N02341:432
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.
The Church persisting in their Irregularity, they run the hazard of a Proceeding which never was (above once!) come into; That is, that the Council communicating the true State of the Case unto the Churches that sent them, and obtaining from them a Ratification of their Judgment, they do by a Solemn Act, Withdraw Communion from that Church, or from as many in it, as will go on to abet and maintain the Unjust Censure which has been passed in it. But, Blessed be the Glorious Head of the Church! The Interposition of His Holy SPIRIT working on the Minds of His People, while they are in His Way thus waiting on Him, still obtains the Ends which they aim at, and prevents any such dreadful Extremities.
The Church persisting in their Irregularity, they run the hazard of a Proceeding which never was (above once!) come into; That is, that the Council communicating the true State of the Case unto the Churches that sent them, and obtaining from them a Ratification of their Judgment, they do by a Solemn Act, Withdraw Communion from that Church, or from as many in it, as will go on to abett and maintain the Unjust Censure which has been passed in it. But, Blessed be the Glorious Head of the Church! The Interposition of His Holy SPIRIT working on the Minds of His People, while they are in His Way thus waiting on Him, still obtains the Ends which they aim at, and prevents any such dreadful Extremities.
'Tis no rare thing for a Temper to be found on these Occasions.
Oftentimes an aggrieved Party applying to One or Two, wiser Ministers in the Neighbourhood, they do by their private and prudent Methods, bring Matters to such an Issue, as to supersede the necessity of a Council.