A93091:674
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. If our whole answer had been attended unto, it is so clear and full, that it could not with any show of reason be subject to such a mistake: To omit the first part of our answer affirmatively, wherein we cite Mr. Parker as consenting with him. In the second part to the position as stated, our answer is plainly negative, that excommunication is not so seated, neither ought to be so in any of the Churches of the Lord Jesus. What follows is our reason grounded upon the last clause of the position, because Churches ought to carry things not by number of votes against God (as this position implies) but by strength of Rule and Reason according to God, and for edification, 2 Cor. 13. 8. 2 Cor. 10. 8. Now let any judge whether the position doth not imply such an absurdity so oft as things should be carried by the major vote against the Officers, and the rest having better Reasons, and therefore we are apt to think that if the learned author had been so ready to embrace any syllable that lends to dislodge these ⟨p. 169⟩thoughts of us as leaning to separation, he would have believed our plain negation of this position, which indeed is according to our constant practise never following the major part of votes against the Officers, but counting it the duty of the Officers in such cases either to satisfy the consciences of the major part (or lesser) by the rule of the word, or to yield not to the vote but reasons if they be stranger; or to suspend the business, and refer to the counsel of other Churches, if they cannot agree but a division arise according to the pattern, Act. 15.
Answ. If our whole answer had been attended unto, it is so cleare and full, that it could not with any shew of reason bee subject to such a mistake: To omit the first part of our answer affirmatively, wherein wee cite Mr. Parker as consenting with him. In the second part to the position as stated, our answer is plainely negative, that excommunication is not so seated, neither ought to bee so in any of the Churches of the Lord Jesus. What followes is our reason grounded upon the last clause of the position, because Churches ought to carry things not by number of votes against God (as this position implies) but by strength of Rule and Reason according to God, and for edification,