A93091:486
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 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.
Answ. This Objection will hold as strongly against any other subject of the Keys that can be named, (as Classes, Synods, or Church Catholic) and therefore by this manner of reasoning the Lord Jesus must do all things immediately himself in choosing Officers, &c. or else his Ministers must receive Laws, do all in the name of such as he delegates to that work of administration under him, and therefore let others look to answer this Objection as well as we: Our answer is briefly & plainly this, the Office is the immediate institution of Christ, the gifts and power belonging thereto are from Christ immediately, and therefore he ministers in his name, and must give account to him, 1 Pet. 5. and yet his outward call to this Office, whereby he hath authority to administer the holy things of Christ to the church, is from Christ by his Church, and this makes him no more the servant of the Church, then a Captain (by the leave of the General) chosen by the Band ⟨p. 131⟩of Soldiers is the servant of his Band. We see in this reply here and elsewhere how apt men are to cast this odium upon this Doctrine, and to rank us with Separatists in it, but it is easily wiped off and sticks as fast upon the Classes, Synods, Catholic Church, or any other subject of this power.