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

If aster all, the Church must come unto that Extremity of an Excommunication upon this Offender, ⟨p. 167⟩they choose a Grave Pastor of Another Church, (unless they have one of their own) to come on some Lord's Day among them, and go through with it, according to the General Methods of such a Censure.

If aster all, the Church must come unto that Extremity of an Excommunication upon this Offendor, ⟨p. 167⟩they chuse a Grave Pastor of Another Church, (unless they have one of their own) to come on some Lord's Day among them, and go through with it, according to the General Methods of such a Censure.

On the Mention of this, it may be added, That Churches remaining Vacant after the Death of their Pastors, upon Difficulties and Emergencies arising among themselves, and Affairs which need a greater Wisdom than their own to manage them, they apply themselves unto some considerable Minister in their Vicinity: Entreating him to afford his Presence at their Church-Meeting, and manage their Votes, and regulate all their Proceedings.

§. 3. The Translation of a PASTOR, is a Thing more seldom Occurring, and more hardly Obtained, in the Churches of New-England, than in many other of the Reformed Churches. The Relation between a Pastor, and his People, is what the Christians throughout the Country, appear generally to think not very easy to be dissolved; and the Removal of a Minister is accomplished here, with more Difficulty than it is in many other Places. More than Once or Twice there have been published some Determinations, which express the General Apprehension in the Churches upon the Matter, to this Purpose; A Pastor settled in the Service of a People, is to be so sensible of his Designation by the SPIRIT and Providence of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, for that Service, and of the Account that he must give unto GOD, about his Behaviour in it, that his Removal must not be rashly