A93091:504
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. 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.
Reply. Now to remove those 2013 objections of Mr. Ball, which onely reach the question in hand, whereof the first is Reply the 8. When ordinary Elders in the Primitive Church were to labour the comming of the Infidels to God, these being converted were to bee baptized of the Elders ordinarily in the Cities, though the number might bee so great as they could not well meet in one Congregation, nor bee subject to the same Pastour: and therefore either the Pastours must Baptize them, being no members, or they must remaine without Baptisme till they grow into a body, and choose Ministers to Baptize them, which is contrary to all precedents in Scripture.
Answ. There is a third way which is passed over, that will ease the difficulty: viz. the Pastors might baptize them unto their own Congregations so long as the numbers did not exceed beyond edification, and then dividing their numbers, might make divers Churches of one, and they call Pastors over them, and so we see Act. 2. they added 3000. and after more, till they were scattered: and when peace was restored, Act. 9. the Churches were not only edified but multiplied, Verse 3. and so the consequence of your 9. Reply is also taken away.
Answ. There is a third way which is passed over, that will ease the difficulty: viz. the Pastours might baptize them unto their owne Congregations so long as the numbers did not exceed beyond edification, and then dividing their numbers, might make divers Churches of one, and they call Pastours over them, and so wee see