A93091:691
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.
What doth this argument conclude? if only that the function and order is not from the Church as the first subject, we readily grant it; if the application of the office to such a person, (so far as may be done by an outward call) it follows not at all, for the function and office may be from Christ, and the application thereof by the Church.
What doth this argument conclude? if onely that the function and order is not from the Church as the first subject, we readily grant it; if the application of the office to such a person, (so farre as may bee done by an outward call) it followes not at all, for the function and office may bee from Christ, and the application thereof by the Church.
Reply. Thus Protestant Divines dispute against Papists, if Bishops receive their power and authority of exercising immediately from Christ by Mandate, Mission and commission from him, then not from the Pope, and so for Presbyters in regard of the Bishop.
Answ. The reason and ground of that dispute is because the Pope claims a plenitude of power from Peter, whence all must see derived to all Bishops, &c. be they never so orderly chosen and ordained in their own esteem, and so indeed usurps the Prerogative of Christ the head of the Church. The like usurpation •• its degree was in the Bishops over Presbyters: But here the case is far different, the Church clamming no such power, but only Ministerial in the outward call of officers according to his direction, and so the application of that office unto the persons, which hath sufficient ground of Scripture from Christ, and therefore we grant the conclusion. viz. That they derive not their power from the people, but from Christ: by means of the Church Ministerially and instrumentally applying that office to them, whereunto Christ hath annexed that power. Lastly the like argument may be objected against any other subject of this power you can or will suppose, even the Presbytery it self.