N02338:249
Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry
Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry. : Wherein, first, a right foundation is laid for his future improvement; and, then, rules are offered for such a management of his academical & preparatory studies; and thereupon, for such a conduct after his appearance in the world; as may render his a skilful and useful minister of the Gospel. : [Three lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed for Thomas Hancock, 1726
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.
For Communion in these Churches, and Admission to all the Privileges and Advantages of the Evangelical Church-State, I would have you insist upon it, That no Terms be imposed, but such Necessary Things, as Heaven will require of all, who shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, and stand in His Holy Place. Be sure to stand by that Golden Rule, Receive ye one another, as CHRIST has received us unto the Glory of GOD; That is to say, Those of whom it is our Duty to Judge, that our SAVIOUR will Receive them to His Glory in the Heavenly ⟨p. 127⟩World, we ought now to Receive unto all the Enjoyments of our Christian Fellowship: And let the Table of the Lord have no Rails about it, that shall hinder a Godly Independent, and Presbyterian, and Episcopalian, and Antipedobaptist, and Lutheran, from sitting down together there. Corinthian Brass would not be so bright a Composition, as the People of GOD in such a Coalition, feasting together on His Holy Mountain. I wish, they do not see the Fate of Corinth, to compel them to it!— Tho' in the Church that I serve, I have seen the grateful Spectacle! — This I must say; A Church that shall banish the Children of GOD from His Holy Table, and shall exclude from its Communion those that shall be Saved, merely for such Things as are Consistent with the Maxims of PIETY, does not exhibit, The Kingdom of GOD, unto the World, as a Church ought to do. Churches that will keep up Instruments of Separation, which will keep out those that have the Evident Marks and Claims of them that are One with CHRIST upon them, are in Reality but Combinations of Men, who under Pretence of Religion, are pursuing some Carnal Interests. Their Diana is very Visible! Tis a Complicated Profanity and Hypocrisy, that these Churches are to stand indicted for. It is to be lamented, That more Churches than One have the Guilt of a very sinful Schism to be charged upon them, for their Chasing from their Communion, and the annexed Encouragements and Emoluments, many of the Righteous Nation, which have the Gates of Heaven standing open for them: and yet such is the Mystery of Iniquity, that at the same time they make Outcries of Schism, against the Conscientious People, ⟨p. 128⟩for keeping out, while they violently shut the Doors upon them. Yea, There has been One Church [Tho' I have never heard of but One!]
For Communion in these Churches, and Admission to all the Priviledges and Advantages of the Evangelical Church-State, I would have you insist upon it, That no Terms be imposed, but such Necessary Things, as Heaven will require of all, who shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, and stand in His Holy Place. Be sure to stand by that Golden Rule, Receive ye one another, as CHRIST has received us unto the Glory of GOD; That is to say, Those of whom it is our Duty to Judge, that our SAVIOUR will Receive them to His Glory in the Heavenly