A93091:826
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.
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.
Secondly, if in our election of the people (being the Scripture ⟨p. 205⟩way of election,) the proper right and power bee 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 Ministery, in which case wee grant though the calling be maymed, yet it hath the substance of a true calling. But if the people will not receive such as are imposed upon them, hee hath no call at all, but usurpes the same, and it is a meer nullity. And therefore it concernes Churches the more to consider, what they doe in receiving and submitting to such unworthy Ministers, as are oft imposed upon them; but if the right and power of electing Ministers bee in any other Persons, let it be shewed from the Scriptures, for we are not much moved in such cases with the corrupt customes of after-times.
And this also shows what kind of call such men have that are ordained by Prelates at large without any election at all, if they be Ministers to the Catholic Church, then the Catholic Church is bound to receive them, and submit to their Office, but no part of the Catholic Church, and therefore not the whole is bound to submit to them, and therefore indeed they have no office nor calling as Pastors or Teachers, except it can be proved they be Evangelists, Apostles or Prophets.