A93091:467
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.
Reply. The number of believers was great at Ephesus, where Paul preached two years; all that dwelt in Asia heard the Word; a great door and effectual ways open to him, where the Shrines of Diana her Temple were in danger to be set at nought; where those that used curious arts, burnt their books openly: which could not be done without great danger of the Church, unless a great part of the City had believed, Acts 19. 10, 19, 27.
Reply. The number of beleevers was great at Ephesus, where Paul preached two years; all that dwelt in Asia heard the Word; a great door and effectuall ways open to him, where the Shrines of Diana her Temple were in danger to be set at nought; where those that used curious arts, burnt their books openly: which could not be done without great danger of the Church, unlesse a great part of the City had beleeved, Acts 19. 10, 19, 27.
Answ. 1 Be it so, that many were converted, and the Word grew mightily; this proves not that all who heard Paul, were of the Church of Ephesus, for then all Asia should be of that Church, (Acts 19. 10.) who did hear the Word both Jews and Gentiles; As for the danger of the Shrines, and Diana's Temple to be set at nought, a little spark might kindle such fears, and raise such outcries in the covetous Craftsmen, by whom the whole City was set in a superstitious uproar; our own experience may teach, how soon a profane people will cry out against a faithful Minister before he hath converted ten men in a City.
Answ. 1 Be it so, that many were converted, and the Word grew mightily; this proves not that all who heard Paul, were of the Church of Ephesus, for then all Asia should be of that Church, (Acts 19. 10.) who did hear the Word both Jews and Gentiles; As for the danger of the Shrines, and Diana's Temple to be set at nought, a little spark might kindle such fears, and raise such outcryes in the covetous Craftsmen, by whom the whole City was set in a superstitious uproare; our own experience may teach, how soon a prophane people will cry out against a faithfull Minister before he hath converted ten men in a City.