The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Secondly, Though by the Sophistry of Satan and of his Vicar (the man of sin) a great part of this care is transformed from ordering the spiritual body of the Church, to take care of the body of the material Church or Temple, yet what power of Government is left in any Congregation (besides Preaching the Word) the ⟨p. 35⟩Church-Wardens and Vestry men do assist the Ministers in managing the same: they observe all scandalous disorders, that are found in any of the Church-Ministers or people, they admonish the offenders: And though they be over-rulers to present all disorders to the Cathedral Church (and the Officers thereof) which of right they should complain of (when the offenders are incorrigible) only to their own Congregation, yet it is an usual thing for the Bishop, and his Officers, to return such offenders (having first paid them their fees) to the Minister, and Church-Wardens, to make acknowledgement of their offences before them, and to profess their amendment, of which also they must bring a Certificate under the Minister and Church-Wardens hands. Yea, (of our knowledge) there be some peculiar privileged Churches in England, exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop, and his Officers, where the Church-Wardens, and Ministers, either by themselves, or with the consent of the Congregation, do transact all that Government, which in other Churches the Bishop and his Officers do invade and usurp; as to admonish offenders, to enjoin acknowledgement of scandalous offences, and to debar from the Sacraments, &c. And by this means they repress idleness, drunkenness, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and the like disorders, with better success then other Townes can do; who have the help of Major and Justices, but not so much spiritual power in the Church: but by that power which is still left in some Churches unto their Ministers and Guardians, (or Rulers) it may not obscurely appear, that anciently they did enjoy it amongst themselves, before one Church began to Lord it over another.

Secondly, Though by the Sophistry of Satan and of his Vicar (the man of sin) a great part of this care is transformed from ordering the spirituall body of the Church, to take care of the body of the materiall Church or Temple, yet what power of Government is left in any Congregation (besides Preaching the Word) the ⟨p. 35⟩Church-Wardens and Vestery men doe assist the Ministers in managing the same: they observe all scandalous disorders, that are found in any of the Church-Ministers or people, they admonish the offenders: And though they be over-rulers to present all disorders to the Cathedrall Church (and the Officers thereof) which of right they should complaine of (when the offenders are incorrigible) onely to their own Congregation, yet it is an usuall thing for the Bishop, and his Officers, to returne such offenders (having first paid them their fees) to the Minister, and Church-Wardens, to make acknowledgement of their offences before them, and to professe their amendment, of which also they must bring a Certificate under the Minister and Church-Wardens hands. Yea, (of our knowledge) there be some peculiar priviledged Churches in England, exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop, and his Officers, where the Church-Wardens, and Ministers, either by themselves, or with the consent of the Congregation, doe transact all that Government, which in other Churches the Bishop and his Officers doe invade and usurpe; as to admonish offenders, to enjoyne acknowledgement of scandalous offences, and to debarre from the Sacraments, &c. And by this means they represse idlenesse, drunkennesse, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and the like disorders, with better successe then other Townes can doe; who have the helpe of Major and Justices, but not so much spirituall power in the Church: but by that power which is still left in some Churches unto their Ministers and Guardians, (or Rulers) it may not obscurely appeare, that anciently they did enjoy it amongst themselves, before one Church began to Lord it over another.