A93091:801
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 this was evident by the qualifications of persons to be received to the Lords Table, voted at first by the present Reverend Assembly, and presented in their Directory to the Parliament, if we be not mis-informed: whose words are these, None are to be admitted thereto (meaning the Lord Suppers) but such as being baptized are found upon careful examination by the Minister, before the other Church-Officers, to have a competent measure of knowledge and ability to examine themselves, and profess their willingness to submit themselves to all the Ordinances of Christ, and are of approved conversation according to Christ: the ignorant and scandalous are not to be admitted, nor those of another Congregation, unless they have sufficient testimony or be very well known.
And this was evident by the qualifications of persons to be received to the Lords Table, voted at first by the present Reverend Assembly, and presented in their Directory to the Parliament, if wee bee not mis-informed: whose words are these, None are to bee admitted thereto (meaning the Lord Suppers) but such as being baptized are found upon carefull examination by the Minister, before the other Church-Officers, to have a competent measure of knowledge and ability to examine themselves, and professe their willingnesse to submit thewselves to all the Ordinances of Christ, and are of approved conversation according to Christ: the ignorant and scandalous are not to bee admitted, nor those of another Congregation, unlesse they have sufficient testimony or be very well knowne.
If it be objected, that some of these instances concern unbaptized persons only, which is not our case; Answ. 1. Multitude of baptized persons in these days are as ignorant and profane as some unbaptized; and therefore as apt to pollute Gods Ordinances: 2. Chamiers reason, why unbaptized persons were to go under such strict examination, holds good in our case. 3. Such profession of faith was required by John and the Apostles of those that were Church members before.
If it bee objected, that some of these instances concerne unbaptized persons onely, which is not our case; Answ. 1. Multitude of baptized persons in these dayes are as ignorant and prophane as some unbaptized; and therefore as apt to pollute Gods Ordinances: 2. Chamiers reason, why unbaptized persons were to go under such strict examination, holds good in our case. 3. Such profession of faith was required by John and the Apostles of those that were Church members before.