N02341:232
Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…
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]
Boston: printed for S. Gerrish, 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.
But the Pastor now demands a serious and sensible Answer to some such Questions as these.
What Education had you in your Younger Years? And (if Religious) what Effect had this Education? Have you been thoroughly awakened ever to see the Miserable Condition, which by your Departure from GOD, you are fallen into? And, What has been your Course, where your Flight, for Help under these Awakenings? What are the Blessings for which you repair to your Admirable SAVIOUR? Which Way do you hope to be Justified before the Glorious GOD? ⟨p. 87⟩What is the Sanctity, the Purity, the Piety, which will always be the Character, of the Justified Believer? And what is it You Desire and Resolve, concerning a Life of Piety? Is every Sin Grievous and Odious to you? And is there no known Sin wherein you indulge your self? Do you in a Course of Obedience unto GOD, endeavour to express a Respect unto all His Commandments? Can you Remember any special Word of GOD, by which you have been sensibly quickened in Living to Him? At the Table of the Lord, whereto you would now make your Approaches, what are the Outward Elements and Actions used there? And what is it that they signify? What are the Preparations and the Dispositions, that you would come to the Table of the Lord withal. What are the Considerations that now move you to ask an Admission to the Table of the Lord?
In the Renowned Churches of Bohemia, there was before every Celebration of the Communion, an Examen Conscientiarum, wherein the Pastor examined the People, How they profited by the Means of Grace? And it is credibly Affirmed, That Luther, when he saw the Discipline of those Churches declared, †He was very sorry that the other ⟨p. 88⟩