N02341:459
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.
When the Government of the Colleges hath been Vacant, Pastors of Churches have been chosen to it. But upon the Churches refusing to dismiss them, all Parties have been so tender of the Claim which the Churches have to the Gifts which their SAVIOUR has bestowed upon them, that the Prosecution of the Matter has been desisted from.
And yet, When the Necessity has been Great, and all due Preliminaries of Councils have been observed, and all due Reparations unto the Flock have been offered, and the Pastor has been Willing to answer the Call, but the People have still denied his Dismission; it has been in such a Case declared, If a Church addressed for the Grant of their Pastor for such a General Good, after all due Means, do out of a Principle which does not honour the Gospel, refuse to do their plain Duty, the Pastor who knows His, may do it; and with much Peace of Mind, Obey the Call of GOD which he has received; and the Churches throughout the Land will Own him, and Thank him, and Pray for the Blessing of GOD upon him.
§. 4. The Councils in the Churches of New-England, rarely meet with Contradictions from the Churches, whose Cases have been laid before them. One Method of Prudence used for the ⟨p. 171⟩Prevention of such Things has been this; That the Councils having exhibited their Decisions, do not presently Dissolve, but Adjourn themselves for some Time [certain or uncertain] to see, Whether their Advice be attended or no. The New English Councils have been generally so regularly composed, and in so good a Temper, that there has been in them very little Occasion for the old Complaint, Omne Concilium parit Bellum; or for such a Story as that of Curcellaeus, Experientiam docere nullas unquam Controversias de Religione inter Christiancs exortas, Auctoritate Synodali foeliciter terminatas fuisse.