N00497:122
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.
II. Of the Ministry.
1. WE agree, That the Ministerial Office is instituted by Jesus Christ, •or the Gathering, Guiding Edifying Governing of his Church; and to continue to the end of the world.
2. They who are called to this Office, ought to be endued with competent Learning, & Ministerial Gifts, as also with the Grace of God, •ound in Judgment, ⟨p. 5⟩not Novices in the Faith & Knowledge of the Gospel; without scandal, of holy Conversation, & such as devote themselves to the Work & Service thereof.
3. That Ordinarily none shall be Ordained to the work of this Ministry, but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church.