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:403–418 of 557

:403p. 154

Wherefore the Pastor, when he comes to pass the Sentence of Excommunication, does make as convincing a Speech as he can to the Offender, setting before him the heinous Nature of his Offence, and of his Impenitency under it. And at the same time, he calls upon all the People to take notice of the Holiness which the Church must and will manifest, in their not bearing with those that are Evil, and of the transcendent Holiness in the Glorious Head of the Church, whereof he will have every Church to be sensible. He then concludes with something of this Importance.

Wherefore the Pastor, when he comes to pass the Sentence of Excommunication, does make as convincing a Speech as he can to the Offendor, setting before him the heinous Nature of his Offence, and of his Impenitency under it. And at the same time, he calls upon all the People to take notice of the Holiness which the Church must and will manifest, in their not bearing with those that are Evil, and of the transcendent Holiness in the Glorious Head of the Church, whereof he will have every Church to be sensible. He then concludes with something of this Importance.

:404p. 154–155

—And now, In the Name of the Glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST, and with the Concurrence of his faithful People now assembled, I do declare you to be CUT OFF, (your Sin hath procured such an Excision for you!) from the Privileges and Expectations of such as are in Covenant with the Churches of GOD. I declare you to belong visibly to the sinful and woeful Kingdom of Satan, the Ruler of the Darkness of this World. I declare you to be a Person, from whom the Followers of our Holy Lord are to withdraw, as from one that walks Disorderly. And this just Sentence is now passed upon you, as a Representation of a Sentence much more dreadful, to be passed upon you, in the Day when the Lord JESUS CHRIST shall come to judge ⟨p. 155⟩the World: —Except it be prevented by a seasonable Repentance; which may our Gracious GOD of his Infinite Mercy bestow upon you!—

—And now, In the Name of the Glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST, and with the Concurrence of his faithful People now assembled, I do declare you to be CUT OFF, (your Sin hath procured such an Excision for you!) from the Priviledges and Expectations of such as are in Covenant with the Churches of GOD. I declare you to belong visibly to the sinful and woful Kingdom of Satan, the Ruler of the Darkness of this World. I declare you to be a Person, from whom the Followers of our Holy Lord are to withdraw, as from one that walks Disorderly. And this just Sentence is now passed upon you, as a Representation of a Sentence much more dreadful, to be passed upon you, in the Day when the Lord JESUS CHRIST shall come to judge

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Westminster Assembly24

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ARTICLE IX. Of COUNCILS upon Emergencies.