N01544:32
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.
Whether no Acts of Councils are to be received as Concluding and Decisive, for which there is not the Concurrence of the Major part of the Pastors therein Concerned?
The Affirmative I can in no wise Concur with. I may suppose, that I have as much reason to know what has been the practice of these Churches, as most Men now alive; having been (however unworthy) in the Teaching Office among them for more than two and fifty years; (which so far as I understand, no other Minister now in New-England has) and assisting in many Councils of the Churches, in which I never knew but that the Concurrence of the Major part of the Delegates was Decisive: Nor was it ever declared, that one half of the Pastors in Synods should have a Negative on the whole Council; nor Asserted, That •••tors have a greater Authority than […] Elders, which is implied in the Question under Consideration. Shall we […] ▪ that if there should be a Council. […] ••• sisting of ten Pastors▪ and ten […] ⟨p. 8⟩[…], […] ••enty Brethren, that if […] of […] perhaps Unstudied, inexperienced Young Men did not […], notwithstanding the other five […], Men of the greatest Learning […], and all the ten Ruling […], and the twenty Brethren fully […], yet that the Act of the […] shall be no Act at all, because […] five Young Pastors did not Approve of it; But this also is implied in the Question. My further Reason for Non-concurrence therewith are these.
The Affirmative I can in no wise Concur with. I may suppose, that I have as much reason to know what has been the practice of these Churches, as most Men now alive; having been (however unworthy) in the Teaching Office among them for more than two and fifty years; (which so far as I understand, no other Minister now in New-England has) and assisting in many Councils of the Churches, in which I never knew but that the Concurrence of the Major part of the Delegates was Decisive: Nor was it ever declared, that one half of the Pastors in Synods should have a Negative on the whole Council; nor Asserted, That tors have a greater Authority than Elders, which is implied in the Question under Consideration. Shall we that if there should be a Council. sisting of ten Pastors and ten