A63200:9
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
Letter: The Letter of those Ministers in England, who requested to know the judgement of their…
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.
The Letter of those Ministers in England, who requested to know the judgement of their Brethren in New England, in Nine positions, wherein the reasons, of this their request, are truly reported.
(Reverend and beloved Brethren)
Whiles we lived together in the same Kingdom, we professed the same faith, joined in the same Ordinances, laboured in the work of God to gain souls unto his kingdom, and maintained the purity of worship against corruptions, both on the right hand and on the left. But since your departure into New England, we hear (and partly believe it) that divers have embraced certain vain opinions, such as you disliked formerly, and we judge to be groundless and unwarrantable. As that a stinted form of prayer, and set Liturgy is unlawful; That it is not lawful to join in prayer, or to receive the Sacrament, where a stinted Liturgy is used. 3. That the children of godly and approved Christians are not to be Baptized, until their parents be set members of some particular congregation. 4. that the Parents themselves, though of approved piety are not to be received to the Lords Supper, until they be admitted as set members. 5. That the power of Excommunication▪ &c. is so in the body of the Church that what the major part shall allow, that must be done, though the Pastors and Governors, and part of the assembly be of another mind, and peradventure, upon more substantial reasons. 6. That none are to be admitted as set members, but they must promise, not to depart, or remove unless the Congregation will give leave. 7. That a Minister is so a Minister to a particular Congregation, that if they dislike him unjustly, or leave him, he ceaseth to be a Minister. 8. That a Minister cannot perform any ministerial act in another Congregation. 9. That members of one Congregation may not communicate in another.