A93091:846
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.
But if by usual Church you mean a Classical, Provincial or National Church, we must entreat better grounds for any of these, and therefore we must confess our mind and meaning is not so, that we look at a Minister of a particular Church in any such relation to the usual and intermediate Church between it and the Catholic. The second sense therefore we own and acknowledge as before. But whether this be contrary to the judgement and practise of the universal Church, we know not; because it is hard for us know what the universal Church judgeth, except we could hear it speak or see its practise; if the only head Prophet and Shepherd of the Church Jesus Christ be fit to declare her judgement, we will be tried thereby, who we know hath s•t Elders in every particular Church, Act. 14. 23. to watch over their particular flock, Act. 20. 28. but not over any other Church that we can find. Neither doth this destroy the unity or Communion of the Catholic Church, nor of particular Churches one with another as is said, for Churches may enjoy brotherly Communion one with another, without such stated forms, under the power and authority of one another, as hath been showed before.
But if by usuall Church you meane a Classical, Provinciall or Nationall Church, wee must intreat better grounds for any of these, and therefore wee must confesse our minde and meaning is not so, that wee looke at a Minister of a particular Church in any such relation to the usuall and intermediate Church betweene it and the Catholique. The second sense therefore we owne and acknowledge as before. But whether this be contrary to the judgement and practise of the universall Church, wee know not; because it is hard for us know what the universall Church judgeth, except we could heare it speake or see its practise; if the onely head Prophet and Shepherd of the Church Jesus Christ be fit to declare her judgement, we will be tryed thereby, who we know hath s•t Elders in every particular Church, Act. 14. 23. to watch over their particular flock, Act. 20. 28. but not over any other Church that wee can finde. Neither doth this destroy the unity or Communion of the Catholique Church, nor of particular Churches one with another as is said, for Churches may enjoy brotherly Communion one with another, without such stated formes, under the power and authority of one another, as hath been shewed before.