibly avouched God for their God, received and submitted unto all the laws of his Worship, Government, and other Ordinances. And this is expresly or implicitly in every true visible Church, though more or lesse fully and purely.
Now if you intend such a covenanting of a people with God, by a professed receiving of his Word, and subjection to his Ordinances; we grant such to be true Churches, and to such the seals do belong; and therefore we willingly close with the Conclusion that follows, They that have received the Word of salvation entirely, and have Pastors godly and faithful to feed and guide them, they and their seed have right to the seals in order. And they that join together in the true Worship of God, according to his will, with godly and faithful Pastors, they have right to the sacraments, according to Divine institution. These conclusions we willingly embrace, and infer, that if the seals belong to such a Church, then to particular Congregations. For where shall we find a people joining together with godly Pastors, but in such particular Assemblies? For we doubt not our Brethren do disclaim all Diocesan Pastors or Provincial, &c.
Now if you intend such a covenanting of a people with God, by a professed receiving of his Word, and subjection to his Ordinances; we grant such to be true Churches, and to such the seals do belong; and therefore we willingly close with the Conclusion that follows, They that have received the Word of salvation entirely, and have Pastors godly and faithfull to feed and guide them, they and their seed have right to the seals in order. And they that joyn together in the true Worship of God, according to his will, with godly and faithfull Pastors, they have right to the sacraments, according to Divine institution. These conclusions we willingly embrace, and inferr, that if the seals belong to such a Church, then to particular Congregations. For where shall we finde a people joyning together with godly Pastors, but in such particular Assemblies? For we doubt not our Brethren doe disclaim all Diocesan Pastors or Provinciall, &c.
Reply. That there is now no visible Catholic Church in your sense, will easily be granted, &c.
Reply. That there is now no visible Catholick Church in your sense, will easily be granted, &c.
If this be granted in our sense, so that there be no such Catholic church wherein seals are to be dispensed; then it will fall to be the right and privilege of particular Congregations, to have the seals in the administration proper to them; and so the cause is yielded; but because there is so much here spoken of the Catholic visible Church, and so much urged from it, we shall refer the Reader to what is said before, only one thing we shall note about the instance of Athanasius, that a man may be a member of the Catholic visible Church, but of no particular Society.
If this be granted in our sense, so that there be no such Catholick church wherein seals are to be dispensed; then it will fall to be the right and priviledge of particular Congregations, to have the seals in the administration proper to them; and so the cause is yeelded; but because there is so much here spoken of the Catholick visible Church, and so much urged from it, we shall refer the Reader to what is said before, onely one thing we shall note about the instance of Athanasius, that a man may be a member of the Catholick visible Church, but of no particular Society.
Reply. You say it is evidenced, in that a Christian (as Athanasius for an example) may be cut off unjustly from the particular visible Church, wherein he was born, and yet remains a member of the Catholic visible orthodox Church.
Reply. You say it is evidenced, in that a Christian (as Athanasius for an example) may be cut off unjustly from the particular visible Church, wherein he was born, and yet remains a member of the Catholick visible orthodox Church.
Answ. This case proves nothing; for look how such a Christian stands to the Catholic, so he stands to the particular Church: if he be unjustly censured, as he remains before God a member of the Catholic, so also the particular Church, for clavis errans non ligat: and in respect of men, and communion with other Churches in the seals, if they receive him, being satisfied that he is unjustly cast out; they may receive him, not for his general interest in the Catholic church, but in respect of his true membership in the particular Church, that unjustly cast him out: Whereas, if the Churches were not persuaded but that he were justly cast out of the particular, they ought not to admit him to seals, were he as Orthodox as Athanasius himself in doctrine, and as holy in his life.
Answ. This case proves nothing; for look how such a Christian stands to the Catholick, so he stands to the particular Church: if he be unjustly censured, as he remains before God a member of the Catholick, so also the particular Church, for clavis errans non ligat: and in respect of men, and communion with other Churches in the seals, if they receive him, being satisfied that he is unjustly cast out; they may receive him, not for his generall interest in the Catholick church, but in respect of his true membership in the particular Church, that unjustly cast him out: Whereas, if the Churches were not perswaded but that he were justly cast out of the particular, they ought not to admit him to seales, were he as Orthodox as Athanasius himself in doctrine, and as holy in his life.
Reply. Though there be no universal Congregation, nor can be imagined, yet there are and have been many visible Assemblies or Societies, true Churches of Christ, to whom the prerogative of the seals is given, which have not been united and knit together into one Congregation or Society in Church-order. For every Society in Covenant with God, is the true Church of God. For what is it to be the flock, people, or sheep of God, but to be the Church of God? and where there is a Covenant, there is the people of God, &c.
Reply. Though there be no universall Congregation, nor can be imagined, yet there are and have been many visible Assemblies or Societies, true Churches of Christ, to whom the prerogative of the seals is given, which have not been united and knit together into one Congregation or Society in Church-order. For every Society in Covenant with God, is the true Church of God. For what is it to be the flock, people, or sheep of God, but to be the Church of God? and where there is a Covenant, there is the people of God, &c.
Answ. This assertion seems to us very strange to fall from that reverend and learned Author, being a foundation of many inconveniences and absurdities, and tending to overthrow the order of Christ in his visible Churches▪ For,
First, if this be so, that every Society in Covenant with God, be the Church of God, then men may set up as many Forms of ⟨p. 122⟩visible Churches as they please, (if the people be in Covenant with God visibly at least) the Archdeacon with his Commissary, Priests, Churchwardens, &c. being in Covenant with God, are a true Church: So the Diocesan Bishop in his Cathedral with his Clergy, or any such Assembly, are the Church of God; or what other form-soever men will devise, may go for the Church of God, and to them belong the seals, and (you may as well say) discipline, and all Ordinances of God, if they be the true Church.
First, if this be so, that every Society in Covenant with God, be the Church of God, then men may set up as many Forms of ⟨p. 122⟩visible Churches as they please, (if the people be in Covenant with God visibly at least) the Archdeacon with his Commissary, Priests, Churchwardens, &c. being in Covenant with God, are a true Church: So the Diocesan Bishop in his Cathedrall with his Clergy, or any such Assembly, are the Church of God; or what other form-soever men will devise, may goe for the Church of God, and to them belong the seals, and (you may as wel say) discipline, and all Ordinances of God, if they bee the true Church.
Secondly, upon this ground every company of godly Christians in Covenant with God, meeting in fasting, prayer, &c. are the true Church of God, and to them (as such) the seals belong, and sending for a true Minister of the Catholic church, they may have Baptism and the Lords-supper administered, and by the same reason discipline also: yea, if but two or three (as you say) being in Covenant with God, meet together in their travail at an Inn, &c. are the Church of God, especially every Christian family is the Church; for they profess the entire faith, join (daily) in prayer and thanksgiving, receive the truth of God to dwell amongst them, are in some measure obedient unto the commands of God, and in Covenant with God:
Secondly, upon this ground every company of godly Christistians in Covenant with God, meeting in fasting, prayer, &c. are the true Church of God, and to them (as such) the seals belong, and sending for a true Minister of the Catholick church, they may have Baptism and the Lords-supper administred, and by the same reason discipline also: yea, if but two or three (as you say) being in Covenant with God, meet together in their travail at an Inne, &c. are the Church of God, especially every Christian family is the Church; for they professe the entire faith, joyn (daily) in prayer and thanksgiving, receive the truth of God to dwell amongst them, are in some measure obedient unto the commands of God, and in Covenant with God:
And therefore being the Church of God, why not call for a Minister, and have seals ordinarily dispensed to them?
Thirdly, upon this ground a company of Christian Women in Covenant with God are a Church, to whom the seals belong; and who sees not, how all orderly dispensation of Gods Ordinances, and the whole order of visible Churches in the Gospel would be overturned by this assertion? We verily believe this Author was far from admitting these things, but the Position it self will unavoidably enforce the same. Neither can we impute this assertion to any inconsiderateness through heat of disputation. For if any shall maintain the personal Covenant of people with God to be sufficient to constitute visible Churches, and not admit a necessity of a more public or general Covenant explicit or implicit, whereby a company of Christians are made one people, joining in one Congregation to worship God in his holy Ordinances, and walk together in his ways, they must of necessity acknowledge every Society in Covenant with God to be a Church, as here is said; and therefore admit all forms of Churches, and all Families, &c. to be Churches, and so bring in the ⟨p. 123⟩confusion objected, which we desire may well be considered.
Thirdly, upon this ground a company of Christian Women in Covenant with God are a Church, to whom the seales belong; and who sees not, how all orderly dispensation of Gods Ordinances, and the whole order of visible Churches in the Gospel would be overturned by this assertion? We verily beleeve this Author was far from admitting these things, but the Position it self will unavoidably enforce the same. Neither can we impute this assertion to any inconsideratenesse through heat of disputation. For if any shall maintain the personall Covenant of people with God to be sufficient to constitute visible Churches, and not admit a necessity of a more publick or generall Covenant explicite or implicite, whereby a company of Christians are made one people, joyning in one Congregation to worship God in his holy Ordinances, and walk together in his ways, they must of necessity acknowledge every Society in Covenant with God to be a Church, as here is said; and therefore admit all forms of Churches, and all Families, &c. to be Churches, and so bring in the ⟨p. 123⟩confusion objected, which we desire may well bee considered.
All your Arguments stand upon that ground of personal covenant with God, which is too weak to bear up that conclusion, to make all such visible Churches to whom the seals belong, as the absurd consequences thereof show.
All your Arguments stand upon that ground of personall covenant with God, which is too weak to bear up that conclusion, to make all such visible Churches to whom the seals belong, as the absurd consequences thereof shew.
These Reasons, and the Scriptures in the margin (some of them) will prove them fit matter for visible Churches, and that they have a remote right unto the seals of that Covenant, (which we grant) but they will not prove every Society of such to be true Churches, having immediate right to have the seals dispensed unto them.
These Reasons, and the Scriptures in the margent (some of them) will prove them fit matter for visible Churches, and that they have a remote right unto the seals of that Covenant, (which we grant) but they will not prove every Society of such to bee true Churches, having immediate right to have the seals dispensed unto them.