A93091:844
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.
Fourthly we answer clearly and plainly to the chief scope of the question, If a Minister be unjustly deposed or forsaken by his particular Church, and he also withal renounce and forsake them, so far as all Office and relation between them cease, then is he no longer an Officer or Pastor in any Church of God, whatsoever you will call it. And the Reason is, because a Ministers office in the Church i• no indelible Character, but consists in his relation to the flock: and if a Minister once ordained, his relation ceasing, his Office of a Minister, Steward of the mysteries of God shall still remain; why should not a ruling Elder or Deacon remain an Elder or Deacon in the Church as well? all are Officers Ordained of Christ alike given to his Church, Officers ⟨p. 209⟩chosen and Ordained by laying on of hands alike, but we suppose you will not say a Deacon in such a case should remain a Deacon in the Catholic Church, therefore not a Minister.
Fourthly we answer clearely and plainely to the chiefe scope of the question, If a Minister bee unjustly deposed or forsaken by his particular Church, and he also withall renounce and forsake them, so farre as all Office and relation betweene them cease, then is hee no longer an Officer or Pastour in any Church of God, whatsoever you will call it. And the Reason is, because a Ministers office in the Church i• no indelible Character, but consists in his relation to the flocke: and if a Minister once ordained, his relation ceasing, his Office of a Minister, Steward of the mysteries of God shall still remaine; why should not a ruling Elder or Deacon remaine an Elder or Deacon in the Church as well? all are Officers Ordained of Christ alike given to his Church, Officers ⟨p. 209⟩chosen and Ordained by laying on of hands alike, but wee suppose you will not say a Deacon in such a case should remaine a Deacon in the Catholique Church, therefore not a Minister.