N02341:454
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.
Sometimes, but Rarely, a Pastor and a People have with Mutual Agreement more privately parted with one another; — and no further Words have been made about it!
It is very Edifying to see, That whereas many Congregations in the World, would count it A Deliverance (And, It would be so!) to have their Ministers taken from them, the Ministers of this Country have been, and still are, generally so Esteemed and Beloved by their People, that if there were any Motion towards the Calling one of them away, there would be a grievous Commotion among the People upon it; — even as if Robbers of Churches were assaulting them.
Indeed, if there be but One Pastor in a Church, be He never so Great, and It never so Small, no Body durst scarce whisper a Word of his Removal to another, tho' it might carry with it never such an Enlargement of his Opportunities to be Serviceable. And some have thought the public Benefit, and common Interest of the Churches in general has not been so well consulted in this perpetual Confinement of Grown and Bright Abilities.
When a Church has been enriched with Two Worthy Pastors, another Church that has been as a City set upon an Hill, and a Seat of great Importance, has applied unto them, to obtain one of their Pastors from them. And their Desire has, tho' not without Difficulty, and Councils called and acting on the Occasion, been accomplished.