N01544:20
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.
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 ⟨p. xiv⟩continued for more than one Generation. The famous Historian (r)(who has by some been called the Father of Ecclesiastical Historians) has recorded a Saying of Hegesippus, that while the Apostles were living, the Church remained a Virgin; but when they were removed by Death, 'twas soon corrupted. How clear is it in the Scripture, that in the Apostle's Days, there were more Pastors or Bishops than one in a Particular Congregational Church. Acts 14. 23. So in the Church at Ephesus. Acts 20. 17, 28. And in the Church at Philippi. Ch. 1. 1. And in the Church at Thessalonica. 1 Thes. 5. 12. And in the Church at Coloss. there was Epaphras, Archippus, and Philemon. Clemens Romanus (the same that is mentioned, Phil. 4. 3. when there had been a scandalous Schism in the Church at Corinth, one or two chief Brethren having drawn a great Party with them, so as that they rashly and unjustly deposed their Officers; he wrote a very grave Epistle to that Church, in which he speaks of more Elders or Bishops (for ⟨p. xv⟩with him an Elder and a Bishop are the same) that were among them. This Epistle of Clement to the Church at Corinth, is supposed to be written forty years after the Apostle Paul's Epistle to them. But in the next Age to the Apostles, no more than one Pastor or Bishop might be in one Church. This we see in the Epistles of Ignatius, in the Age next following the Apostles. And in the Age after that, Cyprian (t)