A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answer [sic] to the…A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answeer [sic] to the…

This that we plead for is also most evidently agreeable to the famous Thirty Cases. Case 15, touching the Power of choosing a Pastor, 'tis said, Ministers and Messengers of neighbouring Churches have Power to except against any Election of a Pastor, who by Errors or Scandals may be rendered unfit for the common Service of the Gospel. By Power here no Body will be so ridiculous as to understand, merely that they have natural Ability to except against it, so that they can if they try; but that they have Right. Again, Ibid. Churches may suffer their Elections to be directed, yea, and be diverted by Considerations which they owe to others in the Vicinity, without surrendering their Liberties to be smothered by any that would unjustly impose thereon. Which is contrary to what you suppose Page 26, 27. That there should be stated Associations of Ministers, that should choose a Moderator, that should be addressed to, and advised withal, by bereaved Churches in their Vicinity, for their Direction, in order to the Supply of the Vacancy made, and otherwise to be subservient to ecclesiastical Discipline in their Churches, is what seems to be ⟨p. 21⟩much approved by the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, in his Ratio Discipline, Page 179, 180, 181, 183, 184: and particularly the Method of Associations in Connecticut, Page 184. The same Reverend Author mentions it as a Saying of the Great Hooker, about a Week before he fell sick of his last Sickness, Page 58, of his Uth Book of Church History, We must agree upon constant Meetings of Ministers, and settle the Consociation of Churches, or else we are utterly undone.

This that we plead for is also most evidently agreable to the famous Thirty Cases. Case 15, touching the Power of chusing a Pastor, 'tis said, Ministers and Messengers of neighbouring Churches have Power to except against any Election of a Pastor, who by Errors or Scandals may be rendred unfit for the common Service of the Gospel. By Power here no Body will be so ridiculous as to understand, meerly that they have natural Ability to except against it, so that they can if they try; but that they have Right. Again, Ibid. Churches may suffer their Elections to be directed, yea, and be diverted by Considerations which they owe to others in the Vicinity, without surrendring their Liberties to be smothered by any that would unjustly impose thereon. Which is contrary to what you suppose Page 26, 27. That there should be stated Associations of Ministers, that should chuse a Moderator, that should be address'd to, and advis'd withal, by bereaved Churches in their Vicinity, for their Direction, in order to the Supply of the Vacancy made, and otherwise to be subservient to ecclesiastical Discipline in their Churches, is what seems to be