A93091:443
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. 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.