N02341:248
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.
And they who from the State of Disciples, thus pass into the State of Brethren, are the only Persons for whose formal Votes, the Pastors do call in managing any Part of the Ecclesiastical Discipline.
I know not whether it will do the Part of an Effectual Apology, for the strictness of these Doings in the Churches of New-England: But I will here observe, That it has been a Proposal made by some Conformable Divines, in the Church of England; Would it not very much conduce unto the Glory of GOD, and the Edification of the People in their most Holy Faith, if every Person Baptised into the Christian Faith should be obliged, when he comes unto Years Discretion, to appear in the Public Congregation, there to make a Confession of his Faith, and recognize his Primitive Engagement; and that the Minister should recommend the Person unto the Grace of GOD, that he may be established, and persevere, and continue for ever? Yea, there have lately been in the City of London, many Religious Societies, living in Conformity to the Rites of the Church of England, whereof the Relater says; It is required of such as join to them, that they give the Society a solemn Account of their Sense of Spiritual Things, with the real Motives, which lead them ⟨p. 94⟩to this Undertaking, and what they seriously Purpose as to their future Life. This is many times done in Writing, — penned with such an honest, affectionate, and undisguised Style, with such pious and sensible Expressions, and in so modest and humble a Manner, that they would mightily affect any pious Person to read them, and move him to break forth into Pathetic Praises to GOD, who has given such Grace to Young Men in so degenerate an Age. These Religious Societies have strict Orders among them, relating to a holy Life, and an Exemplary strictness of Conversation; To which every Member, after Mature Deliberation subscribes his Name, with his Resolutions to live up unto them. The Churches of New-England will not certainly be blamed After this!