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…

The famous Mr. Norton, in a Passage cited in the Appendix to the Platform, reprinted for the first Church in Boston, mentions the Platform of Church Discipline as only given in Way of Counsel: And if it be only in Way of Counsel or Advice, we would pray you, Sir, to remember your own Words, concerning the Nature of Advice, Page 33, We think there is a gross Absurdity in calling of it Advice, and yet making it binding and obligatory, and that the very Notion of asking Advice supposes a Capacity and Right in them that ask it, to judge at last for themselves; if it must be followed, however unsuitable in the Judgment of those to whom it is given, call it not Advice, but by its proper Name, Law, or Command. (or Constitution, as you do the Advice of the Synod in 1649.) Whence does this arise, that you that are so zealous for congregational Principles, do overturn the very lowest Foundation of the congregational Scheme? Here, Sir, again remember your own Words, Page 4, We are perfectly at a Loss by what Law or Rule they make the Churches to follow the civil Districts; the Towns in the Province we know are by legislative Power laid out into Counties, but we did not know that the Churches were. So ⟨p. 23⟩we say, we know that the Country was laid out into Provinces, but we did not know that the Churches were; and •e are perfectly at a Loss by what Law or Rule you mike the Churches to follow the civil Districts.

If the major Part of the Churches in the County have voted to come into a certain Method of Government, why mayn't it, by your own Ways of arguing, be a Constitution for the County, as well as the Vote of the major Part of the Churches of the Province be a Constitution for the Province. Give us leave, on this Occasion, to recite to you the Words of one of the Elders of your own Council at Springfield, (and one of you that came from far, and was very active in Mr. Breck's Favour) which he has published in a small Pamphlet of his concerning Ruling Elders, Page 10, 11. Upon the prophetic Spirit that our Author, all on a sudden seems to be inspired with, when he tells us that the Non-conformist's Cause in this Country depends entirely, under GOD, upon our Adherence to the Platform or the congregational Principles; which is just like the other popular Cries we have heard of late, These, O Churches of the Massachusetts are your great and distinguishing Privileges, &c.—the dying Testimony of some of the worthy Fathers in some of their last Lecture Sermons to our Platform; and the like: All calculated for no other Design than to hurry the unthinking Part of the World, into Bigotry and blind Zeal, the Result of which will be to throw all into Confusion; and it is well if some that are active in it have not this secret Design. And much is there to the same Purpose