N01544:14
A disquisition concerning ecclesiastical councils. Proving, that not only pastors, but brethren delegated by…
A disquisition concerning ecclesiastical councils. Proving, that not only pastors, but brethren delegated by the churches, have equally a right to a decisive vote in such assemblies. : To which is added, proposals concerning consociation of churches, agreed upon by a synod, which convened at Boston, in New-England. : With a preface, containing a further vindication of the Congregational discipline. / By Increase Mather. D.D. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: printed for N. Boone, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Concerning Forms of Church-Government, besides those of the Congregational Way, there have been especially two Pretenders to a Divine Right, viz. ••ose that plead for the Episcopal, and those that are for the Presbyterian Discipline. In the famous Treaty at uxbridge between eminent Divines of both Persuasions, after they had been for some time arguing the Matter, the Marquis of Hertford spoke to this Effect; (a)My Lords, (said he) here is much said concerning Church Government in ⟨p. iii⟩general; the Reverend Divines on the Kings Part affirm, that Episcopacy is Jure Divino; the Reverend Ministers on the other Part do affirm, that Presbytery is Jure Divino; for my part, I think that neither of them, nor any other Form is Jure Divino, and therefore desire we may hear no more about that Controversy. I could easily say as that Noble Lord did, as to the two contending Parties, without concurring in his general Negative. I have been told, that the admirably Learned Dr. Prideux, (once Regius Professor in Oxford, and a great Ornament to that University) being asked what Form of Church-Government he thought was of Divine Institution, replied, that he supposed that no particular Form was Jure Divino; but if any were so, it was that which Congregational Men made a Profession of. The Protestant Churches in Helvetia, have no Ecclesiastical Discipline; but if any Members of (b)their Churches fall into Scandals, they turn them over to the Civil Magistrate to discipline them. But so ⟨p. iv⟩much has been written by the Learned Mr. Robert Parker, (c)to prove that there is a Form of Church-Government of Divine Institution, as I think cannot be answered, and the famous Mr. George Gill•spy (d)has abundantly confuted Erastianism.
Concerning Forms of Church-Government, besides those of the Congregational Way, there have been especially two Pretenders to a Divine Right, viz. ose that plead for the Episcopal, and those that are for the Presbyterian Discipline. In the famous Treaty at xbridge between eminent Divines of both Persuasions, after they had been for some time arguing the Matter, the Mrquiss of Hertford spoke to this Effect;