N02341:374
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.
They that have gone yet no further than the Covenant of Baptism, for themselves and theirs, upon a Removal are to carry some Certificate from their Pastor unto him under whose Ministry they are now to reside; which qualifies them to demand Baptism for their Children, which may be there born unto them: and also entitles the Church there, to proceed with Rebukes upon them in Case of their falling into any Scandalous Offences.
§. 3. In the Primitive Church there was a Godly Discipline, that such Persons as were notorious Sinners, were put to open Penance in this World, that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord, and that others admonished by their Example, might be more afraid to offend. Now as the Churches of New-England, were at first planted, partly on the Design of Obtaining and Maintaining the Exercise of such a Discipline; A Design for which they apprehended, they had a sufficient Warrant of our SAVIOUR; So this Discipline has been hitherto more or less exercised.
§. 3. In the Primitive Church there was a Godly Discipline, that such Persons as were notorious Sinners, were put to open Penance in this World, that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord, and that others admonished by their Exemple, might be more afraid to offend. Now as the Churches of New-England, were at first planted, partly on the Design of Obtaining and Maintaining the Exercise of such a Discipline; A Design for which they apprehended, they had a sufficient Warrant of our SAVIOUR; So this Discipline has been hitherto more or less exercised.
If one under the Covenant and Government of the Church, fall into a Scandalous Transgression against ⟨p. 142⟩the Laws of our Holy Redeemer, and the Transgression be at once, and at first a Matter of public Fame, the Pastor upon the Cry, reckons it his Duty to Enquire into it, and bring it immediately under an Ecclesiastical Cognizance.