A93091:744
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.
Again in the same page (for these things are thick sown) Herein, saith he, you have devised an expedient or necessary rite or custom to preserve unity, &c. but if you seek a ground it will be found a mistake▪ •s is showed before, and contrary to the express profession of the Answer, That we promise no new duties, but only such as the Gospel requires of all Saints in Church order, much less do we set up new rites and customs.
Againe in the same page (for these things are thick sowne) Herein, saith he, you have devised an expedient or necessary rite or custome to preserve unity, &c. but if you seeke a ground it will bee found a mistake▪ •s is shewed before, and contrary to the expresse profession of the Answer, That wee promise no new duties, but onely such as the Gospell requires of all Saints in Church order, much lesse doe wee set up new rites and customes.
And as if all these particular imputations in the compass of one leaf were two little, Page next 81. we have a whole Catalogue gathered together from other places and this, that by laying things together the odium▪ raised might stick the deeper: for thus the words are, But to press customs expedient for the time as standing rules, necessary at all times and all persons; To put authority in the hands of men which God never put upon them, and to oblige them to intermeddle; To bind the consciences of men, and that upon so heavy a penalty as the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, where God hath not bound it▪ ⟨p. 187⟩To debar known Christians from the seals, because they cannot promise to abide in the Church as settled members; and yet charge them in the mean season against light to refuse subjection to the Gospel. Concerning all which we do not know any of them to be true, nor approve any such thing in any, if it should be found among us. And what is the ground of all this? Truly weak enough (as hath been showed in our discourse) and here it is the suspicion of the Author, for thus he adds, This is that we cannot approve, and yet we suspect will follow from your judgement.