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

New-England (I mean the Churches in it) was Planted a Noble Vine wholly a right seed. We are all concerned in our several Capacities (Ministers in theirs and People in theirs) to Labour what in us lies, that they who shall come after us, may not prove Degenerate Plants; much more should we Endeavour that they may not be so in our Days. It is a sad Observation often Verified by Experience, That Religion in the Purity and Power of it, seldom continues long in the same place. When the Church of Israel was in a Settled State, They Served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and of the Elders that out lived Joshua; that Generation was gathered to their Fathers, and there arose another Generation after them which knew not the Lord. They turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in, obeying the Voice of the Lord, but they did not so. It was the Third Generation of Church Members which proved Degenerate and Apostate: Pray God it be not so in New-England. The First Generation of his Servants whom he brought into this Wilderness are gathered to their Fathers. And many of the Second Generation, such of them as are yet living are now in years, and soon will be all gone. The Third Generation are coming to take their turn: ⟨p. 11⟩Some of them are great Blessings to the Churches, as inheriting the Principles, Spirit, and Grace of their Fathers and Grand-Fathers, but many of them do not so. On which account, it is not at all to be wondered at, if they Dislike the Good Old way of the Churches; yea, if they Scoff at it, as some of them do; or if they are willing to depart from what is Ordinarily Practised in the Churches of Christ in New-England ▪ For the Congregational Church Discipline, is not Suited for a Worldly Interest, or for a Formal Generation of Professors. It will stand or fall as Godliness in the Power of it does prevail or otherwise. That there is a great decay of the Power of Religion throughout all New-England is Lamentably true. If that revive, there will be no fear of Departing from the Holy Discipline of the Churches of Christ. But revived it will be amongst those who are Enemies to Explicit Covenanting with God and His People, against whom the Religious Societies of the Church of England Communion, now in London, will rise up and Condemn them.

New-England (I mean the Churches in it) was Planted a Noble Vine wholly a righ seed. We are all concerned in our several Capacities (Ministers in theirs and People in theirs) to Labour what in us lies, that they who shall come after us, may not prove Degenerate Plants; much more should we Endeavour that they may not be so in our Dayes. It is a sad Observation often Verified by Experience, That Religion in the Purity and Power of it, seldome continues long in the same place. When the Church of Israel was in a Setled State, They Served the Lord all the dayes of Joshua, and of the Elders that out lived Joshua; that Generation was gathered to their Fathers, and there arose another Generation after them which knew not the Lord. They turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in, obeying the Voice of the Lord, but they did not so. It was the Third Generation of Church Members which proved Degenerate and Apostate: Pray God it be not so in New-England. The First Generation of his Servants whom he brought into this Wilderness are gathered to their Fathers. And many of the Second Generation, such of them as are yet living are now in years, and soon will be all gone. The Third Generation are coming to take their turn: