A93091:825
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. 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.
Secondly, if in our election of the people (being the Scripture ⟨p. 205⟩way of election,) the proper right and power be seated by Christ in the Church, unto whom they are to minister, then it must needs follow, that the very essence of a Ministers call stands in their election, or at least in their after consent and subjection to his Ministry, in which case we grant though the calling be maimed, yet it hath the substance of a true calling. But if the people will not receive such as are imposed upon them, he hath no call at all, but usurps the same, and it is a mere nullity. And therefore it concerns Churches the more to consider, what they do in receiving and submitting to such unworthy Ministers, as are oft imposed upon them; but if the right and power of electing Ministers be in any other Persons, let it be showed from the Scriptures, for we are not much moved in such cases with the corrupt customs of after-times.