A93091:525
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.
Secondly, that it was so appropriated to Abraham's family, as that it was unlawful for them to join to Abraham's covenant, and be circumcised, this is more then can be showed; or if Lot, Melchizedek, Job were excluded, yet out of question Abraham might and did enlarge his family, and so might take in proselytes visible believers in the covenant of grace, and circumcise them, and so still the appropriating of circumcision to the Church, and Covenant of Abraham's family, doth not weaken, but strengthen the argument, in as much as no visible believer in the Covenant of grace might partake of the seal but by joining in visible covenant with that Church to which it was given.
Secondly, that it was so appropriated to Abrahams family, as that it was unlawfull for them to joyne to Abrahams covenant, and be circumcised, this is more then can bee shewed; or if Lot, Melchisedeck, Job were excluded, yet out of question Abraham might and did enlarge his family, and so might take in proselytes visible beleevers in the covenant of grace, and circumcise them, and so still the appropriating of circumcision to the Church, and Covenant of Abrahams family, doth not weaken, but strengthen the argument, in as much as no visible beleever in the Covenant of grace might partake of the seale but by joyning in visible covenant with that Church to which it was given.
Thirdly, suppose Job, Lot, &c. and their families were circumcised, (as Junius allegeth Jerome for it) yet how will it appear it was not by taking hold of the Covenant of Abraham, to which Circumcision was applied? yet it seems more probable, that Lot, and other families in Abraham's time were not partakers thereof, God intending (as the effect shows) not to establish them nor theirs to be his people, as by Circumcision he established Abraham and his seed; as for Job, if he were of Abraham's seed, and had Circumcision hereditarily à materno, paternoque sanguine, (as some think) yet this makes nothing against the argument we have now in hand.
Thirdly, suppose Job, Lot, &c. and their families were circumcised, (as Junius alledgeth Jerome for it) yet how will it appeare it was not by taking hold of the Covenant of Abraham, to which Circumcision was applyed? yet it seemes more probable, that Lot, and other families in Abrahams time were not partakers thereof, God intending (as the effect shewes) not to establish them nor theirs to bee his people, as by Circumcision hee established Abraham and his seed; as for Iob, if hee were of Abrahams seed, and had Circumcision hereditarily à materno, paternoque sanguine, (as some thinke) yet this makes nothing against the argument wee have now in hand.