A93091:713
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. Secondly, It pertains not to the whole Congregation to take notice or be acquainted with or judge of every particular members removal: may not a servant remove from his Master to another Congregation, or a father bestow his child in marriage to one of another Congregation, but the whole Church must be called to counsel in the matters, &c. when Churches grow populous they must be negligent or weary of such a ta•ke, and for the present to challenge so much authority over one another is usurpation, &c.
Reply. Secondly, It pertaines not to the whole Congregation to take notice or bee acquainted with or judge of every particular members removall: may not a servant remove from his Master to another Congregation, or a father bestow his childe in marriage to one of another Congregation, but the whole Church must be called to counsell in the matters, &c. when Churches grow populous they must bee negligent or weary of such a ta•ke, and for the present to challenge so much authority over one another is usurpation, &c.
Answ. If our answer were but attended, such apprehensions of our practise of calling the whole Church to counsel in every such case, and all that follows might be spared. For thus we say, We judge it expedient, &c. That none forsake fellowship and abruptly break off, &c. This doth not imply a necessity of calling the whole Church to counsel in every plain and easy case; many times, and for the most part such removals are so plain and free from suspicion of abrupt breaking off or forsaking fellowship, that there is no need of counsel, as in case of servants marriages, &c. and therefore no trouble to the Church: and in some removal of families also, the case is clear, and openly carried in the knowledge of many of the Church, none scruple it, and therefore at the first demand of dismission or letters of recommendations, the same are granted: but in removal of some members, and in the manner of the same, there are such difficulties and dangers as need the prayers and counsel of the Officers and whole Church, (as is confessed after) nor do we say, it pertains to the whole Church to be called to counsel and judge of every particular members removal, for they may approve themselves to the consciences of all mediately by advising with some who may satisfy the rest, if need be.