N02341:498
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.
It was also considered, That when Councils are called by Litigant Parties in Churches, upon Emergencies, it had been hitherto in the Liberty of each Party, to Choose and Call their own Council, where they pleased; which left Room for much Partiality to operate, and One Council to succeed and oppose another, with an Endless Confusion, more proper for a Babel, than a City of GOD. Through' the Gracious and Watchful Providence of GOD their SAVIOUR, the Churches had not in Fact seen much of this Confusion; and it may be the Prudent Servants of GOD had it more in Fear than there was a Real need of. Nevertheless, 'twas thought that Prudence called for a more effectual Provision.
It was also considered, That when Councils are called by Litigant Parties in Churches, upon Emergencies, it had been hitherto in the Liberty of each Party, to Chuse and Call their own Council, where they pleased; which left Room for much Partiality to operate, and One Council to succeed and oppose another, with an Endless Confusion, more proper for a Babel, than a City of GOD. Thro' the Gracious and Watchful Providence of GOD their SAVIOUR, the Churches had not in Fact seen much of this Confusion; and it may be the Prudent Servants of GOD had it more in Fear than there was a Real need of. Nevertheless, 'twas thought that Prudence called for a more effectual Provision.
Accordingly, Stated Councils being proposed, the Meeting whereof once in a Year was judged little enough; it was now also further proposed, That the Association whereto the Pastors of such a Council belonged, may direct when there should be judged an Occasion for this Council, (or what Part of it they should think enough) to convene upon an Emergency. And, that the Determinations of the Councils thus provided for the Necessities of the Churches, were to be looked upon as Decisive; except aggrieved Churches or Persons have Weighty Reasons to the contrary. But, ⟨p. 184⟩that in such Cases there should be a further Hearing; And that the Council for that further Hearing should consist of Pastors and Churches more for Number than the former; and such as might be directed and convened by the Ministers of any Association, that should be near to that, whereto those of the former Council belonged; unto which the Aggrieved were accordingly to apply themselves, and in this Way to expect a final Issue.