A93091:602
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. We see here still how unawares the truth of this proposition and of the position it self breaketh forth; for the proposition it is fully yielded and is most plain in the place alluded to Acts 14. Vers. 23. And the position is yielded also, for if the Apostles admitted believers into all those Churches in the first constitution of them by baptism, (which is the very truth we contend for, and was formerly denied) and these Churches were such as chose Elders (and therefore were particular Churches) and so the cause is fully yielded.
Answ. Wee see here still how unawares the truth of this proposition and of the position it selfe breaketh forth; for the proposition it is fully yeelded and is most plain in the place alluded to Acts 14. Vers. 23. And the position is yeelded also, for if the Apostles admitted beleevers into all those Churches in the first constitution of them by baptisme, (which is the very truth wee contend for, and was formerly denyed) and these Churches were such as chose Elders (and therefore were particular Churches) and so the cause is fully yeelded.
Reply. A company of converts unbaptized ought to desire baptism, but they have no power to elect one amongst themselves to dispense the seals unto the rest, &c. It can never be showed in Scripture that any society of unbaptized did first choose from among themselves a Pastor or Teacher by whom they might be baptized, you cannot produce one example or other proof in Scripture of one man teaching the Gospel ministerially, but he was baptized and a member of a true Church or of a society, who made choice of a Pastor or Teacher, but they were baptized persons.
Reply. A company of converts unbaptized ought to desire baptisme, but they have no power to elect one amongst themselves to dispense the seales unto the rest, &c. It can never bee shewed in Scripture that any society of unbaptized did first choose from among themselves a Pastour or Teacher by whom they might bee baptized, you cannot produce one example or other proofe in Scripture of one man teaching the Gospel ministerially, but hee was baptized and a member of a true Church or of a society, who made choyce of a Pastor or Teacher, but they were baptized persons.