A93091:447
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.
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