A93091:659
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. 1 We suppose amongst such Circumstances you will reckon that for one, that the Eunuch was baptized alone in the Wilderness, not in any visible assembly of Saints. Wherein ordinary Pastors may not imitate that Act: and this comes not far short of what we say: for the chief proof that they were not received into a particular Church, lies in their absence from such an assembly: and if they might be admitted to the Catholic Church without the presence of any Christian (but him that baptized them) why not into a particular Church as well? 2 The large discourse about the Apostles extraordinary power, and doing things upon common grounds: is so oft said for substance, and answered before, that it were vain to trouble the Reader again with the same thing.
Answ. 1 Wee suppose amongst such Circumstances you will reckon that for one, that the Eunuch was baptized alone in the Wildernesse, not in any visible assembly of Saints. Wherein ordinary Pastors may not imitate that Act: and this comes not farre short of what wee say: for the chiefe proof that they were not received into a particular Church, lies in their absence from such an assembly: and if they might bee admitted to the Catholick Church without the presence of any Christian (but him that baptized them) why not into a particular Church as well? 2 The large discourse about the Apostles extraordinary power, and doing things upon common grounds: is so oft said for substance, and answered before, that it were vaine to trouble the Reader againe with the same thing.
Reply. Secondly, an argument follows necessarily from a particular example to a general, when the proof of one particular to another is made by force of the similitude common to the whole kind under which those particulars are contained. Now in this matter we speak of; no reason can be named why we should think it lawful for the Apostles to baptize such as were no set members, and the same should be unlawful in all cases for Pastors of particular Congregations.
Reply. Secondly, an argument followes necessarily from a particular example to a generall, when the proofe of one particular to another is made by force of the similitude common to the whole kind under which those particulars are contained. Now in this matter wee speake of; no reason can bee named why wee should thinke it lawfull for the Apostles to baptize such as were no set members, and the same should be unlawfull in all cases for Pastors of particular Congregations.