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

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⟩Churches of the Reformation had been so Remiss in Admissions to the Communion. But in the Churches of New-England, the Pastors do, only once for all, Examine the Spirits of the People, with pertinent Questions, before they Grant them an Admission into the State of Communicants. And herein they have not been very far from the Opinion of Chrysostom, who explaining, Holy Things for Holy Men; (A Sentence often made Use of in the Primitive Churches) has these Words, If any one be not Holy, let him have no Access. And freedom from Wickedness does not make one Holy, but the Presence of the Spirit, and plenty of Good Works. I would have them not only free from Dirt, but also to be White, and Fair, and Beautiful.