N01544:19
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.
Nor do their Ministers use to Conclude their ⟨p. xiii⟩Prayers with the Lord's Prayer, as many other Presbyterians, as well as Episcopalians commonly do. But for Ministers to pretend to a Negative Voice in Synods, or for Councils to take upon them to determine what Elders or Messengers a Church shall submit unto, without the Choice of the Church concerned; or for Ministers to pretend to be Members of a Council without any Mission from their Churches, nay, although' the Church declares that they will not send them; is Prelatical, and essentially differing not only from Congregational, but from Presbyterian Principles. And now that I am going out of the World, I could not die in Peace, if I did not discharge my Conscience in bearing Witness against such Innovations, and Invasions on the Rights, and Liberties belonging to Particular Congregations of Christ.
Nor do their Ministers use to Conclude their ⟨p. xiii⟩Prayers with the Lord's Prayer, as many other Presbyterians, as well as Episcopalians commonly do. But for Ministers to pretend to a Negative Voice in Synods, or for Councils to take upon them to determine what Elders or Messengers a Church shall submit unto, without the Choice of the Church concerned; or for Ministers to pretend to be Members of a Counci• without any Mission from their Churches, nay, altho' the Church declares that they will not send them; is Prelatical, and essentially differing not only from Congregational, but from Presbyterian Principles. And now that I am going out of the World, I could not die in Peace, if I did not discharge my Conscience in bearing Witness against such Innovations, and Invasions on the Rights, and Liberties belonging to Particular Congregations of Christ.
Notwithstanding, the Churches of New-England were Planted a Noble Vine, wholly a right Seed, if now there is a visible Degeneracy or Declension as to the Power of Godliness, and so as to Discipline, it is not to be wondered at. Primitive Purity has rarely