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

§. 4. In many Towns of New England the Ministers make agreeable Prayers with the People come together at the House, to attend the FUNERAL of the Dead. And in some, the Ministers make a short Speech at the Grave. But in other Places both of these Things are wholly omitted. However, they are not forbidden, as they are in the Discipline of the French Churches, where the Prohibition runs in these Terms; There shall be no Prayer nor Sermon at Funerals; to shun Superstition.

§. 5. Behold the Work assigned unto the Pastors of the Churches. But many Observers have thought that their Discipline might have this Complaint still made of it, One Thing thou Lackest. Any well disposed Young Men, of a Liberal Education have been brought into the Pulpits by any of the Pastors, as soon as they pleased, and if the People approved of them, they were at Liberty, without any more ado, to proceed unto an Election of them for the Work of the Ministry, and the Fastoral Charge in any Vacancy. But hearing this frequently complained of, as too r•iss and unsafe a Conduct, a Convention of Ministers at ⟨p. 118⟩Boston, did about the beginning of the present Century publish the Ensuing Instrument.

§. 5. Behold the Work assigned unto the Pastors of the Churches. But many Observers have thought that their Discipline might have this Complaint still made of it, One Thing thou Lackest. Any well dispesed Young Men, of a Liberal Education have been brought into the Pulpits by any of the Pastors, as soon as they pleased, and if the People approved of them, they were at Liberty, without any more ado, to proceed unto an Election of them for the Work of the Ministry, and the Fastoral Charge in any Vacancy. But hearing this frequently complained of, as too r•iss and unsafe a Conduct, a Convention of Ministers at ⟨p. 118⟩Boston, did about the beginning of the present Century publish the Ensuing Instrument.