A93091:548
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. Thirdly, there is not the same reason of every Church privilege; one may have right to some who may not meddle with others, as members of one Church may join in hearing and prayer with another Church: but not meddle in election and ordination of their Teachers, and therefore the proposition is not so evident to be taken without proof, that they have no power to admit a believer into communion in any Church privilege, who have no power to excommunicate.
Reply. Thirdly, there is not the same reason of every Church priviledge; one may have right to some who may not meddle with others, as members of one Church may joyne in hearing and prayer with another Church: but not meddle in election and ordination of their Teachers, and therefore the proposition is not so evident to bee taken without proofe, that they have no power to admit a beleever into communion in any Church priviledge, who have no power to excommunicate.
Answ. What is here objected from the liberty or restriction of Church members in another Congregation, is answered before in the first objection, and therefore the proposition may stand good for all that is here said. 2 That which is set down as the proposition, is neither the same with that in our reason, nor any way allowed by us; for we speak not here of power to admit, but of the right to be partakers: neither do we deny a power in officers to admit members of other Churches to the seals, though they have no power to excommunicate them. 3 If our proposition seem to need proof: the reason of it is at hand, because those that are the peculiar privileges or proper privileges or proprieties of the Church, as seals and censures being of the same nature, viz. outward ordinances of Christ ordained by him for the ⟨p. 146⟩edification of his Church and jointly given to his Church: and therefore look to what Church he hath given the one, he hath given the other also: if the one, viz. censures, be given to the Church of a visible Congregation, then the other: they are all (both seals and censures) contained in the keys which are given to the visible instituted Churches of the New Testament: not to the Catholic (as such:) for a godly man justly cast out of the particular Church, yet cannot be cast out of the Catholic.