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

In very many of the Churches, the Answers of the Examined Person to some such Questions as those, are taken in Writing by the Pastor from the Mouth of the Person; [or a Brief Relation of the Desires to live unto GOD which are now working in hi•. Heart, and of the Means and Ways wherewith such Desires have been enkindled in him;] or else 'tis brought ready written, by the Candidate of the Communion; and unto it there is added, either a Confession of Faith, of the Persons own composing, or a briefer Intimation of what publicly received Confession or Catechism, he chooses to acknowledge as containing the Principles of Religion, he would adhere unto. This Instrument the Pastor communicates unto Church, on some Convenient Opportunities: But sometimes he reports to the Brethren the Minutes ⟨p. 89⟩of the Satisfaction he has received from the Person, who is now offered unto the Communion, without the Formality of an Address in the Name of the Person unto them, only saying, On my Inquiry he informs me so and so. 'Tis thus especially, when some Godly Scotchmen, who have scrupled the Modes of the New English Relations, have asked an Admission to the Communion. The Circumstances of Time, and Place, and Publicness for these Matters, in the several Churches are very Various; and left unto their own Discretion. And there is now generally a great Relaxation of several Severities, in the Modes of these Matters, formerly required in some of the Churches. For indeed, on this Occasion one may use the Words of the Roman Historian, Nocuit antiquus Rigor, et Nimia Severitas, cui jam non pares sumus.

In very many of the Churches, the Answers of the Examined Person to some such Questions as those, are taken in Writing by the Pastor from the Mouth of the Person; [or a Brief Relation of the Desires to live unto GOD which are now working in hi•. Heart, and of the Means and Ways wherewith such Desires have been enkindled in him;] or else 'tis brought ready written, by the Candidate of the Communion; and unto it there is added, either a Confession of Faith, of the Persons own composing, or a briefer Intimation of what publickly received Confession or Catechism, he chuses to acknowledge as containing the Principles of Religion, he would adhere unto. This Instrument the Pastor communicates unto Church, on some Convenient Opportunities: But sometimes he reports to the Brethren the Minutes ⟨p. 89⟩