A93091:829
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. 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.
Reply. In reason this is evident, for the Child's consent is required in marriage, but the more able he is to choose for himself, the more liberty may Parents grant, the less able the more watchful must they be.
Reply. In reason this is evident, for the Childs consent is required in marriage, but the more able he is to choose for himselfe, the more liberty may Parents grant, the lesse able the more watchfull must they be.
This similitude utterly faileth in two essential things, that concern the case for which it is applied. 1. Because a child is under the authority of the parents, whose right is such that a Child cannot lawfully choose without them. But there is no Church or others have such a right and authority over any Church in their choice of Officers. 2. Whatsoever the power of parents be, yet the essence of the marriage consists in the mutual consent and promise of the children that marry, and so here the essence of a Ministers call must lye in the election of the Church and acceptance of the Minister which is not avoided but by the similitude confirmed.