A93091:94
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 Concerning forms of Catechisms, and confessions of Faith, if religiously and perspicuously framed, we account them of singular use, (though abused by men) nor without some sacred allowance: yet from hence to infer the like use of set Forms of prayers, neither our reasons, nor any other will in force: for Catechisms and Confessions (as well as Psalms) in the nature of the thing, require in some sense a set and limited Form; but public prayers, though they may admit of a set and comely order in the general, to prevent error; yet of their own nature they require no set Form; for God gives us no new matter or doctrine daily to be believed, but he gives new matter of new affection in prayer daily.
Answ. 1 Concerning forms of Catechismes, and confessions of Faith, if religiously and perspicuously framed, wee account them of singular use, (though abused by men) nor without some sacred allowance: yet from hence to infer the like use of set Formes of prayers, neither our reasons, nor any other will in force: for Catechismes and Confessions (as well as Psalmes) in the nature of the thing, require in some sense a set and limited Forme; but publike prayers, though they may admit of a set and comely order in the generall, to prevent errour; yet of their owne nature they require no set Forme; for God gives us no new matter or doctrine daily to be beleeved, but he gives new matter of new affection in prayer daily.
2 If by set Forms of Catechisms and Confessions, be meant (according to the terms of the Question) stinted Forms, like stinted Liturgies, i. e. beyond, or short of which, Ministers may not teach, or Christians believe and profess, then we should say the same of these as we do of stinted Forms of Prayer; we confess there is danger in casting by all Forms of Confessions and Catechisms, lest through the instability of ungrounded and heady men, pretending new light, or searching after further light, the Churches adhere to nothing: and their Faith (as the learned Leiden Professors term it) become fides h•raria, or ⟨p. 36⟩menstrua, The faith of an hour or month, and then cast it off the next. And on the other side there is danger, that by imposing such Confessions too far, that which is indeed further light be supperest; we therefore think it useful and needful to pave out such high ways of Catechisms and Confessions, so as the subjects of Christ Jesus our King and Law-giver may walk therein without shackles, reserving liberty for further future light, in points less clear, yet standing in a readiness always to confess and hold fast the present truth which appears most clear.