A93091:502
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.
Nor lastly doth it follow, that if they may desire the benefit and exercise of an others Office occasionally, that they may or should do it constantly, no more then because they may desire sundry Ministers to preach amongst them every Sabbath for a time in the want of Officers, that therefore they should content themselves to live altogether without any of their own.
Nor lastly doth it follow, that if they may desire the benefit and exercise of an others Office occasionally, that they may or should doe it constantly, no more then because they may desire sundry Ministers to preach amongst them every Sabbath for a time in the want of Officers, that therefore they should content themselves to live altogether without any of their owne.
Now for application of these things to the assumption of our argument. Although a Pastor (in the sense explained) may put forth acts of Office in another Congregation, or to others in his own Congregation, yet will it hence follow, that a Minister may administer Seals to such as are of no Congregation? which is now the question.
Now for application of these things to the assumption of our argument. Although a Pastour (in the sense explained) may put forth acts of Office in another Congregation, or to others in his owne Congregation, yet will it hence follow, that a Minister may administer Seales to such as are of no Congregation? which is now the question.
Reply. Now to remove those 2013 objections of Mr. Ball, which only reach the question in hand, whereof the first is Reply the 8. When ordinary Elders in the Primitive Church were to labour the coming of the Infidels to God, these being converted were to be baptized of the Elders ordinarily in the Cities, though the number might be so great as they could not well meet in one Congregation, nor be subject to the same Pastor: and therefore either the Pastors must Baptize them, being no members, or they must remain without Baptism till they grow into a body, and choose Ministers to Baptize them, which is contrary to all precedents in Scripture.