N02341:543
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 Protestant Churches hold the Negative, & the Papists the Affirmative. The Consequence upon the whole is, That notwithstanding the Charge of Schism, so ignorantly & injuriously laid elsewhere, there can be nothing more Schismatical, than to make a Diocesan Episcopacy a Term of Communion in the Churches of GOD.
The Protestant Churches hold the Negative, & the Papists the Affirmative. The Consequence upon the whole is, That notwithstanding the Charge of Schism, so ignorantly & injuriously laid elswhere, there can be nothing more Schismatical, than to make a Diocesan Episcopacy a Term of Communion in the Churches of GOD.
Having reported the Practices used in the Churches of New-England, it might be thought not amiss to add this Report of their Sentiments, upon an Article with which the Interests of Religion in the World have been very much affected. They do not ask to be under any Episcopal Jurisdiction, but that of Him who is the Great Shepherd & Bishop of Souls. This they know, That there are many Parishes in England, which by Law are Exempted from Episcopal Jurisdiction; And as this is a very plain Demonstration, that the Parliament of England looks on Diocesan Episcopacy as a mere Humane Constitution, so, the Churches of New-England, may certainly with as much Reason, as any in the Realm of England, expect such an Exemption to be allowed & preserved unto them. 'Twill be thought enough to them, if the Great Shepherd of the Sheep keep the Flocks in the Wilderness under His gracious Inspection, & lead them in the Paths of Righteousness.
Having reported the Practices used in the Churches of New-England, it might be thought not amiss to add this Report of their Sentiments, upon an Article with which the Interests of Religion in the World have been very much affected. They do not ask to be under any Episcopal Jurisdiction, but that of Him who is the Great Shepherd & Bishop of Souls. This they know, That there are many Parishes in England, which by Law are Exempted from Episcopal Jurisdiction; And as this is a very plain Demonstration, that the Parliament of England looks on Diocesan Episcopacy as a meer Humane Constitution, so, the Churches of New-England, may certainly with as much Reason, as any in the Realm of England, expect such an Exemption to be allowed & preserv'd unto them. 'Twill be thought enough to them, if the Great Shepherd of the Sheep keep the Flocks in the Wilderness under His gracious Inspection, & lead them in the Paths of Righteousness.