A93091:828
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 the people be few and simple, they stand in more need of guidance from their own Elders and other Churches; If many and full of wisdom, their liberty to choose is the greater, and the greater wrong to be deprived of it. The practise of the Apostles and Primitive Churches show this for many ages, sometime men were propounded to the Church to be chosen, sometimes the chief left wholly to them.
Reply. If the people be few and simple, they stand in more need of guidance from their owne Elders and other Churches; If many and full of wisdome, their liberty to choose is the greater, and the greater wrong to bee deprived of it. The practise of the Apostles and Primitive Churches shew this for many ages, sometime men were propounded to the Church to be chosen, sometimes the chiefe left wholly to them.
Answ. 1 What is all this to the purpose, what light or direction a Church need to receive? the essence of a Ministers call lies not in the propounding or advising of any to elect him, but in the Election of such as have the true right so to do, which is still in the Church, though few and weak, if a true Church, and yet you produce not one Scripture example of any Officer propounded by the Apostles, or Elders to the Church to be chosen by them, much less limiting the Church to consent thereto, if they had nothing against him.
Answ. 1 What is all this to the purpose, what light or derection a Church need to receive? the essence of a Ministers call lyes not in the propounding or advising of any to elect him, but in the Election of such as have the true right so to doe, which is still in the Church, though few and weake, if a true Church, and yet you produce not one Scripture example of any Officer propounded by the Apostles, or Elders to the Church to be chosen by them, much lesse limiting the Church to consent thereto, if they had nothing against him.