A93091:729
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.
How sad a case is it when some brainsick master of a family, transported with a fancy, an odd opinion, will needs carry his whole family with himself to the grief and hazard of his godly wife and hopeful children, &c. from all Ordinances of Christ to a people full of fanatical errors! were it Christian liberty, or dangerous licentiousness to leave such a man to his own counsels, and not meddle with him?
How sad a case is it when some brainsicke master of a family, transported with a fancy, an odde opinion, will needs carry his whole family with himselfe to the griefe and hazard of his godly wife and hopefull children, &c. from all Ordinances of Christ to a people full of fanaticall errours! were it Christian liberty, or dangerous licenciousnesse to leave such a man to his owne counsels, and not meddle with him?
Reply. May you not hear from your own grounds, that herein you have devised an expedient or necessary rite or custom to prevent the dissolution of the body, which never came into he mind of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of his body, and in so doing (if your exposition hold good) you break the second Commandment; and so press customs only expedient for the time as standing rules necessary for all times and all persons, to put that authority into the hands▪ of men which God never put upon them, to oblige men to meddle in the affairs of men beyond warrant, to bind consciences under so heavy • penalty as that of Ananias and Sapphira, where God hath not bound them, to debar approved Christians from the seals, because they cannot promise as ceiled members to abide in the society, and yet charge them as men that against light refuse subjection to the Gospel, this is that which we cannot approve, which yet we suspect will follow from your judgement, and desire to be resolved in your practise.
Reply. May you not heare from your owne grounds, that herein you have devised an expedient or necessary rite or custome to prevent the dissolution of the body, which never came into he minde of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of his body, and in so doing (if your exposition hold good) you break the second Commandement; and so presse customes onely expedient for the time as standing rules necessary for all times and all persons, to put that authority into the hands of men which God never put upon them, to obliege men to meddle in the affaires of men beyond warrant, to binde consciences under so heavy penalty as that of Ananias and Saphira, where God hath not bound them, to debarre approved Christians from the seales, because they cannot promise as seiled members to abide in the society, and yet charge them as men that against light refuse subjection to the Gospel, this is that which wee cannot approve, which yet wee suspect will follow from your judgement, and desire to bee resolved in your practise.