A93091:750
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.
Only this we may profess before the Lord and his people, that in the main scope of our hearts and endeavours of our lives we have sought after such a form of worship, and frame of discipline, as we could conceive by the Word of God and the help of the best Reformers to be according to the will of Christ, not allowing our selves in any evil discovered unto us, but bewailing our great defects in all.
Onely this wee may professe before the Lord and his people, that in the maine scope of our hearts and indeavours of our lives wee have sought after such a forme of worship, and frame of discipline, as we could conceive by the Word of God and the helpe of the best Reformers to bee according to the will of Christ, not allowing our selves in any evill discovered unto us, but bewayling our great defects in all.
Reply. And here we crave leave to put you in mind of what you have considered ⟨p. 188⟩already. That the Church and every member have entered into Covenant, to take God for their God, &c. but we never find that they were called to give account of the work of grace wrought in their souls, or that the whole Congregation were to be judge thereof. You stand here all this day (saith Moses) before the Lord your God, &c. that thou shouldest enter into Covenant with the Lord thy God. All that were borne in the wilderness Joshua circumcised, but it is uncredible to think there was none that did not give good testimony of the work of grace, &c.
Reply. And here wee crave leave to put you in mind of what you have considered ⟨p. 188⟩already. That the Church and every member have entered into Covenant, to take God for their God, &c. but wee never finde that they were called to give account of the worke of grace wrought in their soules, or that the whole Congregation were to bee judge thereof. You stand here all this day (saith Moses) before the Lord your God, &c. that thou shouldest enter into Covenant with the Lord thy God. All that were borne in the wildernesse Joshua circumcised, but it is uncredible to thinke there was none that did not give good testimony of the worke of grace, &c.