N02341:261
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.
The Deacons returning with the Remainders, the Pastor stands up, and Enquires, Whether any to whom that Bread of the Lord, and of Life, should have been given, have not received it? If a Sign of any such be given, 'tis carried unto them. And when all are served, the Deacons do then sit down and partake of their Portion also.
And here one Remark more may be inserted. In the Primitive Churches, the Deacons did mostly with their own Hands give the Bread unto each of the Communicants. Only in the Church of Alexandria, I find it insinuated by Clemens Alexandrinus, that each of the Communicants there took the Bread himself out of the Plate when it was consecrated. And the Churches of New-England are in This, like that of Alexandria.
The Pastor then rising, takes a Cup of the Wine that is now in the Flagons and the Tankards on the Holy Table; and says, Our Lord JESUS CHRIST after the same Manner TOOK THE CUP; adding — And He GAVE THANKS.
The Communicants thereupon again standing up; he pours out a Prayer, of the like Importance, the like Tendency, with the former. Indeed, in the Primitive Churches, there was usually but one long Prayer before the Distribution of the Elements; which also were both of 'em at once consecrated. But in the Churches of New-England, so far as I am informed, the Pastor makes Two Prayers, a first before the Distribution of the Bread, and then a second before the Distribution of the Wine in the Eucharist.