A93091:745
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.
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.
And as if all these particular imputations in the compasse of one leafe were two little, Page next 81. wee 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 presse customes 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 penaltie as the sinne of Ananias and Saphira, where God hath not bound it▪ ⟨p. 187⟩To debarre knowne Christians from the seales, because they cannot promise to abide in the Church as setled members; and yet charge them in the meane season against light to refuse subjection to the Gospel. Concerning all which wee doe 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? Truely weake enough (as hath been shewed in our discourse) and here it is the suspicion of the Author, for thus hee adds, This is that wee cannot approve, and yet wee suspect will follow from your judgement.