N00779:17
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
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.
THE Order of the Churches in New-England. VINDICATED.
QUESTION I. Whether Particular Churches ought to Consist of Saints and true Believers on Christ?
QUESTION I. WHether Particular Churches ought to Consist of Saints and true Believers on Christ?
The Question is not de facto, whether there are not true Churches in whom there are many that are not Saints, but de jure, whether it ought to be so? and whether that Church is not Guilty of Sin, which do• admit those into their Communion who are not in the Judgment of rational Charity true Believers on Christ. This being premised for the true stating of the Question; the Answer is Affirmative. And that for these amongst other Reasons.
1▪ There are Scripture predictions relating to the Times of the New-Testament which […] that Evangelical Churches shall consist of Holy Persons. It is foretold that the uncircumcised shall not Enter into Gods Holy City. Isai. 52.1. That the high way, the way into the Church should be the way of Holiness.