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…

But now for our Brethren, who come out of England, many of them are altogether unknown to us; and those who are well known, (and it may be also well approved) yet they bring no Letters of recommendations to us from those Churches who had interest in them, and power over them. And besides, we know that those who have been members of any parish Church in England, when once they remove their dwelling out of that Parish, they are accounted as no longer members of that Church; so that they come over to us as members of no particular Church at all, either in old England or in new; and so they are under the power of no Church, either there or here; how then can we dispense an act of power to them, over whom we have no power at all, either commended to us by themselves, or by the Churches from whence they came? Would it be thought reasonable, in case that any of our Country-men coming over to us, should fall into drunkenness, or whoredom, or other scandalous crimes, if the Church where he sojourneth amongst, should proceed to excommunicate him for the same? were it not an act, Coram non judice? might he not demand justly, by what authority we cast him out of our Communion, who was never yet entered into our Communion? This may therefore yield us a just defence.

But now for our Brethren, who come out of England, many of them are altogether unknowne to us; and those who are well known, (and it may be also well approved) yet they bring no Letters of recommendations to us from those Churches who had interest in them, and power over them. And besides, wee know that those who have been members of any parish Church in England, when once they remove their dwelling out of that Parish, they are accounted as no longer members of that Church; so that they come over to us as members of no particular Church at all, either in old England or in new; and so they are under the power of no Church, either there or here; how then can wee dispense an act of power to them, over whom wee have no power at all, either commended to us by themselves, or by the Churches from whence they came? Would it be thought reasonable, in case that any of our Country-men comming over to us, should fall into drunkennesse, or whoredome, or other scandalous crimes, if the Church where he sojourneth amongst, should proceed to excommunicate him for the same? were it not an act, Coram non judice? might he not demand justly, by what authoritie we cast him out of our Communion, who was never yet entred into our Communion? This may therefore yeeld us a just defence.