A93091:817
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. This restriction of the peoples power to an after consent, at least ordinarily, will not hold: if the evident light of Acts 6. could not be denied, and the other places were more obscure, why should not that place with its light clear the rest? but that in Act. 1. is as evident, Peter proves the need of such a choice to be made, shows it must be one that had so long conversed with Christ, to witness such things, and further he doth not lead them, there might be twenty such, but they choose two, as a preparative act to Apostleship, Vers. 23. and who were they, but such as they speak unto, viz. the Disciples, Vers. 15. whom he calls Men and Brethren, Vers. 16. so Act. 14. 23. lifting up of hands is the sign of election, not of an after consent.
Answ. This restriction of the peoples power to an after consent, at least ordinarily, will not hold: if the evident light of Acts 6. could not be denyed, and the other places were more obscure, why should not that place with its light cleare the rest? but that in Act. 1. is as evident, Peter proves the need of such a choice to be made, shews it must bee one that had so long conversed with Christ, to witnesse such things, and further hee doth not lead them, there might be twenty such, but they choose two, as a preparative act to Apostleship, Vers. 23. and who were they, but such as they speake unto, viz. the Disciples, Vers. 15. whom he cals Men and Brethren, Vers. 16. so Act. 14. 23. lifting up of hands is the signe of election, not of an after consent.
Lastly, by this Doctrine how shall the Church come by Officers, when she hath none to go before her in choosing for her? must she loose her right, or take whom others will choose for her, and impose upon her?