A93091:580
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. TO the first consideration, If it be repugnant to divine institution to admit of approved Christians lawfully baptized, walking in the faith, members of the visible Churches, and partakers of Church privileges amongst us, to the Lords Supper, or their children to baptism; because they be not entered into Church-fellowship according to your order, then it is unlawful though no such evil consequences are to be feared, but if by accident some abuse should fall out, the evil is to be prevented by all lawful means, but the faithful are not to be debarred utterly of the order of God, whereto they have right and title by his free grant and gracious institution.
Reply. TO the first consideration, If it bee repugnant to divine institution to admit of approved Christians lawfully baptized, walking in the faith, members of the visible Churches, and partakers of Church priviledges amongst us, to the Lords Supper, or their children to baptisme; because they bee not entered into Church-fellowship according to your order, then it is unlawfull though no such evill consequences are to bee feared, but if by accident some abuse should fall out, the evill is to bee prevented by all lawfull meanes, but the faithfull are not to be debarred utterly of the order of God, whereto they have right and title by his free grant and gracious institution.
Answ. We cannot but still complain of this liberty, which is taken in changing the terms of the question, First: that clause, Members of visible Churches, is not in the position, nor is it maintained by us in that sense, neither do we limit Church-fellowship to our order, (as it is called) but acknowledge Churches defective in matters of order, (as was said) in the answer: and therefore it is an apparent wrong to us and to the readers, so oft to put in such things as are not in the controversy.
Answ. Wee cannot but still complaine of this liberty, which is taken in changing the termes of the question, First: that clause, Members of visible Churches, is not in the position, nor is it maintained by us in that sense, neither doe wee limit Church-fellowship to our order, (as it is called) but acknowledge Churches defective in matters of order, (as was said) in the answer: and therefore it is an apparent wrong to us and to the readers, so oft to put in such things as are not in the controversie.