A63200:292
A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…
A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that learned and godly minister of Christ, John Ball of Whitmore ; penned a little before his death and sent over to the New England ministers, anno 1637, as a reply to an answer of theirs in justification of the said positions ... ; now published ... by William Rathband and Simeon Ash.A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that learned and godly minister of Christ, John Ball of Whitmore ; penned a little before his death and sent over to the New England ministers, anno 1637, as a reply to an answer of theirs in justification of the said positions ... ; now published ... by William Rathband and Simeon Ash.
London: printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons for Thomas Underhill, 1644
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.
Answer.
Our Answer hereto is briefly this. We judge it expedient and most according to rule, that such brethren as are in covenant with the Church, and ours as fellow-members, and have committed their souls to our charge as Ministers, should not forsake our fellowship, nor obruptly break away from us when and whither they please; but first approve themselves therein to their brethren's consciences, and take their counsel in so weighty a matter. For which we propound to consider these two reasons following. The former is drawn from the nature of the Church-Covenant, which consists in these four particulars.
OUr Answer hereto is briefly this. We judge it expedient and most according to rule, that such brethren as are in covenant with the Church, and ours as fellow-members, and have committed their soules to our charge as Ministers, should not forsake our fellowship, nor obruptly breake away from us when and whither they please; but first approve themselves therein to their brethrens consciences, and take their counsell in so weightie a matter. For which we propound to consider these two reasons following. The former is drawne from the nature of the Church-Covenant, which consists in these foure particulars.
1. Every member at his admission doth openly profess, and solemnly promise, that by Christs help assisting, he will not only in general give up himself (as to the Lord to be guided by him, so) to the Church according to God to be directed by it, which is no more then the members of the Church of Macedonia, did in a parallel case,