A93091:822
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.
It is very true, that as the times grew worse, the elections were oft disturbed, sometimes by the Clergy choosing without the people, (of which Athanasius complains) sometimes by the peoples carrying it tumultuously: sometime the Emperors interposing.
It is very true, that as the times grew worse, the elections were oft disturbed, sometimes by the Clergy choosing without the people, (of which Athanasius complaines) sometimes by the peoples carrying it tumultuously: sometime the Emperors interposing.
But this and like corruptions cannot forfeit the liberty of the Church which Christ hath given it, and therefore he that was no great friend to the peoples liberties, yet ingenuously saith that although the people is Bellua multorum capitum, and most apt to be tumultuous, yet this is not innated to a beleeving people, qui non minus nunc quam olim gravis esset in electionibus, ac publicae utilitatis studiosissima, Spalta▪ de Rep. Eccles. Lib. 3. Cap. 3.
But this and like corruptions cannot forfeit the liberty of the Church which Christ hath given it, and therefore hee that was no great friend to the peoples liberties, yet ingenuously saith that although the people is Bellua multorum capitum, and most apt to be tumultuous, yet this is not innated to a beleeving people, qui non minus nunc quam olim gravis esset in electionibus, ac publicae utilitatis studiosissima, Spalta▪ de Rep. Eccles. Lib. 3. Cap. 3.
Reply. If here it be questioned, whether your election of the people be essential to the calling of a Minister, we answer, First, A thing is essential two ways, either as absolutely necessary, so as the thing can have no existence without it; or necessary to the integrity of a thing, so that it is maimed without it. Again the people be either few in number, and simple, unable to judge of the sufficiency of a Minister, or they be more in number, increased in wisdom, sound in faith, and able to discern of things that differ. In the first sense the election of the people is not necessary or essential, in the second, his calling in that respect is maimed.