A93091:485
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.
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.
Reply. If Ministers dispense the seals as the stewards of Christ, from whom they receive their authority immediately; then the power of the Keys is not in the community of the faithful; if as the servants of the Church, from which they derive their authority; then the Office of a Minister is not the immediate gift of Christ; nor the Minister so much the servant of Christ, as of the Church from whom he must receive Laws, in whose names he must do his Office, and to whom he must give account.
Reply. If Ministers dispense the seals as the stewards of Christ, from whom they receive their authority immediately; then the power of the Keys is not in the community of the faithfull; if as the servants of the Church, from which they derive their authority; then the Office of a Minister is not the immediate gift of Christ; nor the Minister so much the servant of Christ, as of the Church from whom he must receive Lawes, in whose names he must doe his Office, and to whom he must give account.