The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in…

That Explicit Covenanting with God and with the Church is needless. That Persons not Qualified for Communion in special Ordinances shall Elect Pastors of Churches. That all Professed Christians have right to Baptism. That Brethren are to have no Voice in Ecclesiastical Councils. That the Essence of a Ministers call is not in the Election of the People, but in the Ceremony of Imposing hands. That Persons may be Established in the Pastoral Office without the Approbation of Neighbouring Churches or Elders; We then give away the whole Congregational cause at once, and a great part of the Presbyterian Discipline also. To begin a change in one of these Particulars without Decision of a Synod would in other Churches of the Reformed be counted Presumption; but to design all or most of these Innovations at once, is certainly a bold Attempt ▪ No longer since then May 27 1697. no less then Thirty Ministers in this Province, did declare and subscribe it with their hands, That they were made sensible of the tendencies which there are amongst us towards Deviations ⟨p. 9⟩from the good Order wherein our Churches […] according to the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ, been happily established and continued There is cause to be sensible of it now as much as then. For Deviations are not less then f•• merly, but rather growing upon us ev••y day. Shall we then by silence […] Truth? When the interest of Christ is concerned; do we not hear that voice, Who is on the Lords Side? Who? Is there no one that will stand up for the Churches of Christ? The Good People in them may then well think that their Watchmen are all either Dead or Asleep: For which cause it is, that I Dedicate this ensuing Dissertation unto you the Churches of Christ in New-England.

That Explicit Covenanting with God and with the Church is needless. That Persons not Qualified for Communion in special Ordinances shall Elect Pastors of Churches. That all Professed Christians have right to Baptism. That Brethren are to have no Voice in Ecclesiastical Councils. That the Essence of a Ministers call is not in the Election of the People, but in the Ceremony of Imposing hands. That Persons may be Established in the Pastoral Office without the Approbation of Neighbouring Churches or Elders; We then give away the whole Congregational cause at once, and a great part of the Presbyterian Discipine also. To begin a change in one of these Particulars without Decision of a Synod would in other Churches of the Reformed be counted Presumption; but to design all or most of these Innovations at once, is certainly a bold Attempt No longer since then May 27 1697. no less then Thirty Ministers in this Province, did declare and subscribe it with their hands, That they were made sensible of the tendencies which there are amongst us towards Deviations