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

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:385–400 of 557

:385p. 146

Hereupon, either at this Time or at some other appointed by the Pastor, the Offender stands forth in the Christian Assembly; and the Pastor distinctly sets before him his Faults, with the several Rules in the Gospel, which have in his Faults been violated, concluding with Terms of this Importance.

:386p. 146–147

Wherefore in the Name of the most Glorious GOD our SAVIOUR, (which Name you have Dishonoured by Sinning against him;) and with the Concurrence of this His People (a People that long to see you recovered out of the Sinful Distemper now upon you;) I ADMONISH you, to Repent of the Scandals ⟨p. 147⟩which we have seen proved against you, as well as of the more secret Faults, by which you may have provoked the Holy One to leave you to what is more openly Scandalous. I ADMONISH you, to repair unto the Blood of the Redeemer, that you may be cleansed from all your Sins, in that Fountain set open for Sin and for Uncleanness. I ADMONISH you, to cry mightily unto the Spirit of the Lord, for that new and soft Heart, that shall incline you, not only to confess your Sin with unfeigned Sorrow, but also to forsake it with Eternal Detestation. I signify unto you, that as there is Grace enough in our Great SAVIOUR for you, if you return to him, so upon such a Return, this Flock of his will make you some Representation of His Grace, by renewing the Marks of their Favour to you. But I signify unto you, that until we see good Symptoms of a Penitent Heart upon you, We SUSPEND you from the Privileges of our Sacred Fellowship; and if you continue Impenitent, we must proceed unto a further Declaration of that Censure, which will be a Terrible Representation of your Banishment from the Kingdom of GOD. GOD forbid that it should come to this! That it may not come to this, we will now pour out our most affectionate Supplications for you.

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