A93091:754
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.
Answ. 1. Secondly, Whether the whole Church is to be judge hereof.
Whether the members of the Church be called, &c.
For answer to which we shall express our selves in these particulars, to prevent mistakes. First, that the question is not of what may keep a Church already constituted from being accounted no Church, but of what is to be required of such as join unto a Church, for a Church may be a true Church, and yet be very corrupt, (as is generally observed by Protestant writers, hoth out of the examples of some Churches in the New Testament, and that of the Old in the great Apostasy thereof) we think (in this same) Doctor Fields expressions may be safely1 received: Some profess Christ (saith he) but not wholly and entirely, as Heretics: some profess the whole saving truth, but not in unity, as Schismatics: some profess it in untie, but not in sincerity, as profane persons and Hypocrites: some in unity and sincerity: all these are partakers of the heavenly calling by profession of the truth, and consequently in some degree and sort the Church &c. But (we think that (this is no argument, that either Heretics, Schismatics, profane persons, or Hypocrites (if convictively discovered that such are meet matter to be joined to a Church.
For answer to which wee shall expresse our selves in these particulars, to prevent mistakes. First, that the question is not of what may keepe a Church already constituted from being accounted no Church, but of what is to bee required of such as joyne unto a Church, for a Church may bee a true Church, and yet be very corrupt, (as is generally observed by Protestant writers, hoth out of the examples of some Churches in the New Te••ament, and that of the Old in the great Apostasie thereof) wee thinke (in this same) Doctor Fields expressions may be safely