A93091:446
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.
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: