N00779:16
The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in…
The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in New England, justified, by the Scripture, and by the writings of many learned men, both ancient and modern divines; in answer to several questions, relating to church discipline / by Increase Mather, president of Harvard College in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston in New England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in New England, justified, by the Scripture, and by the writings of many learned men, both ancient and modern divines; in answer to several questions, relating to church discipline / by Increase Mather, president of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston in New England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1700
Dedication: The Epistle Dedicatory. TO THE Churches of CHRIST IN New-England.
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.
Was it ever known that Collapsed Churches were restored to their Primitive State of Purity, but in this way, and by this means of Explicit Renovation of their Covenants with God and with one another. But I hope enough is said about that in the Subsequent Disquisition.
Let the Churches Pray for the College particularly, that God may ever Bless that Society with faithful Tutors that will be true to Christs ⟨p. 12⟩Interest and theirs, and not Hanker after new and loose ways. This is a matter of no small concernment. For if the Fountain whose Streams should make glad the City of God, be corrupted, Posterity will be Endangered thereby. The poor Churches in Bohemia before mentioned found it so. If the begun Apostasy should proceed as fast the next thirty years as it has done these last, surely it will come to that in New England (Except the Gospel it self Depart with the Order of it) that the most Conscientious People therein, will think themselves concerned to gather Churches out of Churches. But as yet the Declension is not gone so far but a Stop may be put thereunto, and the Interest of Religion be Retrieved. It was said to one of the decaying Churches in Asia, Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, and are ready to Die; — Remember how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast. Do's not the Lord Jesus Christ say so to the Churches in New-England:) And does He not say, as unto another of the Churches, Hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy Crown.
Let the Churches Pray for the Colledge particularly, that God may ever Bless that Society with faithful Tutors that will be true to Christs ⟨p. 12⟩Interest and theirs, and not Hanker after new and loose wayes. This is a matter of no small concernment. For if the Fountain whose Streams should make glad the City of God, be corrupted, Posterity will be Endangered thereby. The poor Churches in Bohemia before mentioned found it so. If the begun Apostacy should proceed as fast the next thirty years as it has done these last, surely it will come to that in New England (Except the Gospel it self Depart with the Order of it) that the most Conscientious People therein, will think themselves concerned to gather Churches out of Churches. But as yet the Declension is not gone so far but a Stop may be put thereunto, and the Interest of Religion be Retrieved. It was said to one of the decaying Churches in Asia, Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, and are ready to Dy; — Remember how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast. Do's not the Lord Jesus Christ say so to the Churches in New-England:) And does He not say, as unto another of the Churches, Hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy Crown.