A93091:814
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. These things about the call of a Minister by the Church were also spoken to before, when we spake of the power of the Keys, and the first subject thereof, and therefore the assertion being granted, these things might well be spared, but what we find here more then in the other place, we shall consider.
Answ. These things about the call of a Minister by the Church were also spoken to before, when wee spake of the power of the Keys, and the first subject thereof, and therefore the assertion being granted, these things might well be spared, but what we finde here more then in the other place, we shall consider.
The power of the Church in electing her Officers is so clear in the Scripture, and so confessed a truth by the godly learned, that it cannot be denied, yet here seem to be given so many restrictions in the case, that they much abate and weaken this great and precious liberty and power given by the Lord. 1. That the power and Office of a Pastor is immediately from Christ by his institution is granted, but the question is, how this man comes to have this Office applied to him; if immediately, then he is in this an Apostle, if mediately, it is by the Church, or else show by whom 2. That the Church choose Ministerially, and ought to choose whom Christ hath described in his word, and fitted with gifts, and so far designed by Christ we grant, but what if there be twenty such? Which of them doth Christ design, but whom the Church freely choose? and therefore that is no diminution of their power, that they must choose ministerially, and whom Christ so designs. The case is alike in all other Ordinances dispensed, Examination is immediately from Christ, by his institution, the person to be censured is designed or described by▪ Christ, a notorious or obstinate sinner: the Church pass this sentence only Ministerially, and yet puts forth a great power of the Lord Jesus Christ, in applying the sentence to this or that person: and so here▪ and therefore it is strange to us, that any should say they depute this Officer neither virtually nor formally, when ⟨p. 203⟩