A93091:763
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 therefore, if what he required, they manifested by their profession, and confession of sins, it was not only to believe the doctrine of faith, but a saving work of faith which they held forth. And therefore it is not an outward profession of faith, according to a Creed which is required, for then a Papist is fit matter for a Church, nor willingness to hear the Word and receive the Sacraments, for then heaps of profane persons are to be received into the Church, but it's profession of a work, and saving work of grace, which being ever required in the purest times, is no novel invention of some more rigidly inclined in these things.
and therefore, if what hee required, they manifested by their profession, and confession of sinnes, it was not onely to beleeve the doctrine of faith, but a saving worke of faith which they held forth. And therefore it is not an outward profession of faith, according to a Creed which is required, for then a Papist is fit matter for a Church, nor willingnesse to heare the Word and receive the Sacraments, for then heapes of prophane persons are to bee received into the Church, but it's profession of a worke, and saving worke of grace, which being ever required in the purest times, is no novell invention of some more rigidly inclined in these things.
To the second, with what profession (charity, according to rule) is to rest satisfied?
We answer, that there is a breadth in charity according to rule and profession of faith being but testimonium humanum, or a mans own testimony concerning himself, therefore as in the most eminent profession, potest subesse falsum, there may be hypocrisy latent, (it being no divine testimony) so in the weakest profession of the work of faith, potest subesse verum, id est, there may be truth in the bottom: hence (man leaving all secrets to God) the work of grace wherewith charity is to be satisfied, is one of these two. First, either with that which is only verbal, and appears to be false by conviction from the word: Or secondly, with that which appears to be real, which however it may be false, yet it is beyond the power of man to convince (by a rule) that so it is. We confess we are fearful as of opening the door too wide, so of shutting the doors upon any whom God would have us to receive in, but for what yet we see or read, from the arguments here alleged in this Author, or the writings of others godly learned: we think that Church charity is not to rest satisfied with the first, but with the latter; for let the profession of the work of faith be never so short, or so weak, let it be by their own immediate relation or by question, yet if it may but appear to a regulated charity so as to hope that it is real, it is to rest satisfied then, till God make discovery to the