N01544:33
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.
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