A93091:757
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.
Secondly, when a work of grace is required and desired of those ⟨p. 189⟩who are to join to a Church, the meaning is not as if we allowed none to be of the Church, but real Saints, and such as give demonstrative evidence of being members of the invisible Church; for we profess (according to the Scripture and general doctrine of all reformed Churches (what ever their practise be) that it is not real, but visible faith, not the inward being, but the outward profession of faith, (whence men are called visible Saints) that constitutes a visible Church, which faith so professed is called visible, not in the judgement of certainty, from such infallible signs of it, as may demonstrate the hidden being of it within; but in the judgement of charity which hopes the best. (1 Cor. 12▪ 7) in the weakest Christian and meanest profession, even when it sometimes fears the worst, and is not able at the present, to convince the contrary.
Secondly, when a worke of grace is required and desired of those ⟨p. 189⟩who are to joyne to a Church, the meaning is not as if wee allowed none to bee of the Church, but reall Saints, and such as give demonstrative evidence of being members of the invisible Church; for we professe (according to the Scripture and generall doctrine of all reformed Churches (what ever their practise bee) that it is not reall, but visible faith, not the inward being, but the outward profession of faith, (whence men are called visible Saints) that constitutes a visible Church, which faith so professed is called visible, not in the judgement of certainty, from such infallible signes of it, as may demonstrate the hidden being of it within; but in the judgement of charity which hopes the best. (1 Cor. 12▪ 7) in the weakest Christian and meanest profession, even when it sometimes feares the worst, and is not able at the present, to convince the contrary.