A93091:697
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. Thirdly, if Ecclesiastical and spiritual power be in the multitude and community of the faithful, the Church doth not only call, but make Officers out of power and virtue received into her self, and then should the Church have a true Lord like power in regard of her Ministers.
Reply. Thirdly, if Ecclesiasticall and spirituall power be in the multitude and community of the faithfull, the Church doth not onely call, but make Officers out of power and vertue received into her selfe, and then should the Church have a true Lord like power in regard of her Ministers.
Answ. If there be any such that hold the Church hath so the power of the Keys in her self, as that she may derive from her self authority to the Officers, let such look unto the conclusion; as for Mr. Robinson, though we do not approve the sentences you cite out of him, yet we doubt whether you do not go beyond his sense & meaning: but according to our sense of this position before laid down, neither this absurdity of Lordship over the Officers, nor any others that are instanced in, under this reason do at all follow; and they may be as strongly urged against the Presbyteries, Classes, Synods, Catholic Church, or any subject of the Keys that can be named: And the objection, viz. That God will have the Church choose Officers to execute the power committed to her, is so answered in the same page, as will serve us as well as you, viz. God will have her elect Officers of his designment (that is, such as the rule directs her to choose) to do his work according to that Power which he hath given them, and by his direction, and then they are Gods servants and not the Churches, and receive that charge and function immediately from God, and not from the people; we mean no otherwise then by that outward call instrumentally applying that Office unto them; and in this sense we close with you herein: and indeed this power of electing Officers doth not ever include authority over them whom they choose, but rather willing subjection unto them, and setting them up to rule; as when a woman chooseth a husband, she makes him her husband in a sort, but withal her head and ruler; so when a people choose a Major, &c.