A50170:111
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellent minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist among the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellant minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist amoung the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris and John Allen for Joseph Brunning, 1691
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.
There were especially two things, which he was loth to see, and yet feared he saw, falling in the Churches of New-England. One was, […] thorough Establishment of Ruling-Elders in our Churches; which he thought sufficiently warranted by the Apostles mention of, Elders that Rule well, who yet labour not in Word and Doctrine. He was very desirous to have prudent and gracious men set over our Churches, for the Assistance of their Pastors, in the Church acts that concern the Admission and Excl• s•n of Members, and the Inspection of the Conversation led by the Communicants, and the Instruction of their several Families, and the Visitation of the Afflicted in the Flock over which they should preside. Such Helps in Government had he himself been blessed withal; the last of which was the well-deserving Elder Bowls; and of him, did this good man, in a Speech to a Synod of all the Churches in this Colony, take occasion to ⟨p. 70⟩say, There is my Brother Bowls, the godly Elder of our Church at Roxbury, God helps him to do great things among us! Had all our Pastors been so well accommodated, it is possible there would be more encouragement given to such an Office as that of Ruling Elders.
There were especially two things, which he was loth to see, and yet fear'd he saw, falling in the Churches of New-England. One was, 〈…〉 thorough Establishment of Ruling-Elders in our Churches; which he thought sufficiently warranted by the Apostles mention of, Elders that Rule well, who yet labour not in Word and Doctrine. He was very desirous to have prudent and gracious men set over our Churches, for the Assistence of their Pastors, in the Church acts that concern the Admission and Excl• s•n of Members, and the Inspection of the Conversation led by the Communicants, and the Instruction of their several Families, and the Visitation of the Afflicted in the Flock over which they should preside. Such Helps in Government had he himself been blessed withal; the last of which was the well-deserving Elder Bowles; and of him, did this good man, in a Speech to a Synod of all the Churches in this Colony, take occasion to ⟨p. 70⟩