A93091:651
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 grant the Apostles ordinarily and generally baptized upon common grounds, but still when they did so they received them into some particular Church; and so baptized them: and in the like orderly way any pastor may do the same. Secondly, we answer, things may be done (sano sensu) upon common and moral grounds, and yet may not be done by others upon the same grounds. To give one instance in stead of many: the Apostles preached the Gospel to gather in the elect of God and to edify the Church &c. and Ministers upon the same common grounds must now preach the Gospel also: yet in that the Apostles on those grounds preached to all Nations, this doth not warrant Ministers now to do the like: so here though we baptize believers as they did, yet we may not do it to all in all cases as they did. And therefore the rule holds only when all circumstances are alike as well as the Common grounds.
Answ. Wee grant the Apostles ordinarily and generally baptized upon common grounds, but still when they did so they received them into some particular Church; and so baptized them: and in the like orderly way any pastour may doe the same. Secondly, we answer, things may bee done (sano sensu) upon common and morall grounds, and yet may not be done by others upon the same grounds. To give one instance in stead of many: the Apostles preached the Gospel to gather in the elect of God and to edifie the Church &c. and Ministers upon the same common grounds must now preach the Gospel also: yet in that the Apostles on those grounds preached to all Nations, this doth not warrant Ministers now to do the like: so here though we baptize beleevers as they did, yet wee may not do it to all in all cases as they did. And therefore the rule holds onely when all circumstances are alike as well as the Common grounds.
Reply. Secondly, In the instance given, it is not probable that baptism was evermore administered by the Apostles or Evangelists. For before the death of Christ the Disciples baptized, when they were neither Apostles nor Evangelists properly. After the death of Christ, &c. If Philip, Ananias, and others might baptize such as were no members of particular Congregations, then may ordinary Pastors do the like.