A93091:484
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. If the power of the Keys be given to the Church, the Apostles themselves must derive their authority immediately from the Church, and not from Christ; for the power must be derived from them unto whom it was given, &c.
Answ. We deny your consequence, for the Lord may give power to his Church in all ordinary cases, and yet reserve to himself that prerogative to do what he please immediately without the Church, as is clear, that in this case he hath, first calling his twelve Apostles, Mat. 10. before he instituted the Church of the New Testament, after he was pleased to use the Ministry of the Church, Acts 1. to choose two, and take one of them immediately by a lot; and when Paul was called he appeared to him immediately, and called him both to the faith, and to his Apostleship, whereby it is clear that their call is a reserved case.
Answ. We deny your consequence, for the Lord may give power to his Church in all ordinary cases, and yet reserve to himself that prerogative to doe what he please immediately without the Church, as is cleare, that in this case he hath, first calling his twelve Apostles, Mat. 10. before he instituted the Church of the New Testament, after he was pleased to use the Ministery of the Church, Acts 1. to choose two, and take one of them immediately by a lot; and when Paul was called he appeared to him immediatly, and called him both to the faith, and to his Apostleship, whereby it is clear that their call is a reserved case.