A93091:687
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.
Reply. After the Churches were established, it took not effect, for it is no where found in Scripture that Christ first committed this power to the Apostles, and after to the community; the Ministers and guides were immediately of Jesus Christ from whom immediately they derive their power and authority, by whom they are set over their charge, in whose name they ⟨p. 173⟩execute their Office, &c. Yea Pastorship is the gift of Christ as well as Apostleship; and every Pastor is not immediately called, but the office and order of Pastors, the calling, authority and jurisdiction is immediately from Christ, not from the Church.
Reply. After the Churches were established, it tooke not effect, for it is no where found in Scripture that Christ first committed this power to the Apostles, and after to the community; the Ministers and guides were immediately of Jesus Christ from whom immediately they derive their power and authority, by whom they are set over their charge, in whose name they ⟨p. 173⟩execute their Office, &c. Yea Pastorship is the gift of Christ as well as Apostleship; and every Pastor is not immediately called, but the office and order of Pastors, the calling, authority and jurisdiction is immediately from Christ, not from the Church.
Answ. First, the power of the Keys (in a right sense given to the Church) took effect from the beginning in Christs institution, and in the frequent practice of the Church, as is showed before, and therefore this is needless to be proved, that it took effect after. Secondly, that Ministers and guides were immediately from Christ, (if you mean ordinary officers) and that every Pastor is not immediately called, seems to be a contradiction: the places, Act. 28. 8. Ephes. 4. 8. &c. do not prove that all Officers are immediately from Christ, though they be set in the Church by Christ and over the Church by the Holy Ghost, &c. This the Lord can do, and doth do by the means of his Church walking according to his rule and institution, and therefore you must come at last home to our tenet, (as here you do) that Pastorship, the office, power, jurisdiction, &c. annexed to it, is immediately from Christ, viz. by his institution in the Gospel: but Pastors every one that receive this office, hath it from Christ, but by his Church calling them to the same, and in the name of Christ applying it to them: and thus far we agree with you.