A93091:824
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.
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.
Reply. If here it be questioned, whether your election of the people be essentiall to the calling of a Minister, wee answer, First, A thing is essentiall two wayes, 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 maymed without it. Againe 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 wisedome, sound in faith, and able to discerne of things that differ. In the first sense the election of the people is not necessary or essentiall, in the second, his calling in that respect is maymed.
Answ. It is to be noted, that here we dispute of the outward calling of Church-Officers; now the very essence of any outward calling, doth lye in the right and power of them that elect. If all the Countries of England should elect or call a Lord Major for London, be they never so many and wise, it is a mere nullity, and why? Because the right of election is not in them, but if the Citizens in whom the right lies, do elect (though weakly) he hath the true essence of the call: if others electing a Major the City will receive him, submit to him, and so give their consent, he may be said to have the substance of that call, though not an orderly and lawful election, and so maimed: so it is here.
Answ. It is to bee noted, that here wee dispute of the outward calling of Church-Officers; now the very essence of any outward calling, doth lye in the right and power of them that elect. If all the Countries of England should elect or call a Lord Major for London, bee they never so many and wise, it is a meere nullity, and why? Because the right of election is not in them, but if the Citizens in whom the right lyes, doe elect (though weakly) hee hath the true essence of the call: if others electing a Major the City will receive him, submit to him, and so give their consent, hee may bee said to have the substance of that call, though not an orderly and lawfull election, and so maymed: so it is here.