N02341:7
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.
THAT the Churches of NEW-ENGLAND have been originally of the CONGREGATIONAL Persuasion and Profession, is known to every one. Their Platform does expressly dislike and disclaim the Name of INDEPENDENT. The Reason why that Name has been imposed upon them, was, Because they maintained, that a Particular, and Organised Church, has entire Power within it self, to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom of CHRIST, and the holy Discipline belonging to it, without a Dependence on any superior Power on Earth. They Revere Synods, and Ecclesiastical Councils, consisting of Elders, and Brethren, sent as Messengers of the Churches, when want of Peace or Light, shall call for their Advice; but they ⟨p. ii⟩Esteem not stated Councils, or Synods, with a Juridical Power to be of Divine Institution.
THAT the Churches of NEW-ENGLAND have been originally of the CONGREGATIONAL Perswasion and Profession, is known to every one. Their Platform does expresly dislike and disclaim the Name of INDEPENDENT. The Reason why that Name has been imposed upon them, was, Because they maintained, that a Particular, and Organised Church, has entire Power within it self, to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom of CHRIST, and the holy Discipline belonging to it, without a Dependence on any superiour Power on Earth. They Revere Synods, and Ecclesiastical Councils, consisting of Elders, and Brethren, sent as Messengers of the Churches, when want of Peace or Light, shall call for their Advice; but they ⟨p. ii⟩Esteem not stated Councils, or Synods, with a Juridical Power to be of Divine Institution.
What the Arguments were, which did satisfy them, that the Congregational Way is the way of Truth; 'Tis to be seen in the Books Published by those eminent Servants of CHRIST, who first settled Churches, in these Parts of the World; especially such as Mr. Cotton's Treatise of, The Keys. There is a Book under the Name of that Great Man, called, The Way of the Churches, which was published by a Brownistical Author, without Mr. Cotton's Consent or Knowledge. But in a Discourse after that was published, he refers the Reader, who desires to know his Judgment about Church Discipline, unto his Book of, The Keys, and not that of, The Way.