A93091:527
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. After the Church of the Jews was constituted (when we cannot imagine any Church amongst the Gentiles) we find none must be admitted to the Passover that was not circumcised, but nothing was required of a stranger, but that he profess the true faith, and avouch the God of Abraham to be his God, which must be done before he could be reputed a visible believer, or under the covenant of Grace.
Answ. After the Church of the Iewes was constituted (when wee cannot imagine any Church amongst the Gentiles) wee finde none must bee admitted to the Passeover that was not circumcised, but nothing was required of a stranger, but that hee professe the true faith, and avouch the God of Abraham to be his God, which must be done before hee could be reputed a visible beleever, or under the covenant of Grace.
Reply. If any doubtfulness can be raised about the Church in Abraham's family, yet the case is so clear in the following story of the Church, as you must needs grant the proposition, (as you do) and the Church of the Jews is still but the same Church, that was in Abraham's house, and the covenant the same, for Gen. 17. God established the Covenant with him and his seed for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto them; and in Egypt the Lord challenges them as his own, his first borne, &c. and therefore ⟨p. 141⟩there is the same reason of circumcision, first and last in respect of the Persons, that had right unto it, but say you nothing was required to circumcision, but to profess the faith. But we demand first, What was it to avouch the God of Abraham to be his God? Was it not to subject himself to all the Statutes, Commandments, and judgements of God in his Church to walk in them? as▪ is clear: Deut. 26. 17. Was there not the same Law for the stranger, and the home-borne? Secondly, Where must they profess this faith, and avouch this God? Was it in any place where they dwelt, and so might they circumcise themselves? must not this be done amongst, and before the people of God in his visible Church? whence such were called Proselytes, and reckoned of the Common-wealth of Israel, Isaiah 56. 3, 4, 5, 6. And is not all this to join themselves to the visible instituted Church before they were circumcised? Lastly, it is not true that no man could be reputed a visible believer before he did all this, That which follows pag. 40. is answered before.