A93091:622
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.
Secondly, when it cannot be denied but the choice of Ministers is in the Church, and that hands should not rashly be laid on any man: and Deacons the lowest Office should be proved and then Minister being found blameless, yea he saith and these also proved, implying that others also should be so, 1 Tim. 3. 10. what fault can be found with the substance of what either Robinson or our selves speak, if our meaning, and his were but charitably taken? If his word be over-zealous to say it is a presumptuous ⟨p. 160⟩sin to do otherwise, what is that to us?
Secondly, when it cannot be denied but the choyse of Ministers is in the Church, and that hands should not rashly bee laid on any man: and Deacons the lowest Office should bee proved and then Minister being found blamelesse, yea hee saith and these also proved, implying that others also should bee so, 1 Tim. 3. 10. what fault can be found with the substance of what either Robinson or our selves speake, if our meaning, and his were but charitably taken? If his word bee over-zealous to say it is a presumptuous ⟨p. 160⟩sin to doe otherwise, what is that to us?
Thirdly, For the delay of ordinances, if both these be taken together: in most cases it need not be long, where God affordeth able and fit men for office. But if some delay be, and that a church want some ordinances, and cannot by Communion with other Churches enjoy them, (which is rare,) yet is it not better to forbear some ordinances a while, then miscarry in so great a work as the choice of officers, upon which the following comfort and good of the Church doth so much depend? The demand following is answered in this whole discourse, and we hope not with words but proofs; especially in our answer to the Reply in the first consideration: neither do we see any such difficulty, but that such Christians may as easily join to such a Church for a time, as desire to enjoy the ordinances, and to sit loose from it: for transient members we disallow not.