A93091:848
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. In what sense is intended to have the Ministers one, and flock one, we do not see. If you mean one by one visible Government over the Catholic Church, wherein there is a subordination of Churches and Ministers, you must at last rise to Oecomenicall ⟨p. 210⟩Pastor, or Council, that must be the supreme, which can scarce ever be had. If you mean an unity by brotherly Communion in offices of love and mutual helpfulness of Churches and Ministers, without usurpation, such an unity and Community is not destroyed, and the argument doth not follow▪ Cannot many distinct societies or Townes or Corporations make up one County, except the Major or Constable in one Town be a Major or Constable in others also? By this Reason the Deacon of one Church is the Deacon of all, or else the unity is destroyed.
Answ. In what sense is intended to have the Ministers one, and flocke one, we doe not see. If you meane one by one visible Government over the Catholique Church, wherein there is a subordination of Churches and Ministers, you must at last rise to Oecomenicall ⟨p. 210⟩Pastor, or Councell, that must be the supreme, which can scarce ever be had. If you meane an unity by brotherly Communion in offices of love and mutuall helpefulnesse of Churches and Ministers, without usurpation, such an unity and Community is not destroyed, and the argument doth not follow▪ Cannot many distinct societies ot Townes or Corporations make up one County, except the Major or Constable in one Towne be a Major or Constable in others also? By this Reason the Deacon of one Church is the Deacon of all, or else the unity is destroyed.
Reply. If the Pastor derive all his authority from the Church, when the Church hath set him aside, what right hath he to administer among that people?