N00497:115
Blessed unions. An union with the son of God by faith. And, an union…
Blessed unions. An union with the son of God by faith. And, an union in the church of God by love, importunately pressed; in a discourse which makes divers offers, for those unions; together with a copy of those articles, where-upon a most happy union, has been lately made between those two eminent parties in England, which have now changed the names of Presbyterians, and Congregationals, for that of United Brethren. / By Cotton Mather ; [Six lines from Mead]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1692
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.
3. That none shall be admitted as Members, in order to Communion in all the special Ordinances of the Gospel but such persons as are knowing and sound in the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion, without Scandal in their Lives; & to a Judgment regulated by the Word of God, are persons of visible Godliness & Honesty; credibly professing cordial▪ subjection to Jesus Christ.
4. A comperen▪ Number of such visible Saints (as before described) de become the capable Subjects of stated Communion in all the special Ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual declared ⟨p. 3⟩consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule. In which declaration, different degrees of Explicitness, shall no way hinder such Churches from owning each other, as Instituted Churches.
4. A comperen▪ Number of such visible Saints (as before described) de become the capable Subjects of stated Communion in all the special Ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual declared ⟨p. 3⟩consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule. In which declaration, different degrees of Expliciteness, shall no way hinder such Churches from owning each other, as Instituted Churches.
5. Tho Parochial Bounds be not of Divine Right, yet for common Edification, the Members of a particular Church ought (as much as conveniently may be) to live near one another.