A93091:717
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. In the multitude of counsellors is peace, but over-many counsellors oft causeth distractions, and different apprehensions breed delays.
Reply. In the multitude of counsellers is peace, but over-many counsellors oft causeth distractions, and different apprehensions breed delayes.
Answ. We grant it may do so, neither do we bring all cases to public like counsel, but the case may be such as needs the public counsel of all, and as we have a gracious promise of the presence of Christ in his Churches who is the counsellor: so we confess to his praise, that we find the judgment of a Church of Saints in matters orderly carried, and gathered up from the various gifts of wisdom, grace, and experience of many Christians (when need is) to be a blessed privilege of Gods people to enjoy, and sanctified oft to the great good of his Saints, and being neglected and slighted hath been oft followed with sad events.
Answ. Wee grant it may doe so, neither doe wee bring all cases to publike like counsell, but the case may bee such as needs the publike counsell of all, and as wee have a gracious promise of the presence of Christ in his Churches who is the counsellour: so we confesse to his praise, that we finde the judgment of a Church of Saints in matters orderly carryed, and gathered up from the various gifts of wisedome, grace, and experience of many Christians (when need is) to be a blessed priviledge of Gods people to enjoy, and sanctified oft to the great good of his Saints, and being neglected and slighted hath been oft followed with sad events.
Reply. The nature of your Church-Covenant inferreth not a necessity of bringing every such business to the Church; for you bind your selves mutually to watch one over another, &c. but this essentially tieth not any man to a perpetual residence in one place, for then even occasional absence should be a breach of Covenant, without consent of the Church.