N02341:337
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.
Our Platform asserts, an Office of Ruling Elders, distinct from the Office of Pastor and Teacher; however, not so called, for to exclude the Pastor and Teacher from Ruling. But then it assigns a Work unto these, which it has happened sometimes, the Men whom the Churches have chosen, (and rarely have above One or Two at a Time, and these for Life, been chosen in a Church) have been uncapable of managing, any otherwise than ⟨p. 123⟩too clumsily, and so as hardly to preserve the Dignity of the Administrations they have pretended to.
An Assembly of our Pastors, once published this as their Judgment; That Ruling Elders are appointed for the Assistance of their Pastors, in the Government of their Churches, and the Inspection of the Flocks. And though these Officers may not be furnished with all those Attainments which are necessary to a Pastor, yet if they are so accomplished, as that they may be Helps to their Pastor, in the Management of their Church Rule, they may be chosen thereunto with much Benefit and Advantage to the People of GOD. But, Whereas 'tis the Business of a Ruling Elder, to assist his Pastor, in Visiting the Distressed; Instructing the Ignorant; Reducing of the Erroneous; Comforting the Afflicted; Rebuking the Unruly; Discovering the State of the whole Flock; Exercising the Discipline of the Gospel upon Offenders; and promoting the Desirable Growth of the Church; 'tis necessary that he be a Person of a Wisdom, Courage, Leisure, & Exemplary Holiness & Gravity, agreeable to such Employments.
An Assembly of our Pastors, once published this as their Judgment; That Ruling Elders are appointed for the Assistence of their Pastors, in the Government of their Churches, and the Inspection of the Flocks. And though these Officers may not be furnished with all those Attainments which are necessary to a Pastor, yet if they are so accomplished, as that they may be Helps to their Pastor, in the Management of their Church Rule, they may be chosen thereunto with much Benefit and Advantage to the People of GOD. But, Whereas 'tis the Business of a Ruling Elder, to assist his Pastor, in Visiting the Distressed; Instructing the Ignorant; Reducing of the Erroneous; Comforting the Afflicted; Rebuking the Unruly; Discovering the State of the whole Flock; Exercising the Discipline of the Gospel upon Offenders; and promoting the Desireable Growth of the Church; 'tis necessay that he be a Person of a Wisdom, Courage, Leisure, & Exemplary Holiness & Gravity, agreeable to such Employments.