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

Name: Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…
Author: Cotton Mather

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]

Cotton Mather 1663–1728Boston: printed for S. Gerrish, 1726

[2], iv, 10, 207, [5] p. ; 18 cm. (8vo) · 57k words · Evans 2775

Title page typeset from the transcription.

We Proceed unto the Methods and Customs, IN THE CHURCHES OF New-Eng… › Article 7: ARTICLE VII. The other Ecclesiastical OFFICERS for the Assistance of the PASTORS.We Proceed unto the Methods and Customs, IN THE CHURCHES OF New-Eng… › Article 7: ARTICLE VII. The other Ecclesiastical OFFICERS for the Assistence of the PASTORS.

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.

[ Earlier:340–355 of 557

:340p. 127

As Anciently at Rome it was provided for the Restraining the Power of the Senate, that the Tribunes of the People should be present at it, and have Power of withstanding by a Negative Voice, the Senates Decrees.

:341p. 127–128

Some of our Churches do yet continue to Elect, and (with Imposition of Hands) to Ordain One or Two, or Three Ruling Elders, and apprehend they find their Account in it, and good Services ⟨p. 128⟩done to the Interests of Piety. And these we will present with the Exhortation, which Polycarp gave to the Presbyters in the Church at Philippi. Let the Elders be Tender and Merciful; Compassionate towards all; Reducing those that are in Error; Visiting all that are Weak; not Negligent of the Widow nor the Orphan, and him that is poor; but ever providing what is honest in the sight of GOD and Men; Abstaining from all Wrath, Respect of Persons, and Unrighteous Judgment; being far from Covetousness; not hastily believing a Report of any Man; not rigid in Judgment; Knowing that we are all Faulty and Obnoxious to Judgment.

:342p. 128

They will also think of what Origen, in the third Century, declared then to be used in the Churches; Persons established to take Notice of the Life and Conversation of those, who embrace the Christian Religion, and when they committed any Evil Actions, to expel them out of the Congregations; and receive with great Affection, those that lived well, and make them better from Day to Day.

:343p. 128–129

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

ARTICLE VIII. The DISCIPLINE with which the Churches are kept in their Faith and Order.