A93091:709
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.
If any Minister and people of old acquaintance and dear affection, or any other Christians cleaving together in love have privately resolved or agreed together, not to part from each others in any Church, it is the most that we have taken knowledge of, and we think that hath been very rare, but for any such public promise, Covenant, or Church oath, (as some straining things to the height have called it) it is not, nor hath been required or practised amongst us: this being so, there needs no grounds of that which we practise not.
If any Minister and people of old acquaintance and deare affection, or any other Christians cleaving together in love have privatly resolved or agreed together, not to part from each others in any Church, it is the most that wee have taken knowledge of, and wee thinke that hath beene very rare, but for any such publick promise, Covenant, or Church oath, (as some straining things to the height have called it) it is not, nor hath been required or practised amongst us: this being so, there needs no grounds of that which wee practise not.
Reply. First, you exclude all such as be not set members from the seals, and yet hinder them from entrance into the Church society, because they cannot promise continuance in the place they are resident in for the present; here we, desire to be satisfied by the word of God by what you require it, &c.
Reply. First, you exclude all such as bee not set members from the seales, and yet hinder them from entrance into the Church society, because they cannot promise continuance in the place they are resident in for the present; here we, desire to bee satisfied by the word of God by what you require it, &c.
Answ. First, We deny not but divers may and do forbear to join because of their unsettledness in the place of their present abode.