A93091:591
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.
CHAP. XI. Consid. 6.
Reply. TO the sixth consideration, this conclusion is not to the question propounded: for we speak of such as cannot, not of such as refuse to join themselves to the Churches; or if they do not join, it is not out of contempt, or wilful neglect, but for lack of opportunity, or through their default, that should admit them, but do not.
Reply. TO the sixt consideration, this conclusion is not to the question propounded: for wee speake of such as cannot, not of such as refuse to joyne themselves to the Churches; or if they doe not joyne, it is not out of contempt, or wilfull neglect, but for lacke of opportunity, or through their default, that should admit them, but doe not.
Answ. The learned Author here wholly mistakes the conclusion of this argument; the conclusion is plain and expressed with the ordinary note, Ergo no christian can expect by the appointment of God, to partake in the seals, till he hath joined himself in Church-fellowship, and in the call of the Minister; and this is fully to the question propounded: and we marvelled it should not be observed, but the last words of the answer should be put in stead of it, which are only a secondary deduction from the former, as an absurdity, which may follow: if the other be not granted. And yet hence occasion is taken to charge us with injurious and tyrannical dealing toward such as are not admitted, which we leave to the Lord to judge of, and of us. You say, you accuse not the discretion of our Churches, but impute it to the rashness of the zealous multitude, but if it were so practised, as is conceived, the Churches and their guides should show little wisdom, and faithfulness to the Lord, and the souls of his people.