A93091:48
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.
1 Is it not possible to obtain of that ever Renowned Parliament, not only such liberty for godly Pastors, and their Churches to debar from the Lords Table such as are not qualified according to the former description of the Reverend Assembly; but also all favour and furtherance from Authority to purge out of the Church all such according to rule, that live impenitently in any known sin and scandalous evil? we cannot doubt but that if brethren would agree with one heart to petition the same, such as have done so worthily many things for purging the House of God, would also promote this needful point of Reformation.
1 Is it not possible to obtaine of that ever Renowned Parliament, not onely such liberty for godly Pastors, and their Churches to debarre from the Lords Table such as are not qualified according to the former description of the Reverend Assembly; but also all favour and furtherance from Authority to purge out of the Church all such according to rule, that live impenitently in any known sinne and scandalous evill? we cannot doubt but that if brethren would agree with one heart to petition the same, such as have done so worthily many things for purging the House of God, would also promote this needfull point of Reformation.
2 If all the godly Ministers would join as one man, and take unto them the zeal of John Bap. thundering out the direful wrath of God against the pride, vanity, luxury, profaneness, and late swarms of monstrous errors, (the usual tares accompanying Reformation) and other sins of ⟨p. 20⟩the time, to lay all level before the Lord; and with holy Calvin, resolve to suffer their hands to be cut off rather, then to deliver that holy seal of grace to the openly wicked and impenitent sinner; how would the Lord go out with his servants, and cut down sin by the sharp sword of1 his Word, and severity of Discipline, if all joined together? Whereas we fear sin and profaneness will out-stare all godly Pastors, when they stand so much divided.