Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

Name: Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…
Author: Cotton Mather

Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in the churches of New-England. : With interspersed and instructive reflections on the discipline of the primitive churches. : [Seven lines from Ezekiel]

Cotton Mather 1663–1728Boston: printed for S. Gerrish, 1726

[2], iv, 10, 207, [5] p. ; 18 cm. (8vo) · 57k words · Evans 2775

Title page typeset from the transcription.

We Proceed unto the Methods and Customs, IN THE CHURCHES OF New-Eng… › Article 5: ARTICLE V. The Administration of the Holy Supper.

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.

[ Earlier:220–235 of 557

:220p. 81–82

The Churches of New-England will not be censured for a Novelty of their Discipline, in their Endeavour to have their Communion as it was in Justin Martyr's Time, when the Supper was administered unto no Man, but one that was bapti•ed, and one who Believed the Doctrines of Christianity, & ΒΙΟΥΝΤΙ ΩΣ Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΠΑΡΕΔΩΚΕΝ. ⟨p. 82⟩One who lived according to the Laws of our SAVIOUR.

The Churches of New-England will not be censured for a Novelty of their Discipline, in their Endeavour to have their Communion as it was in Justin Martyr's Time, when the Supper was administred unto no Man, but one that was bapti•ed, and one who Believed the Doctrines of Christianity, & ΒΙΟΥΝΤΙ ΩΣ Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΠΑΡΕΔΩΚΕΝ. ⟨p. 82⟩One who lived according to the Laws of our SAVIOUR.

:221p. 82

Since the Reformation, 'tis well known, that the most eminent Reformers, not only in their Doctrine asserted, but also in their Practice attempted, a stricter Selection of those that should be admitted unto the Lord's Supper, when they have been larger in the point of Baptism; and they went upon this Principle, That not all the baptised Christians, but such as might be reputed able and careful to Examine themselves, and discern the Lord's Body, are to be received unto the Supper of the Lord.

:222p. 82–83

It would fill many Pages, to recite the many Passages, in the Writings of the Reformers, which countenance the Churches of New-England in their Way of a stricter Selection. Two shall supersede all the Rest; The One shall be of a Lutheran. 'Tis Gerhard, who says, That not all Christians are to be admitted to the Holy Supper, but according to 'Paul's Rule, they that Examine themselves, discern the Lord's Body and show forth the Lord's Death: All those therefore are excluded, who either will not, or cannot Examine themselves. The other shall be of a Calvinist; Beza 'tis, who says, That no one is to be admitted unto the Lord's Supper, except he has one way or other, so given an Account of his Faith, as that the Pastor may probably gather, not only that he was born in the Church, but that he is indeed a Christian. And there are many Passages in the Confessions of the Protestant Churches abroad, which declare for a special Selection of those whom they

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Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36