Gospel order revived being an answer to a book lately set forth by ... Increase Mather ... entituled, The order of the gospel, &c ... / by sundry ministers of the gospel in New England.
      
       
         
           1700
        
      
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             Gospel order revived being an answer to a book lately set forth by ... Increase Mather ... entituled, The order of the gospel, &c ... / by sundry ministers of the gospel in New England.
             Colman, Benjamin, 1673-1747.
             Pemberton, Ebenezer, 1672-1717.
             Woodbridge, Timothy, 1656-1732.
             Bradstreet, Simon, 1671-1741.
          
           [9], 40 p.
           
             Printed [by William Bradford],
             [New York] :
             1700.
          
           
             Collaboration on authorship has been ascribed at various times to Timothy Woolbridge, Benjamin Colman, Simon Bradstreet and Ebenezer Pemberton.
             Errata: p. [1]
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Mather, Increase, 1639-1723. -- Order of the Gospel.
           New England -- Church history.
        
      
    
     
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           Advertisement
           .
        
         
           THe
           Reader
           is
           desired
           to
           take
           Notice
           ,
           that
           the
           Press
           in
           Boston
           is
           so
           much
           under
           the
           aw
           of
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           ,
           whom
           we
           answer
           ,
           and
           his
           Friends
           ,
           that
           we
           could
           not
           obtain
           of
           the
           Printer
           there
           to
           print
           the
           following
           Sheets
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           only
           true
           Reason
           why
           we
           have
           sent
           the
           Copy
           so
           far
           for
           its
           impression
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           GOSPEL
           ORDER
           Revived
           ,
           Being
           an
           Answer
           to
           a
           Book
           lately
           set
           forth
           by
           the
           Reverend
           Mr
           
             Increase
             Mather
          
           ,
           President
           of
           Harvard
           Colledge
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           ENTITULED
           ,
           
             The
             Order
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           Dedicated
           to
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           in
           New-England
           .
        
         
           
             By
             sundry
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Gospel
             in
          
           New-England
           .
        
         
           
             Prov.
             18.
             17.
             
          
           He
           that
           is
           first
           in
           his
           own
           Cause
           seemeth
           just
           ,
           but
           his
           Neighbour
           cometh
           and
           searcheth
           him
           .
        
         
           
             Isa
             .
             8.
             20.
             
          
           To
           the
           Law
           and
           to
           the
           Testimony
           ,
           if
           they
           speak
           not
           according
           to
           this
           Word
           ,
           it
           is
           because
           there
           is
           no
           Light
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           1700.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           
             ADvert
             .
             l.
             ult
             .
             r.
             it
             is
             Printed
             .
          
           
             Ep.
             Ded.
             side
             3
             l.
             29.
             r.
             ground
             .
          
           
             S.
             4
             l.
             7
             r.
             wills
             .
             l.
             10.
             r.
             impose
             one
             .
          
           
             l.
             19.
             r.
             Anti-Synodalia
             .
          
           
             S.
             5
             l.
             3.
             r.
             voluminous
             .
          
           
             S.
             6
             l.
             6
             ,
             r.
             banner
             .
          
           
             S.
             7
             l.
             5.
             r.
             sell
             .
             l.
             22
             ,
             r.
             inartificial
             .
          
           
             S.
             8
             l.
             13.
             r.
             publickly
             Preached
             .
          
           
             Gosp
             .
             Ord.
             p.
             9
             l.
             3
             ,
             r
             ,
             that
             when
             .
          
           
             p.
             9
             l.
             16.
             r.
             invention
             .
          
           
             p.
             10
             l.
             9.
             r.
             notions
             .
          
           
             p.
             15
             l.
             33.
             r.
             stumble
             .
          
           
             p.
             17
             l.
             14.
             r
             ,
             altogether
             .
             l.
             32
             that
             at
          
           
             p.
             21
             l.
             11
             ,
             r.
             of
             their
             ways
             .
          
           
             p.
             22
             l.
             14.
             r.
             Synodical
             .
          
           
             l.
             33.
             r.
             we
             leave
             the
             Author
             to
             be
             chastized
          
           
             p.
             23
             l.
             10.
             r.
             without
             this
             .
          
           
             p.
             28
             l.
             27.
             r.
             Apostolical
             .
          
           
             l.
             28.
             r.
             one
             only
             excepted
             .
          
           
             p.
             29
             l.
             25.
             r.
             their
             persons
             .
          
           
             p.
             32
             l.
             ult
             .
             r.
             we
             'l
             for
             once
             give
             our
             .
          
           
             p.
             34
             l.
             14
             ,
             r.
             his
             book
             .
          
           
             l.
             16.
             r.
             were
             greater
             .
          
           
             p.
             37
             l.
             antep
             .
             r.
             ferre
             .
          
           
             p.
             40
             l.
             10.
             r.
             ●●
             Exemplary
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           
             The
             Epistle
             Dedicatory
          
           ,
           To
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           in
           
             N.
             England
          
           .
        
         
           IT
           can
           incur
           no
           just
           Censure
           that
           we
           address
           our selves
           to
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           here
           in
           the
           following
           Sheets
           ,
           inasmuch
           as
           they
           are
           but
           a
           Reply
           to
           a
           Book
           lately
           dedicated
           unto
           them
           .
           Nor
           does
           our
           zeal
           ,
           (
           we
           hope
           )
           for
           Truth
           ,
           the
           Honour
           of
           God
           ,
           &
           the
           Safety
           ,
           Peace
           &
           Flourishing
           of
           these
           Churches
           come
           short
           of
           what
           our
           Reverend
           Author
           may
           be
           inspired
           with
           in
           his
           performance
           We
           make
           the
           same
           glorious
           Pretence
           with
           him
           to
           maintain
           &
           defend
           the
           Order
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           altho'
           we
           cannot
           allow
           what
           is
           suggested
           in
           the
           Title
           page
           ,
           That
           every
           Principle
           so
           strenuously
           contended
           for
           in
           that
           Treatise
           ,
           is
           either
           professed
           or
           practised
           by
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           in
           New-England
           .
           One
           part
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           therefore
           of
           his
           Book
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           ought
           to
           have
           published
           in
           his
           own
           Name
           ,
           and
           not
           have
           obtruded
           it
           on
           the
           Churches
           here
           ,
           whose
           Practise
           never
           gave
           grounds
           to
           suspect
           them
           leavened
           with
           so
           gross
           thoughts
           ,
           as
           particularly
           his
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Ordination
           of
           Ministers
           is
           .
        
         
           We
           will
           not
           guess
           at
           the
           Authors
           secret
           aim
           ,
           or
           whom
           in
           particular
           he
           raises
           his
           Batteries
           against
           We'd
           charitably
           hope
           he
           has
           no
           private
           Interest
           to
           bribe
           him
           in
           this
           Affair
           ;
           and
           we
           hope
           for
           a
           like
           favourable
           and
           candid
           Construction
           of
           this
           Reply
           .
           Indeed
           the
           Name
           prefix't
           to
           that
           faulty
           Treatise
           ,
           may
           be
           presumed
           ,
           with
           a
           multitude
           of
           prejudiced
           People
           ,
           to
           weigh
           down
           all
           the
           Reasons
           and
        
         
         
           Arguments
           which
           can
           possibly
           be
           brought
           for
           their
           Conviction
           .
           And
           we
           have
           no
           such
           advantage
           to
           boast
           of
           ;
           yet
           are
           happy
           in
           this
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           not
           over-awed
           by
           any
           Name
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           we
           know
           is
           greater
           ,
           and
           more
           venerable
           than
           all
           things
           .
        
         
           It
           s
           well
           known
           how
           liberal
           some
           men
           are
           of
           the
           odious
           brand
           of
           Apostates
           ,
           for
           every
           one
           who
           cannot
           digest
           the
           late
           published
           Orders
           :
           but
           ,
           without
           arrogance
           ,
           〈…〉
           sume
           ,
           as
           more
           due
           ,
           the
           Title
           of
           Proficients
           ,
           and
           doubt
           not
           to
           make
           it
           out
           ,
           that
           our
           dissent
           from
           many
           of
           them
           is
           so
           far
           from
           a
           going
           back
           from
           any
           Gospel
           Truth
           or
           Order
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           rather
           a
           making
           progress
           ,
           and
           advancing
           in
           the
           Evangelical
           Discipline
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           groundless
           Calumny
           which
           is
           suggested
           ,
           
             That
             a
             latitude
             beyond
             what
             our
             Author
             contends
             for
             ,
             is
             but
             a
             betraying
             the
             liberties
             and
             priviledges
             which
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             has
             given
             to
             his
             Church
             ,
             or
             the
             Brethren
             of
             the
             Church
             .
          
           These
           we
           profess
           to
           prize
           and
           stand
           for
           ,
           and
           would
           by
           no
           means
           lose
           .
           But
           wherein
           do
           they
           consist
           ?
           not
           in
           the
           Brethrens
           challenging
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Ministerial
           Work
           !
           Not
           in
           imposing
           upon
           others
           any
           thing
           which
           Christ
           has
           not
           imposed
           !
           which
           is
           but
           a
           debarring
           Christians
           of
           the
           Priviledges
           they
           have
           a
           right
           to
           .
           But
           they
           consist
           (
           as
           we
           conceive
           )
           in
           such
           things
           as
           these
           ,
           That
           our
           Consciences
           be
           not
           imposed
           on
           by
           Men
           or
           their
           Traditions
           ,
           Christ
           being
           the
           alone
           Lord
           of
           the
           Conscience
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           7.
           23.
           
           That
           Believers
           are
           through
           Christ
           ,
           freed
           from
           the
           guilt
           and
           dominion
           of
           Sin
           ,
           from
           the
           curse
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           sting
           and
           terror
           of
           Death
           .
           That
           we
           have
           the
           liberties
           of
           Gods
           House
           and
           Ordinances
           ,
           &
           therein
           communion
           with
           God.
           That
           we
           may
           have
           the
           benefit
           of
           the
           gifts
           of
           his
           Ministers
           for
           edification
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Apostles
           Doctrine
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           3.
           22.
           
        
         
         
           Nor
           is
           that
           Objection
           less
           frivolous
           ,
           when
           if
           we
           appear
           less
           Rigid
           than
           others
           of
           the
           Reverend
           Authors
           severity
           ,
           we
           are
           reflected
           on
           as
           casting
           dishonour
           on
           our
           Parents
           ,
           &
           their
           pious
           design
           in
           the
           first
           settlement
           of
           this
           Land
           No
           ,
           we
           reverence
           our
           Ancestors
           ,
           and
           the
           Memory
           of
           their
           divine
           Zeal
           and
           Constancy
           ,
           and
           would
           derive
           it
           as
           a
           Truth
           sacred
           to
           our
           Posterity
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           a
           religious
           Interest
           which
           carried
           them
           through
           all
           the
           amazing
           Difficulties
           &
           Discouragements
           in
           that
           Undertaking
           .
           But
           yet
           ,
           the
           particular
           design
           or
           end
           has
           been
           some-what
           differently
           conveyed
           unto
           us
           .
        
         
           Some
           have
           carried
           it
           as
           if
           the
           great
           end
           were
           the
           Conversion
           of
           the
           Heathen
           ;
           and
           there
           have
           been
           great
           Complaints
           by
           some
           of
           late
           ,
           how
           this
           has
           been
           neglected
           and
           contradicted
           ,
           and
           another
           course
           taken
           up
           ,
           whereby
           instead
           of
           bringing
           the
           Heathen
           into
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           ,
           many
           whose
           Fathers
           and
           themselves
           were
           once
           of
           the
           visible
           Church
           ,
           are
           now
           strangely
           left
           out
           ,
           scarce
           any
           face
           of
           Religion
           remaining
           among
           them
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           this
           ,
           we
           bewail
           it
           ,
           and
           look
           upon
           it
           as
           a
           Reproach
           to
           the
           Land
           ,
           and
           would
           therefore
           countenance
           no
           such
           Principles
           or
           Practices
           as
           have
           any
           tendency
           to
           such
           Apostacy
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           some
           have
           made
           this
           the
           great
           Design
           ,
           to
           be
           freed
           from
           the
           Impositions
           of
           Men
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           wherewith
           they
           were
           sometimes
           burthened
           ;
           and
           as
           they
           sought
           freedom
           for
           themselves
           ,
           we
           cannot
           suppose
           they
           design'd
           to
           impose
           upon
           others
           In
           this
           we
           are
           risen
           up
           to
           make
           good
           their
           grounds
           .
        
         
           The
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Willard
           in
           his
           Sermon
           of
           the
           
             sinfulness
             of
             Worshipping
             God
             with
             Mens
             Institutions
             ,
          
           p.
           27.
           gives
           this
           as
           the
           errand
           of
           our
           fore-Fathers
           into
           this
           Wilderness
           ,
           
           namely
           ,
           to
           sequester
           themselves
           into
           a
           quiet
           corner
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           where
           they
           might
           enjoy
           Christs
           unmixt
           Institutions
           ,
           and
           leave
           them
           uncorrupted
           to
           Posterity
           ;
           and
           the
           gain-saying
           or
           counter
           working
           this
           ,
           is
           ,
           as
           he
           intimates
           ,
           to
           cast
           dishonour
           upon
           them
           ,
           or
           call
           them
           fools
           .
        
         
           This
           Charge
           falls
           heavy
           on
           those
           who
           are
           for
           imposing
           their
           will
           on
           others
           .
           We
           crave
           no
           more
           but
           to
           enjoy
           the
           Institutions
           of
           Christ
           unmix't
           .
           And
           it
           appears
           very
           strange
           that
           those
           who
           fl●d
           from
           an
           Act
           of
           Uniformity
           ,
           should
           presently
           impose
           on
           themselves
           ,
           on
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           and
           entail
           the
           Mischief
           on
           their
           Posterity
           .
        
         
           Some
           indeed
           would
           make
           the
           design
           of
           our
           first
           Planters
           to
           consist
           in
           some
           little
           Rites
           ,
           Modes
           or
           Circumstances
           of
           Church
           Discipline
           ,
           and
           those
           such
           as
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           no
           where
           requires
           These
           are
           the
           men
           who
           dishonour
           their
           Country
           ,
           and
           their
           Fathers
           Memory
           ,
           by
           making
           their
           great
           design
           to
           lie
           in
           so
           small
           matters
           .
           And
           it
           is
           notorious
           there
           has
           been
           no
           agreement
           in
           these
           points
           from
           the
           beginning
           .
           It
           s
           known
           there
           was
           Anti-Synodatia
           printed
           ,
           and
           who
           had
           a
           hand
           in
           it
           ,
           
             and
             how
             modest
             his
             Dissent
             was
             ,
          
           and
           in
           what
           terms
           they
           contradicted
           what
           the
           Synod
           had
           established
           ,
           tho'
           the
           like
           is
           criminal
           and
           insufferable
           in
           any
           other
           .
        
         
           These
           Principles
           in
           Church
           Discipline
           are
           also
           wrote
           against
           in
           English
           by
           the
           
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
          
           ,
           by
           Mr.
           C●●dry
           ,
           Mr.
           Ratherford
           ,
           Mr.
           
             Ba●ly
             ,
             &c.
          
           
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           the
           Truth
           ,
           according
           to
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           we
           stand
           for
           ,
           it
           would
           not
           be
           grievous
           to
           any
           of
           our
           pious
           Ancestors
           ,
           were
           they
           now
           on
           Earth
           ;
           neither
           will
           it
           be
           grievous
           to
           them
           now
           in
           Heaven
           :
           nor
           should
           it
           be
           grievous
           to
           any
           good
           Man
           to
           receive
           Conviction
           .
           We
           refer
           all
           therefore
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           
             to
             the
             Law
             and
             to
             the
             Testimony
             .
          
        
         
         
           In
           the
           Preface
           or
           Epistle
           to
           said
           Book
           ,
           we
           find
           several
           things
           that
           might
           be
           justly
           excepted
           against
           ,
           but
           designing
           neither
           to
           be
           contentious
           nor
           volumnious
           ,
           we
           shall
           speak
           but
           to
           one
           or
           two
           .
        
         
           In
           pag.
           8.
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           is
           pleased
           to
           number
           up
           seven
           or
           eight
           erronious
           Doctrines
           ,
           as
           he
           apprehends
           them
           to
           be
           ;
           &
           the
           consequence
           from
           all
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           if
           we
           espouse
           these
           Principles
           ,
           we
           give
           away
           the
           whole
           
             Congregational
             Cause
          
           at
           once
           .
           Whence
           we
           perceive
           now
           the
           professed
           cause
           which
           the
           Author
           engages
           in
           ;
           tho'
           we
           hope
           it
           is
           not
           the
           Name
           or
           the
           Party
           ,
           but
           the
           Truths
           they
           delend
           .
           We
           shall
           have
           occasion
           to
           examine
           these
           Principles
           hereafter
           ;
           it
           may
           su●ti●e
           here
           to
           say
           ,
           they
           are
           
             craftily
             &
             unfairly
             worded
          
           ,
           &
           in
           the
           Dress
           they
           are
           here
           clad
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           espouse
           them
           ;
           yet
           according
           to
           their
           most
           fair
           &
           genuine
           construction
           there
           is
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Truth
           in
           most
           of
           them
           .
           And
           this
           is
           but
           a
           block
           the
           Author
           politickly
           casts
           in
           the
           way
           ,
           which
           at
           last
           we
           fear
           may
           but
           discourage
           some
           from
           embracing
           the
           Congregational
           way
           ,
           seeing
           it
           must
           needs
           fight
           for
           its
           life
           against
           some
           Truths
           .
           
             It
             s
             hard
             kicking
             against
             the
             pricks
             ,
             Acts
          
           9.
           5.
           
        
         
           Another
           thing
           Remarkable
           in
           the
           Preface
           is
           the
           Authors
           heat
           and
           〈◊〉
           ,
           pag
           9.
           
           
             Shall
             we
             then
             by
             Silence
             betray
             the
             Truth
             ?
          
           shall
           we
           re●ort
           ,
           therefore
           we
           are
           bold
           to
           speak
           too
           .
           
             Who
             is
             on
             the
             Lord
             side
             ?
             Who
             ?
          
           shall
           we
           answer
           ,
           we
           are
           ,
           we
           trust
           (
           through
           Gods
           Grace
           )
           together
           with
           you
           ;
           and
           all
           other
           siding
           〈◊〉
           would
           have
           in
           contempt
           
             Is
             there
             no
             one
             that
             will
             stand
             up
             for
             the
             Churches
             of
             Christ
             ▪
          
           God
           orbid
           but
           we
           should
           ,
           had
           others
           declined
           it
           !
           
             The
             good
             People
             in
             them
             then
             may
             well
             think
             their
             Watch-men
             are
             all
             either
             dead
             or
             a
             sleep
             :
          
           or
           if
           they
           talk
           light
           and
           heady
           ,
           they
           may
           conclude
           them
           in
           a
           trance
           ,
           or
           not
           quite
           awaked
           .
           〈◊〉
           
           
             which
             cause
             it
             is
             that
             I
             dedicate
             this
             ensuing
             Dissertation
             .
          
           And
           for
           the
           same
           cause
           we
           address
           you
           in
           the
           following
           answer
           .
           
             It
             is
             not
             my
             cause
             ,
             but
             yours
             .
          
           Nor
           is
           it
           ours
           ,
           but
           the
           Churches
           .
           and
           every
           good
           Christians
           in
           common
           .
           
             Did
             I
             say
             yours
             ?
             nay
             ,
             it
             is
             Christ
             cause
             .
          
           We
           list
           under
           the
           same
           Banners
           ,
           and
           would
           to
           God
           we
           were
           all
           as
           really
           ,
           as
           we
           would
           seem
           to
           be
           divested
           wholly
           of
           carnal
           self
           ........
           for
           truly
           our
           present
           Defence
           is
           become
           the
           peculiar
           concern
           of
           these
           Churches
           .
        
         
           But
           why
           all
           this
           heat
           ?
           we
           would
           not
           interpret
           too
           hard
           ;
           but
           these
           Expressions
           seem
           plainly
           to
           carry
           this
           sense
           ,
           
             That
             every
             one
             who
             obeys
             not
             the
             late
             published
             Orders
             ,
             is
             an
             opposer
             of
             Truth
             ,
             not
             on
             the
             Lord
             side
             ,
             Enemies
             to
             the
             cause
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             the
             Churches
             of
          
           New-England
           .
           Whereupon
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           roules
           himself
           ,
           and
           sounds
           an
           Alarm
           to
           the
           Churches
           ,
           
             To
             put
             down
             all
             such
          
           If
           this
           be
           not
           involv'd
           in
           it
           ,
           we
           would
           beg
           his
           Pardon
           ,
           and
           be
           informed
           better
           .
           But
           truly
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           mistaken
           Zeal
           ,
           ●dly
           lavish'd
           away
           ,
           and
           not
           kindled
           from
           above
           ;
           ●or
           we
           know
           no
           such
           conspiracy
           against
           the
           Truths
           of
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           or
           against
           the
           good
           of
           the
           Churches
           in
           New-England
           ,
           altho'
           we
           are
           not
           proselyted
           to
           some
           of
           your
           particular
           Opinions
           .
           It
           appears
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           Reverend
           Authors
           infirmity
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           with
           the
           Apostle
           Johns
           ,
           Mark
           9.
           38.
           
           
             Master
             ,
             we
             saw
             one
             casting
             out
             Devils
             in
             thy
             Name
             ,
             and
             he
             followeth
             not
             us
             ;
             and
             we
             forbad
             him
             ,
             because
             he
             followed
             not
             us
             .
          
           Which
           too
           forward
           zeal
           ou●
           Lord
           checks
           ,
           and
           reconciles
           the
           matter
           ,
           Vers
           .
           39
           ,
           40.
           
           
             And
             ●esus
             answered
             ,
             forbid
             him
             not
             ;
             he
             that
             is
             not
             against
             ●●
             is
             on
             our
             part
             .
          
           But
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           as
           in
           many
           others
           we
           ●ould
           instance
           in
           if
           need
           were
           ,
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           ,
           tho'
           very
           zealous
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           yet
           is
           not
           very
           steady
           &
           constant
           ;
           
           for
           before
           he
           ends
           his
           Book
           ,
           he
           comes
           about
           again
           ,
           in
           pag
           ,
           139.
           where
           he
           proposeth
           his
           Brothers
           Essay
           for
           Union
           wherein
           he
           shows
           how
           inconsiderable
           the
           Differences
           are
           between
           those
           of
           the
           Presbyterian
           and
           
             Congregational
             judgment
          
           ,
           that
           they
           need
           not
           set
           Truth
           to
           purchase
           Peace
           .
           And
           yet
           by
           the
           cry
           just
           now
           ,
           you
           would
           have
           thought
           all
           the
           Truths
           of
           Christ
           trampeled
           under
           foot
           ,
           the
           Cause
           of
           Religion
           deserted
           .
           and
           and
           a
           formidable
           War
           commenced
           by
           the
           Presbyterians
           against
           the
           order
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           observable
           ,
           that
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           in
           the
           Dissertation
           of
           the
           following
           Questions
           ,
           makes
           use
           of
           abundance
           of
           Quotations
           from
           several
           famous
           Persons
           in
           their
           Generations
           ;
           but
           in
           some
           the
           sence
           is
           perverted
           to
           a
           wrong
           end
           ,
           beside
           the
           obvious
           intention
           of
           the
           Writers
           ;
           in
           some
           he
           brings
           them
           in
           contradicting
           at
           one
           time
           what
           they
           said
           at
           another
           ,
           and
           sets
           some
           in
           opposition
           to
           others
           .
           And
           where
           he
           endeavours
           to
           confirm
           his
           Tenets
           by
           the
           Testimony
           of
           some
           he
           might
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           pleased
           ,
           have
           brought
           many
           others
           to
           contradict
           the
           same
           thing
           .
           But
           this
           is
           a
           good
           way
           to
           amuse
           the
           Reader
           ,
           and
           to
           cloud
           his
           mind
           ,
           and
           to
           terrifie
           him
           ,
           by
           mustering
           a
           legion
           of
           〈…〉
           artifica●
           Arguments
           .
           We
           shall
           be
           sparing
           in
           Quotations
           ,
           and
           pass
           by
           many
           cited
           by
           the
           Author
           ,
           tho'
           we
           approve
           them
           not
           .
           Only
           we
           crave
           leave
           to
           present
           one
           Quotation
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           of
           use
           to
           us
           all
           along
           ,
           being
           we
           are
           unwilling
           to
           be
           imposed
           on
           to
           believe
           what
           God
           never
           spoke
           ,
           or
           to
           do
           what
           God
           never
           requir'd
           .
           It
           is
           that
           of
           the
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Willa●a
           ,
           in
           his
           fore-quoted
           Sermon
           ,
           pag.
           23.
           24.
           
           
             Hence
             it
             follows
             ,
             that
             there
             ●s
             nothing
             to
             be
             received
             by
             us
             on
             this
             account
             ,
             but
             what
             has
             Gods
             Seal
             affixed
             to
             it
             .
             It
             s
             therefore
             enough
             to
             set
             us
             down
             resolved
             against
             any
             such
             thing
             ,
             if
             we
             can
             say
             there
             is
             a
             silence
             about
             it
             in
             the
             
             Scripture
             ,
             that
             God
             has
             no
             where
             commanded
             it
             in
             his
             word
             ,
             either
             expresly
             ,
             or
             by
             just
             and
             necessary
             consequence
             ,
             it
             s
             no
             Order
             of
             his
             devising
             .
             Scripture
             silence
             about
             any
             Tradition
             gives
             a
             full
             condemnation
             ,
             what
             ever
             ●leas
             men
             may
             bring
             for
             it
             ,
             as
             ,
             
               That
               it
               is
               profitable
               ,
               many
               have
               been
               edified
               by
               it
               ,
               it
               is
               a
               prudent
               way
               to
               secure
               the
               Interest
               of
               Religion
               ;
               many
               wise
               ,
               holy
               learned
               Men
               have
               pleaded
               for
               it
               and
               practised
               it
               ;
               that
               there
               is
               much
               of
               decency
               in
               it
               and
               the
               thing
               it self
               is
               no
               waye
               :
               harm●u●
               .
            
             A●l
             this
             is
             fully
             answered
             with
             that
             one
             word
             ,
             
               God
               has
               spoke
               nothing
               about
               it
               ,
            
             Heb.
             7.
             4.
             
             
               It
               never
               entered
               into
               his
               h●art
               to
               enjoyn
               it
               .
            
             Jer.
             7.
             31.
             
          
           Thus
           he
           .
        
         
           This
           being
           publickly
           practised
           and
           printed
           so
           long
           a
           go
           by
           so
           eminent
           a
           Minister
           ,
           and
           never
           since
           contradicted
           ,
           we
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ,
           that
           none
           have
           any
           thing
           to
           say
           against
           it
           .
           And
           we
           are
           thankful
           to
           him
           for
           furnishing
           us
           with
           a
           Doctrine
           so
           fully
           laid
           down
           ,
           to
           bear
           off
           the
           Institutions
           ,
           Traditions
           and
           Impositions
           that
           men
           would
           lay
           upon
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           high
           time
           now
           to
           consider
           the
           Questions
           which
           the
           Reverend
           Author
           propounds
           ,
           and
           the
           Answer
           he
           gives
           to
           each
           of
           them
           .
           In
           which
           attempt
           we
           shall
           offer
           no
           other
           Apology
           for
           our
           brevity
           ,
           save
           that
           our
           Author
           himself
           〈…〉
           ight
           have
           been
           as
           brief
           ,
           and
           yet
           full
           as
           clear
           and
           〈…〉
           iv●
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Gospel
           Order
           Revived
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           THe
           two
           first
           Questions
           might
           have
           been
           wholy
           spared
           ,
           yet
           may
           serve
           as
           a
           good
           Introduction
           to
           others
           of
           a●●
           ill
           aspect
           .
        
         
           
             
               Quest
               .
               1.
            
             
             Whether
             particular
             Churches
             ought
             to
             consist
             of
             Saints
             and
             true
             Believers
             in
             Christ
             ?
          
           
             It
             is
             granted
             that
             the
             matter
             of
             a
             particular
             Church
             (
             for
             the
             Question
             is
             not
             stated
             with
             reference
             to
             the
             Catholick
             )
             is
             visible
             Saints
             .
             And
             tho'
             the
             Answer
             is
             not
             given
             in
             the
             words
             ,
             yet
             we
             would
             charitably
             hope
             his
             sense
             is
             the
             same
             ,
             with
             the
             united
             Ministers
             in
             London
             .
             
               That
               none
               shall
               be
               admitted
               as
               members
               in
               order
               to
               Communion
               ,
               in
               all
               the
               special
               Ordinances
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               but
               such
               as
               are
               knowing
               and
               sound
               in
               the
               fundamental
               Doctrines
               
                 of
                 the
                 Christian
                 Religion
              
               ,
               without
               scandal
               in
               their
               Lives
               ,
               and
               to
               a
               judgment
               regulated
               by
               the
               word
               of
               God
               ,
               are
               Persons
               of
               visible
               Godliness
               and
               honesty
               ,
               credibly
               professing
               cordial
               subjection
               to
               
                 Jesus
                 Christ
              
               .
            
             Had
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             only
             said
             thus
             much
             (
             and
             indeed
             more
             is
             needless
             )
             he
             had
             saved
             us
             the
             labour
             of
             any
             Reflections
             on
             this
             part
             of
             his
             Essay
             .
             But
             there
             is
             one
             passage
             in
             p.
             15
             which
             we
             cannot
             but
             except
             against
             .
             
               
                 A
                 Scripture
              
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               
                 which
                 has
                 respect
                 in
                 the
                 times
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 severely
                 rebukes
                 those
                 Ministers
                 ,
                 which
                 shall
                 bring
                 men
                 that
                 are
                 uncircumcised
                 in
                 bear●
                 (
                 unregenerate
                 persons
                 )
                 into
                 the
                 sanctuary
                 ,
                 into
                 the
                 Church
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 to
                 eat
                 the
                 Bread
                 and
                 drink
                 the
                 Blood
                 ,
                 which
                 〈…〉
                 y
                 that
                 are
                 there
                 ,
                 partake
                 o●
                 ,
              
               Ezek.
               44.
               7
               ,
               9.
               
            
             A
             hard
             saying
             ,
             and
             w●o
             can
             ●ear
             it
             .
             The
             Text
             is
             here
             mangled
             ,
             and
             the
             principal
             things
             left
             out
             .
             What
             God
             has
             joyned
             ,
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             has
             seperated
             ,
             to
             drive
             on
             his
             design
             .
             The
             Text
             saith
             Uncircumcised
             in
             heart
             ,
             
               and
               uncircumcised
               in
               flesh
            
             :
             but
             here
             we
             have
             it
             only
             uncircumcise
             in
             hea●t
             ,
             interpreted
             unregenerate
             persons
             .
             What
             a
             rebuke
             is
             this
             to
             the
             best
             of
             Ministers
             because
             (
             forsooth
             )
             they
             are
             not
             heart
             searchers
             ,
             and
             dare
             not
             invade
             the
             prerogative
             of
             God.
             Did
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             or
             the
             Church
             with
             him
             ,
             never
             admit
             any
             un
             〈…〉
             ●erate
             
             Person
             to
             communion
             with
             them
             ?
             He
             will
             not
             dare
             to
             pretend
             to
             it
             ,
             and
             therefore
             the
             rebuke
             is
             to
             himself
             .
             We
             know
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             admitted
             Judas
             uncircumcised
             in
             heart
             ,
             an
             unregenerate
             Person
             to
             holy
             things
             ;
             and
             in
             the
             purest
             Ages
             of
             the
             Church
             there
             were
             Hypocrites
             crept
             in
             ,
             many
             of
             whom
             turned
             Apostates
             .
             Nay
             ,
             our
             Author
             is
             so
             sensible
             of
             this
             ,
             that
             p.
             19.
             he
             quotes
             the
             opinion
             of
             the
             Reverend
             
               M.
               Co●ton
               ,
               That
               its
               better
               to
               admit
               diverse
               Hypocrites
               than
               to
               keep
               out
               one
               sincere
               Child
               of
               God.
            
             It
             is
             obvious
             then
             that
             Hypocrites
             may
             be
             admitted
             ,
             and
             yet
             the
             Minister
             incur
             neither
             the
             rebukes
             of
             Conscience
             ,
             or
             of
             this
             Scripture
             :
             nay
             ,
             he
             may
             be
             approved
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             doing
             his
             Duty
             ,
             though
             Hypocrisie
             may
             too
             well
             consist
             with
             sufficient
             Knowledge
             found
             belief
             ,
             a
             blameless
             Life
             ,
             a
             credible
             Profession
             ,
             &c.
             
             
               To
               conclude
            
             ,
             It
             s
             very
             observeable
             ,
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             closes
             this
             first
             Enquiry
             ,
             by
             saying
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Churches
               here
               are
               free
               to
               admit
               those
               into
               their
               communion
               ,
               who
               are
               thus
               qualified
               .
            
             We
             marvel
             then
             his
             Zeal
             is
             not
             stirred
             to
             rebuke
             them
             afresh
             .
          
           
             But
             what
             will
             the
             Reader
             think
             if
             we
             should
             make
             an
             Apology
             after
             all
             for
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             and
             assure
             him
             he
             means
             no
             more
             ,
             than
             that
             Ministers
             ought
             not
             to
             admit
             known
             Infidels
             or
             Prophane
             ;
             for
             ,
             for
             his
             part
             ,
             he
             pretends
             not
             to
             know
             mens
             hearts
             .
             We
             only
             can
             intreat
             the
             Reader
             not
             to
             rebuke
             the
             Author
             too
             severely
             for
             his
             inconsistency
             ,
             for
             he
             may
             mean
             well
             ,
             and
             all
             parties
             are
             agreed
             .
             Unless
             he
             should
             imagine
             himself
             attacqued
             by
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             instituted
             Churches
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Q
               2.
            
             
             Whether
             there
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             a
             Tryal
             of
             Persons
             concerning
             their
             qualifications
             and
             fitness
             for
             Church
             communion
             ,
             before
             they
             are
             admitted
             thereunto
             ?
          
           
             We
             shall
             not
             here
             examine
             the
             force
             of
             the
             Authors
             arguments
             ,
             whether
             they
             unresistably
             conclude
             ,
             or
             not
             ;
             and
             whether
             the
             consequence
             is
             good
             from
             the
             tryal
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             the
             Porters
             at
             the
             Temple
             ,
             or
             the
             12
             Angels
             at
             the
             Gates
             of
             the
             Mystical
             Jerusalem
             ,
             to
             the
             tryal
             of
             Church
             Members
             .
             It
             suffices
             that
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             has
             modestly
             stated
             this
             Truth
             ,
             and
             cited
             us
             to
             a
             merciful
             Bar
             ,
             the
             judgment
             seat
             of
             a
             rational
             Charity
             ,
             where
             the
             Judge
             avoids
             severity
             ,
             and
             the
             tryal
             is
             managed
             with
             abundant
             tenderness
             :
             the
             
             bruised
             Reed
             is
             not
             broken
             ,
             nor
             the
             smoaking
             flax
             quenched
             :
             the
             tender
             Lambs
             find
             the
             kind
             Shepherds
             Arms
             to
             fold
             them
             ,
             and
             a
             gentle
             carriage
             in
             his
             bosom
             .
             This
             is
             indeed
             the
             part
             of
             the
             good
             shepherd
             ,
             and
             we
             could
             now
             gladly
             commit
             our selves
             to
             the
             Reverend
             Authors
             Pastoral
             care
             .
             So
             many
             good
             words
             remove
             all
             jealousie
             of
             a
             rigid
             Tryal
             .
             But
             alas
             !
             the
             Clouds
             return
             upon
             us
             ,
             and
             a
             black
             doubt
             is
             started
             ,
             as
             follows
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Q
               3
            
             Whether
             are
             not
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Elders
             of
             the
             Church
             only
             ,
             to
             judge
             concerning
             the
             qualifications
             and
             fitness
             of
             those
             who
             art
             admitted
             into
             their
             Communion
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             allows
             there
             may
             be
             a
             difference
             of
             apprehension
             ,
             as
             to
             this
             point
             ,
             and
             yet
             no
             breach
             of
             Union
             .
             We
             think
             so
             too
             ,
             and
             therefore
             as
             we
             continue
             to
             honour
             the
             Person
             ,
             though
             we
             expose
             his
             opinion
             ;
             so
             we
             ●o●●
             the
             negative
             will
             not
             dele●ve
             the
             popular
             cry
             ,
             
               Oh
               Apostacy
               !
               Apostacy
            
             !
             The
             difference
             ,
             as
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             tells
             us
             ,
             is
             between
             the
             Brethren
             of
             the
             Presbyterian
             and
             the
             
               Congregational
               way
            
             ,
             the
             former
             giving
             this
             power
             only
             to
             the
             Eldership
             ,
             the
             latter
             joyning
             the
             fraternity
             with
             them
             .
             He
             takes
             up
             for
             the
             latter
             ;
             but
             whether
             he
             proves
             it
             ,
             the
             world
             may
             see
             when
             we
             have
             considered
             his
             Arguments
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             fore-going
             Chapter
             ,
             when
             he
             would
             prove
             there
             ought
             to
             be
             a
             tryal
             of
             Persons
             ,
             he
             tells
             us
             of
             the
             
               Porters
               that
               were
               set
               ut
               the
               gates
               of
               the
               Temple
               ,
               2
               Chron.
            
             23.
             19
             but
             those
             Porters
             were
             Officers
             1
             Coron
             .
             ●6
             .
             1.
             so
             he
             Instances
             in
             the
             Twelve
             Angels
             at
             the
             Gates
             of
             the
             Mystic
             〈…〉
             Jerusalem
             ,
             which
             tho'
             it
             may
             imply
             that
             the
             G●●es
             were
             kept
             ,
             yet
             not
             that
             the
             fraternity
             were
             the
             keepers
             .
             He
             instances
             also
             in
             Phillip
             and
             
               John
               the
               Baptist
            
             ,
             which
             if
             it
             argues
             any
             thing
             ,
             is
             applicable
             only
             to
             the
             Officers
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             the
             Brother-hood
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             examine
             his
             strength
             in
             this
             Chapter
             what
             he
             calls
             argument
             ,
             may
             more
             truly
             be
             stiled
             dogmatical
             affirming
             ,
             or
             a
             more
             mean
             begging
             the
             Question
             .
             Till
             pag.
             24
             ,
             25.
             he
             quotes
             a
             cripture
             or
             two
             in
             proof
             of
             his
             assertions
             ,
             
               ●●i●
               .
               1
               Corinth
               .
               5.
               12.
               2
               
               Cor.
            
             2.
             6.
             in
             both
             which
             places
             the
             Apostle
             is
             writing
             to
             the
             Church
             at
             Corinth
             ,
             about
             excommunicating
             the
             l●cestuou●
             Person
             to
             h●●●●n
             ,
             and
             the
             restoring
             him
             again
             upon
             his
             Repentance
             .
             And
             w
             〈…〉
             t
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             to
             the
             same
             holy
             Aposti●
             for
             an
             ●●swer
             .
             〈…〉
             t
             is
             that
             known
             place
             ,
             1
             
               Corinth
               .
               1●
               .
               chap.
            
             where
             he
             compares
             the
             
             Church
             to
             a
             mans
             Body
             ,
             and
             shows
             the
             distinct
             offices
             and
             operations
             of
             the
             respective
             Members
             ,
             as
             the
             Eye
             and
             Ear
             ,
             the
             Hand
             and
             Foot.
             And
             to
             render
             the
             allusion
             the
             more
             intelligible
             ,
             he
             names
             the
             Officers
             God
             had
             set
             over
             his
             Church
             ,
             as
             more
             immediately
             referred
             to
             v.
             28.
             
             God
             has
             set
             some
             in
             his
             Church
             ,
             first
             ,
             Apostles
             ,
             secondarily
             ,
             Prophets
             ,
             thirdly
             ,
             Teachers
             —
             and
             in
             the
             close
             of
             the
             14.
             chap.
             he
             adds
             ,
             
               Let
               all
               things
               be
               done
               decently
               and
               in
               order
               .
            
             The
             result
             of
             all
             is
             this
             .
          
           
             The
             Apostle
             would
             have
             every
             one
             to
             keep
             his
             proper
             place
             and
             sphere
             ,
             and
             do
             his
             own
             work
             ,
             soil
             in
             the
             Censure
             of
             the
             faulty
             Person
             ,
             the
             Eldership
             were
             to
             do
             theirs
             ,
             the
             Brotherhood
             not
             to
             usu
             〈…〉
             or
             arrogate
             any
             thing
             above
             their
             Province
             .
             For
             as
             the
             Apostle
             queries
             ,
             
               v.
               19
               are
               all
               Apostles
               ?
               are
               all
               Prophets
               ?
               are
               all
               Teachers
               ?
               i.
               e.
            
             in
             a
             govern'd
             Body
             we
             cannot
             expect
             all
             should
             be
             Governors
             ,
             
               vid.
               Pool's
               Annot.
            
             
          
           
             There
             is
             another
             Text
             also
             produced
             to
             prove
             the
             power
             of
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             
               scil
               .
               Mat.
            
             18.
             17.
             and
             if
             he
             shall
             neglect
             to
             hear
             them
             ,
             
               tell
               it
               to
               the
               Church
            
             .
             This
             Text
             has
             been
             often
             brought
             on
             this
             account
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             on
             other
             accounts
             and
             as
             often
             answered
             ,
             yet
             here
             brought
             again
             ,
             but
             it
             will
             not
             answer
             the
             end
             .
          
           
             The
             Context
             supposes
             an
             Offender
             ,
             and
             the
             wronged
             party
             proceeding
             against
             him
             ;
             and
             here
             are
             three
             steps
             the
             dissatisfied
             Person
             is
             directed
             to
             take
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             heal
             the
             wound
             given
             ,
             1.
             )
             To
             tell
             the
             Offender
             his
             fault
             in
             private
             .
             2
             )
             To
             tell
             him
             before
             2
             or
             3
             witnesses
             ,
             and
             if
             the
             end
             be
             not
             obtained
             ;
             3.
             )
             To
             tell
             it
             to
             the
             Church
             .
             Suppose
             now
             a
             Person
             acting
             according
             to
             this
             Rule
             (
             as
             we
             could
             give
             instances
             if
             need
             were
             )
             when
             the
             first
             step
             did
             not
             gain
             his
             Brother
             ,
             nor
             the
             second
             answer
             the
             end
             ,
             at
             last
             the
             dissatisfied
             Person
             carried
             the
             case
             to
             the
             Pastor
             ,
             and
             now
             he
             reckened
             he
             had
             told
             it
             to
             the
             Church
             .
             The
             Pastor
             sending
             so
             the
             Offendor
             presently
             convinced
             him
             ,
             brought
             him
             to
             Repentance
             ,
             and
             to
             give
             satisfaction
             ,
             and
             the
             thing
             was
             issued
             .
             Here
             the
             Rule
             was
             attended
             ,
             the
             Church
             told
             ,
             the
             offendor
             healed
             ,
             the
             wronged
             Person
             satisfied
             ,
             and
             the
             matter
             issued
             ,
             when
             the
             Brotherhood
             all
             this
             while
             knew
             nothing
             of
             it
             .
             It
             is
             evident
             from
             the
             next
             verse
             ,
             that
             by
             the
             Church
             must
             be
             meant
             those
             who
             had
             Power
             to
             bind
             and
             loose
             ,
             which
             Power
             Christ
             had
             given
             to
             the
             Apostles
             .
             Moreover
             let
             the
             sense
             be
             that
             the
             Offence
             is
             to
             be
             told
             to
             the
             Rulers
             first
             ,
             and
             then
             by
             then
             to
             the
             
             multitude
             ;
             not
             for
             the
             multitude
             
               to
               judge
               of
               it
            
             ,
             but
             for
             their
             warning
             and
             example
             ,
             for
             their
             prayers
             for
             the
             offendor
             ,
             and
             their
             approbacion
             of
             the
             Elders
             Censure
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             might
             take
             care
             to
             avoid
             the
             familiarity
             of
             such
             an
             insectious
             sinner
             ,
             
               vid.
               Pools
               Annot.
            
             
          
           
             But
             if
             Scripture
             will
             not
             prove
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             possibly
             some
             venerable
             Maxim
             may
             do
             the
             feat
             .
             
               Quod
               ●angie
               omnes
               debet
               ab
               omnibus
               approbari
               .
            
             But
             alas
             !
             this
             Maxim
             gives
             so
             much
             to
             the
             Sisters
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             Brethren
             .
             Surely
             it
             is
             no
             divine
             Oracle
             ,
             it
             neither
             came
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             nor
             is
             it
             according
             to
             the
             manners
             of
             men
             upon
             Earth
             .
             If
             a
             master
             of
             a
             family
             take
             in
             a
             so●ou●nor
             or
             a
             servant
             ;
             all
             are
             concerned
             ,
             but
             their
             vote
             is
             not
             asked
             .
             If
             a
             Captain
             list
             a
             Souldier
             ,
             all
             the
             Company
             is
             concerned
             ,
             but
             it
             is
             done
             by
             his
             Authority
             ,
             without
             asking
             their
             leave
             .
             And
             pray
             carry
             this
             m●x●m
             to
             the
             Colledge
             ,
             and
             see
             if
             the
             President
             and
             fellows
             will
             stand
             by
             it
             in
             their
             admissions
             .
             If
             it
             be
             objected
             ,
             that
             even
             in
             all
             these
             cases
             if
             there
             be
             any
             sufficient
             reasons
             presented
             by
             those
             concerned
             ,
             a
             prudent
             Ruler
             will
             yield
             to
             it
             ;
             we
             easily
             grant
             it
             ,
             and
             therefore
             it
             s
             not
             unfit
             that
             men
             be
             proposed
             to
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             if
             there
             be
             any
             thing
             to
             object
             against
             their
             lives
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Another
             argument
             for
             the
             Brethrens
             Power
             in
             admission
             ,
             is
             ,
             lest
             the
             whole
             Power
             should
             sometimes
             reside
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             a
             single
             Minister
             ,
             and
             that
             this
             is
             unreasonable
             we
             have
             a
             Speech
             quoted
             from
             the
             
               Presbiterian
               Ministers
            
             in
             London
             .
             But
             it
             is
             strangely
             perverted
             from
             their
             true
             meanning
             ,
             as
             appears
             not
             only
             from
             the
             whole
             series
             and
             scope
             of
             the
             Book
             ,
             but
             also
             from
             what
             is
             expressed
             in
             the
             page
             quoted
             (
             p.
             71.
             )
             where
             they
             say
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Power
               cannot
               be
               placed
               in
               the
               whole
               Church
               collectively
               taken
               .
            
             The
             Scripture
             makes
             an
             exact
             distinction
             between
             Rulers
             and
             ruled
             .
             They
             only
             plead
             that
             there
             should
             be
             more
             Rulers
             in
             a
             Church
             then
             one
             ;
             or
             that
             ,
             when
             there
             are
             more
             ,
             then
             the
             Power
             belongs
             to
             the
             whole
             meaning
             ,
             the
             ruling
             Elders
             as
             well
             as
             the
             Teaching
             .
             And
             what
             is
             that
             to
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Brethren
             ?
             One
             officer
             has
             Power
             in
             plain
             cases
             to
             act
             in
             the
             Kings
             name
             .
          
           
             Indeed
             our
             Saviour
             did
             frequently
             send
             forth
             his
             Disciples
             two
             and
             two
             But
             yet
             Phillip
             was
             sent
             alone
             to
             baptize
             the
             Ethiopian
             Eunuc
             〈…〉
             It
             will
             not
             excuse
             a
             Minister
             in
             the
             neglect
             of
             Christs
             work
             ,
             because
             he
             has
             no
             fellow
             labourers
             with
             him
             .
          
           
           
             But
             the
             strongest
             argument
             comes
             last
             .
             
               The
               way
               to
               keep
               Popery
               our
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               saith
               our
               Author
               ,
               is
               for
               the
               fraternity
               to
               assert
               and
               maintain
               that
               Power
               ,
               which
               does
               of
               right
               belong
               to
               them
               .
            
             In
             answer
             to
             which
             ,
             we
             need
             only
             blot
             out
             the
             word
             fraternity
             ,
             and
             in
             its
             room
             write
             the
             word
             Ela●rship
             .
             An
             excellent
             argument
             that
             will
             equally
             prove
             either
             way
             ;
             and
             by
             the
             change
             of
             a
             word
             serve
             ,
             also
             to
             answer
             Doctor
             Owens
             long
             Speech
             ,
             which
             ends
             that
             Chapter
             .
          
           
             In
             short
             ,
             all
             Power
             is
             firstly
             in
             Christs
             ●a●ds
             ,
             and
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             produces
             no
             commission
             or
             order
             from
             Christ
             ,
             for
             the
             ●rethren
             ●●
             ma
             〈…〉
             ge
             the
             affairs
             o●
             his
             House
             in
             his
             name
             ;
             for
             he
             has
             appointed
             Officers
             of
             his
             own
             to
             that
             end
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Q.
               4.
            
             
             Whether
             is
             it
             necessary
             t●at
             Persons
             at
             their
             admission
             into
             the
             Church
             should
             make
             a
             publick
             relation
             of
             the
             time
             and
             manner
             of
             their
             Conversion
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             answers
             in
             the
             Negative
             ,
             and
             adds
             ,
             that
             the
             Churches
             of
             
               N.
               E
               ▪
            
             do
             not
             impose
             it
             ,
             ●or
             ought
             it
             to
             be
             required
             or
             desired
             .
             He
             gives
             four
             substantial
             reasons
             why
             it
             ought
             not
             And
             had
             he
             stopt
             here
             ,
             he
             had
             done
             well
             ,
             or
             had
             he
             added
             more
             reasons
             to
             those
             four
             ,
             as
             he
             could
             have
             done
             ,
             it
             had
             been
             an
             acceptable
             performance
             .
          
           
             But
             about
             he
             wheels
             again
             ,
             and
             seems
             to
             plead
             hard
             for
             it
             ,
             or
             something
             like
             it
             ,
             which
             he
             calls
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             Churches
             of
             
               New
               England
            
             .
          
           
             This
             he
             would
             recommend
             from
             a
             story
             receiv'd
             from
             the
             Reverend
             Mr.
             Eliot
             ,
             but
             we
             have
             heard
             another
             story
             from
             the
             same
             Reverend
             Person
             ,
             how
             when
             one
             of
             the
             Brethren
             was
             highly
             commending
             his
             neighbours
             Relation
             ,
             and
             prefer●●●g
             it
             to
             others
             ,
             the
             said
             Mr.
             Eliot
             turned
             upon
             him
             ,
             and
             said
             ,
             
               A●
               Brother
               !
               don
               't
               be
               so
               much
               taken
               with
               fine
               words
               ,
               but
               look
               to
               the
               mans
               conversation
               .
            
             The
             Author
             relates
             another
             story
             from
             the
             Reverend
             Mr.
             Ho●
             ,
             of
             one
             who
             through
             importunity
             was
             brought
             to
             make
             a
             relation
             ,
             and
             made
             the
             Congregation
             weep
             ,
             when
             he
             did
             it
             ;
             but
             whether
             for
             joy
             or
             grief
             ,
             we
             are
             left
             in
             the
             dark
             .
          
           
             The
             Author
             gives
             us
             his
             arguments
             ,
             but
             they
             do
             not
             reach
             his
             end
             .
             He
             pleads
             for
             them
             in
             that
             they
             are
             edifying
             ;
             but
             we
             have
             known
             some
             that
             have
             been
             no
             ways
             so
             ;
             or
             granting
             they
             were
             always
             so
             ,
             can
             that
             justifie
             the
             instituting
             and
             imposing
             them
             ?
             would
             it
             ●ot
             be
             
             edifying
             if
             every
             Sabbath
             day
             evening
             ,
             some
             well
             disposed
             (
             talkative
             )
             Brethren
             should
             stand
             up
             and
             relate
             the
             experiences
             of
             the
             week
             past
             ?
             yet
             shall
             we
             make
             it
             a
             law
             or
             custom
             ?
             will
             not
             some
             people
             assure
             you
             ,
             they
             have
             been
             wonderfully
             edified
             by
             a
             womans
             preaching
             in
             Publick
             ?
             and
             yet
             will
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             be
             induced
             to
             prostitute
             his
             Pulpit
             to
             them
             ,
             or
             part
             with
             a
             Sallary
             to
             cherish
             their
             zeal
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             the
             Relation
             of
             Experiences
             is
             pleaded
             for
             ,
             in
             that
             God
             may
             be
             Honoured
             by
             them
             .
             But
             we
             have
             known
             some
             to
             Gods
             dishonour
             ,
             being
             in●●pid
             ,
             sensless
             things
             ,
             to
             use
             our
             Authors
             own
             words
             ,
             meer
             formalities
             ,
             too
             scandalous
             and
             superstitious
             .
             He
             saith
             ,
             they
             are
             a
             means
             to
             gain
             love
             with
             the
             Children
             of
             God.
             But
             we
             have
             known
             some
             that
             have
             lost
             love
             and
             credit
             by
             them
             .
          
           
             But
             the
             Question
             is
             ,
             Whether
             they
             are
             an
             instituted
             means
             for
             any
             of
             these
             ends
             ?
             Whether
             appointed
             by
             God
             ,
             to
             promote
             his
             glory
             ,
             edisie
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             or
             gain
             love
             ?
             If
             not
             ,
             they
             are
             but
             the
             Institutions
             of
             men
             ,
             and
             therefore
             to
             be
             rejected
             ,
             as
             the
             before
             quoted
             Mr.
             Willard
             instructs
             us
             .
          
           
             God
             has
             appointed
             the
             preaching
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             the
             Sacraments
             ,
             &c.
             for
             edification
             ,
             and
             the
             promoting
             Christian
             love
             among
             his
             people
             ;
             but
             we
             read
             nothing
             of
             these
             imposed
             relations
             ,
             neither
             when
             Christ
             himself
             ,
             nor
             when
             his
             Apostles
             after
             him
             ,
             administred
             this
             holy
             Sacrament
             .
             Nor
             is
             there
             any
             appearance
             of
             such
             a
             Custom
             in
             the
             primitive
             Church
             .
          
           
             Indeed
             ,
             there
             are
             some
             occasions
             ,
             as
             our
             Author
             observes
             ,
             on
             which
             a
             Person
             who
             has
             had
             a
             remarkable
             Conversion
             ,
             may
             declare
             it
             :
             but
             there
             's
             neither
             precept
             nor
             rule
             in
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             it
             should
             be
             done
             at
             this
             set
             time
             ,
             and
             in
             publick
             .
             And
             with
             what
             sace
             can
             we
             impose
             it
             ,
             when
             our
             Fathers
             fled
             from
             the
             impositions
             of
             men
             ?
             whether
             arbitrary
             Impositions
             are
             insufferable
             in
             themselves
             ,
             or
             not
             ;
             yet
             certainly
             they
             are
             ●old
             and
             insolent
             in
             New-England
             ,
             where
             the
             greatest
             out-cry
             is
             made
             against
             them
             in
             others
             .
          
           
             But
             it
             would
             make
             a
             man
             smile
             ,
             were
             he
             never
             so
             serious
             or
             displeased
             ,
             to
             read
             the
             Texts
             that
             are
             brought
             for
             this
             Custom
             ;
             as
             that
             
               Psal
               .
               ●0
               10.
               
               I
               have
               not
               concealed
               thy
               Truth
               from
               the
               great
               Congregation
               .
            
             And
             indeed
             the
             Royal
             Prophet
             had
             been
             inexcusable
             if
             he
             had
             ,
             as
             a
             Minister
             would
             now
             ,
             that
             should
             not
             declare
             to
             his
             flock
             the
             
             whole
             counsel
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             Again
             ,
             Psal
             .
             66.
             16.
             he
             says
             ,
             
               Come
               and
               hear
               all
               you
               that
               fear
               God
               ,
               and
               I
               will
               declare
               what
               he
               has
               done
               for
               my
               soul
               .
            
             We
             imagine
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             supposes
             the
             Psalmist
             thus
             calling
             aloud
             in
             some
             vast
             religious
             Concourse
             ,
             and
             that
             in
             order
             to
             his
             partaking
             of
             the
             priviledges
             of
             the
             
               Jewish
               Church
            
             .
             But
             should
             we
             grant
             a
             supposal
             so
             ridiculous
             and
             extravagant
             ,
             yet
             this
             makes
             nothing
             for
             imposing
             Relations
             ,
             for
             then
             it
             should
             have
             been
             spoken
             and
             challenged
             by
             the
             People
             .
             Do
             you
             come
             ,
             and
             stand
             forth
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             and
             tell
             us
             what
             God
             has
             done
             for
             your
             soul
             ,
             and
             then
             we
             admit
             you
             to
             all
             the
             priviledges
             of
             the
             Temple
             .
             Another
             Text
             strangely
             perverted
             to
             scare
             some
             good
             people
             is
             ,
             that
             ,
             Mat.
             10.
             33.
             
             
               Whosoever
               denyeth
               me
               before
               men
               ,
               him
               will
               I
               also
               deny
               before
               my
               father
               which
               is
               in
               Heaven
               .
            
             As
             if
             there
             were
             no
             confessing
             Christ
             ,
             without
             making
             formal
             speeches
             in
             the
             Church
             .
          
           
             And
             as
             if
             a
             credible
             profession
             of
             our
             faith
             in
             Christ
             ,
             the
             taking
             his
             Name
             upon
             us
             in
             Baptism
             ,
             and
             the
             renewal
             of
             our
             Baptismal
             Vow
             ,
             and
             a
             devout
             attendance
             on
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             were
             not
             the
             true
             confession
             our
             Lord
             expects
             !
             Wo
             be
             to
             the
             world
             ,
             if
             all
             were
             to
             be
             rated
             ,
             denyers
             of
             Christ
             ;
             who
             whether
             from
             inability
             ,
             modesty
             or
             a
             just
             indignation
             ,
             refuse
             to
             make
             a
             quaint
             Speech
             in
             the
             Church
             .
             The
             last
             Scripture
             we
             shall
             name
             ,
             which
             has
             been
             equally
             abused
             with
             the
             rest
             is
             that
             in
             1
             
               Pet.
               3.
               15.
               
               That
               Christians
               should
               be
               ready
               to
               give
               a
               reason
               of
               the
               hope
               that
               is
               in
               them
               ,
               to
               everyone
               that
               asketh
               it
               ,
            
             to
             wit
             ,
             in
             a
             proper
             place
             and
             time
             ,
             for
             a
             fit
             end
             ,
             and
             on
             sufficient
             Reasons
             ,
             where
             there
             is
             Authority
             to
             command
             ,
             or
             it
             is
             desired
             with
             modesty
             .
             The
             sense
             indeed
             is
             ,
             that
             we
             should
             be
             ready
             to
             defend
             our
             Faith
             against
             the
             scoffs
             and
             cavils
             of
             Infidels
             and
             Persecutors
             :
             and
             that
             it
             is
             a
             shame
             to
             Christians
             not
             to
             be
             able
             to
             argue
             for
             their
             Religion
             ,
             and
             confute
             gain-sayers
             .
             So
             that
             if
             you
             would
             infer
             hence
             any
             publick
             Speech
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             rather
             an
             Apology
             for
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             or
             a
             Sermon
             to
             prove
             its
             reasonableness
             and
             evidence
             ;
             but
             neither
             is
             it
             in
             the
             least
             intimated
             that
             this
             should
             be
             made
             a
             stated
             term
             of
             Communion
             ;
             and
             we
             are
             sure
             the
             Church
             has
             no
             more
             power
             to
             debar
             the
             resuser
             from
             any
             Christian
             priviledge
             then
             to
             require
             Oaths
             ,
             Subscriptions
             ,
             and
             Conformity
             to
             a
             Thousand
             more
             Ceremonies
             .
          
           
           
             We
             have
             but
             one
             Remark
             more
             to
             make
             here
             ,
             and
             that
             is
             ,
             the
             Apostle
             requires
             this
             reason
             of
             our
             hope
             to
             be
             given
             with
             meekness
             &
             fear
             .
             The
             true
             sense
             whereof
             is
             ,
             that
             which
             we
             are
             contending
             even
             with
             Infidels
             ,
             yet
             we
             must
             not
             argue
             with
             an
             intemperate
             Passion
             or
             Zeal
             .
             Or
             if
             we
             construe
             it
             ,
             as
             in
             opposition
             to
             Pride
             and
             Presumption
             of
             a
             mans
             own
             g●f●s
             and
             abilities
             ;
             It
             is
             a
             severe
             Rebuke
             to
             many
             of
             our
             bold
             and
             forward
             Zealots
             ,
             who
             have
             been
             famed
             for
             their
             promptness
             to
             speak
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             first
             that
             have
             fallen
             under
             its
             deserved
             ●ash
             .
             We
             should
             indeed
             be
             better
             reconciled
             to
             this
             custom
             of
             Relations
             ,
             were
             this
             prescribed
             meekness
             and
             fear
             more
             visible
             in
             them
             .
             But
             this
             is
             the
             misery
             ,
             the
             more
             meek
             and
             fearful
             are
             hereby
             kept
             out
             of
             Gods
             House
             ,
             while
             the
             more
             conceited
             and
             presum●tuous
             never
             boggle
             at
             this
             ,
             o●
             any
             thing
             else
             .
          
           
             But
             it
             seems
             there
             is
             a
             gross
             Corruption
             of
             this
             laudable
             practice
             which
             the
             Author
             does
             well
             to
             cen●ure
             ;
             and
             that
             is
             ,
             when
             some
             ,
             who
             have
             no
             good
             intention
             of
             their
             own
             ,
             get
             others
             to
             devise
             a
             Relation
             for
             them
             .
             The
             Author
             may
             be
             satisfied
             there
             is
             something
             of
             truth
             in
             such
             reports
             ;
             neither
             Charity
             nor
             Interest
             should
             make
             us
             too
             incredu●●us
             .
             But
             then
             he
             passes
             a
             severe
             sentence
             on
             such
             Lyars
             to
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             .
             Which
             they
             truly
             deserve
             ,
             i●
             in
             their
             relations
             they
             pretended
             to
             tell
             the
             time
             and
             manner
             of
             their
             Conversion
             ,
             or
             if
             they
             so
             much
             as
             suggested
             it
             to
             be
             their
             own
             devising
             ;
             but
             if
             it
             be
             only
             a
             profession
             of
             their
             Faith
             &
             Repentance
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             material
             who
             composes
             it
             ,
             if
             they
             can
             conscientiously
             subscribe
             to
             it
             .
             And
             indeed
             a
             general
             .
             form
             might
             be
             best
             of
             all
             in
             the
             case
             ,
             if
             they
             must
             needs
             be
             made
             us
             .
             To
             sum
             up
             all
             ,
             we
             not
             only
             believe
             (
             with
             our
             Author
             )
             that
             such
             as
             delude
             the
             Church
             ,
             by
             bringing
             relations
             not
             of
             their
             own
             devising
             ,
             do
             exceedingly
             provoke
             the
             Lord
             ;
             but
             also
             that
             the
             imposers
             of
             them
             as
             a
             term
             of
             Communion
             ,
             do
             so
             too
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Q●
               .
               5.
            
             
             Hath
             t●●
             Church
             Covenant
             ,
             as
             commonly
             practised
             in
             the
             Churches
             of
             
               New.
               England
            
             ,
             any
             Scripture
             foundation
             ?
          
           
             In
             reference
             to
             this
             Question
             ,
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             and
             others
             of
             his
             opinion
             ,
             in
             their
             discourses
             about
             it
             ,
             love
             much
             to
             keep
             in
             the
             dark
             .
             We
             confess
             our selves
             at
             a
             loss
             about
             those
             words
             (
             
               as
               commonly
               practised
            
             )
             and
             Solomon
             has
             long
             ago
             told
             us
             ,
             that
             he
             that
             answers
             a
             matter
             before
             he
             understands
             it
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             folly
             and
             shame
             to
             him
             .
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             knows
             we
             suppose
             ,
             or
             if
             he
             don't
             ,
             we
             do
             ,
             
             that
             in
             some
             Churches
             of
             
               N.
               E.
            
             they
             have
             no
             Church
             Covenant
             at
             all
             ,
             and
             that
             in
             other
             Churches
             it
             is
             differently
             p
             〈…〉
             ▪
             Some
             understand
             by
             it
             only
             a
             Covenanting
             with
             God
             to
             perform
             by
             his
             Grace
             the
             Duties
             we
             owe
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             our
             Christian
             B●e●●●en
             ,
             &
             accordingly
             ●o
             propose
             it
             ;
             others
             mean
             by
             it
             a
             Covenant
             with
             a
             particular
             Church
             ,
             whereby
             they
             are
             bound
             to
             walk
             in
             Communion
             therewith
             ,
             till
             by
             their
             consent
             dismissed
             .
             Others
             will
             have
             it
             to
             be
             a
             necessary
             Qualification
             in
             order
             to
             a
             persons
             partaking
             of
             the
             Lords
             Supper
             ,
             either
             there
             or
             else
             where
             ;
             And
             others
             have
             Notions
             of
             it
             quite
             different
             from
             all
             these
             .
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             first
             bears
             us
             down
             with
             a
             formidable
             Authority
             ,
             telling
             us
             the
             Question
             was
             considered
             at
             a
             General
             Convention
             of
             the
             Ministers
             ,
             May
             ,
             1●98
             and
             that
             all
             the
             Ministers
             then
             present
             save
             one
             ,
             did
             concur
             in
             the
             Affirmative
             ,
             but
             we
             have
             heard
             q●●te
             otherwise
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             was
             then
             proposed
             and
             urged
             to
             have
             the
             Church
             Covenant
             more
             distinctly
             opened
             ,
             though
             it
             was
             not
             hearkened
             to
             .
             It
             is
             a
             good
             policy
             to
             hurry
             on
             a
             vote
             their
             cause
             depends
             on
             ,
             and
             like
             a
             first
             Principle
             ,
             it
             must
             not
             be
             deliberated
             or
             debated
             ;
             and
             such
             ,
             as
             we
             hear
             ,
             was
             the
             mannagement
             of
             that
             vote
             .
             And
             it
             is
             observeable
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             avoids
             (
             whether
             indust●iousty
             or
             no
             ,
             we
             shall
             not
             guess
             )
             to
             state
             the
             nature
             of
             this
             Covenant
             ,
             but
             confusedly
             saith
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             practised
             by
             the
             Churches
             in
             
               N.
               E.
            
             
          
           
             In
             the
             Preface
             we
             have
             the
             Authors
             own
             description
             of
             this
             Covenant
             ,
             where
             he
             calls
             it
             
               explic●t
               Covenanting
               with
               God
               and
               his
               Church
               ,
            
             and
             sometimes
             with
             
               God
               and
               his
               People
            
             .
             But
             we
             renew
             our
             Complaint
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             yet
             most
             miserably
             in
             the
             dark
             .
             It
             might
             be
             enquired
             here
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             two
             distinct
             Covenants
             ,
             one
             with
             God
             and
             the
             other
             with
             his
             People
             ?
             i●
             so
             ,
             which
             of
             them
             is
             the
             proper
             Church
             Covenant
             ?
             If
             but
             one
             ,
             whether
             it
             binds
             the
             person
             that
             enters
             into
             it
             ,
             to
             perform
             the
             same
             Duties
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Church
             ▪
             and
             in
             case
             a
             person
             be
             dismissed
             ,
             whether
             it
             is
             from
             his
             whole
             duty
             or
             from
             a
             part
             of
             it
             ?
             and
             whether
             God
             and
             his
             Church
             Promise
             ●he
             same
             thing
             to
             the
             party
             covenanting
             ?
             These
             Queries
             are
             offer'd
             only
             to
             provoke
             a
             clear
             state
             of
             the
             thing
             debated
             ,
             which
             should
             be
             cleared
             to
             the
             understandings
             of
             people
             ,
             before
             it
             s
             imposed
             on
             their
             Consciences
             ,
             as
             a
             term
             of
             Communion
             .
          
           
             But
             before
             our
             Author
             ends
             this
             Chapter
             ,
             he
             puts
             another
             disguise
             ,
             
             and
             a
             more
             taking
             face
             on
             this
             matter
             .
             He
             would
             inf●●uate
             that
             the
             Church
             Covenant
             ,
             as
             practised
             in
             New-England
             ,
             is
             nothing
             more
             than
             the
             publick
             Profession
             of
             Faith
             ,
             and
             promise
             of
             a
             holy
             L●●●
             ;
             for
             which
             he
             quotes
             both
             Synods
             and
             several
             private
             Reverend
             mens
             Names
             .
             But
             this
             unfair
             dealing
             may
             be
             stript
             of
             its
             disguise
             ,
             by
             shewing
             in
             what
             sence
             we
             allow
             a
             Church
             Covenant
             ,
             and
             in
             what
             sence
             we
             allow
             it
             not
             .
          
           
             1
             st
             .
             We
             own
             and
             plead
             for
             a
             Covenant
             with
             God
             ,
             whereby
             a
             Person
             or
             People
             become
             his
             ,
             and
             b●nd
             themselves
             to
             walk
             in
             all
             his
             ways
             .
             This
             was
             the
             Covenant
             that
             constituted
             Israel
             of
             old
             to
             be
             a
             Church
             and
             People
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             which
             God
             made
             with
             Abraham
             and
             his
             Seed
             after
             him
             ,
             by
             which
             ●●
             became
             ,
             in
             a
             special
             manner
             ,
             their
             God
             ,
             and
             they
             his
             People
             ▪
             This
             is
             the
             Covenant
             that
             Israel
             renewed
             with
             God
             in
             the
             Wilderness
             ,
             ●●cut
             .
             26.
             17
             ,
             18.
             
             To
             this
             God
             annexed
             his
             Seals
             ,
             Circum●●sion
             in
             the
             days
             of
             old
             ,
             and
             Baptism
             under
             the
             Gospel
             .
             It
             s
             by
             this
             Covenant
             that
             a
             Person
             or
             People
             are
             united
             to
             Christ
             the
             head
             ,
             and
             do
             become
             Members
             of
             his
             Body
             .
             By
             this
             the
             Catholick
             Church
             is
             constituted
             ,
             and
             we
             have
             an
             Interest
             in
             all
             those
             Priviledges
             that
             belong
             to
             believers
             ,
             as
             such
             .
             This
             is
             the
             Covenant
             we
             own
             ,
             and
             which
             we
             renew
             every
             time
             we
             attend
             the
             publick
             Wors●i●
             of
             
               God
               ,
               Psal
            
             .
             50.
             5.
             and
             this
             Covenant
             ought
             to
             be
             explicit
             ,
             openly
             professed
             and
             published
             to
             the
             World.
             It
             is
             a
             false
             and
             abusive
             in
             nu●tion
             (
             but
             frequently
             made
             in
             an
             awful
             Desk
             )
             that
             People
             are
             against
             all
             explicit
             Covenanting
             ,
             or
             the
             open
             renewal
             of
             it
             ;
             for
             there
             is
             no
             pretence
             for
             such
             a
             C●lumny
             ,
             that
             we
             can
             hear
             of
             :
             It
             must
             therefore
             arise
             either
             from
             idle
             Fears
             ,
             or
             some
             mischievous
             Policy
             .
          
           
             2
             ●ly
             .
             We
             also
             highly
             approve
             of
             a
             Covenant
             of
             Reformation
             .
             A
             great
             〈…〉
             uty
             in
             times
             of
             Apostacy
             ,
             and
             gross
             corruption
             of
             Manners
             ;
             to
             covenant
             to
             put
             away
             these
             and
             those
             reigning
             sins
             ,
             to
             return
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             perform
             such
             particular
             Duties
             as
             have
             been
             visibly
             neglected
             .
             O●
             this
             we
             have
             frequent
             instances
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             Ezra
             10
             3
             5.
             
          
           
             3dly
             .
             We
             may
             also
             allow
             a
             Covenant
             between
             Minister
             &
             People
             ,
             whereby
             they
             ●i●●
             themselves
             to
             th●se
             respective
             Duties
             ,
             that
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             has
             made
             incumbent
             on
             them
             ,
             on
             account
             of
             that
             Relation
             .
          
           
             But
             we
             altogether
             deny
             a
             Church
             Covenant
             in
             the
             following
             sense
             ,
             
             and
             say
             ,
             Our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             has
             no
             where
             appointed
             in
             his
             Word
             ,
             that
             there
             should
             be
             a
             Covenant
             ent●●'d
             into
             by
             some
             Persons
             of
             a
             Christian
             Society
             ,
             exclusive
             of
             the
             rest
             ,
             whereby
             they
             being
             in
             Covenant
             one
             with
             another
             ,
             should
             thereby
             call
             themselves
             a
             Church
             of
             Christ
             ,
             making
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             Christ
             ,
             or
             any
             of
             them
             to
             depend
             on
             this
             Covenant
             ,
             so
             that
             those
             who
             scruple
             it
             ,
             or
             refuse
             to
             joyn
             in
             it
             ,
             shall
             on
             that
             account
             ,
             not
             enjoy
             them
             .
             And
             that
             those
             who
             are
             thus
             covenanted
             ,
             or
             the
             major
             part
             of
             them
             ,
             have
             power
             to
             make
             or
             unmake
             Officers
             ,
             to
             admit
             or
             reject
             Church
             Members
             ,
             to
             mannage
             Discipline
             ,
             to
             order
             the
             affairs
             of
             Christs
             House
             in
             his
             Name
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             had
             warrant
             and
             commission
             from
             him
             so
             to
             do
             .
             Of
             such
             a
             Church
             Covenant
             neither
             Moses
             ,
             nor
             Christ
             himself
             ,
             the
             Prophets
             nor
             the
             Aposties
             have
             spoke
             any
             thing
             .
             None
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             Arguments
             or
             Quotations
             of
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             prove
             any
             thing
             of
             it
             .
             We
             will
             take
             leave
             therefore
             to
             call
             it
             Mans
             Covenant
             ,
             and
             no●
             Gods
             ,
             for
             it
             has
             nor
             Gods
             Seal
             affixed
             to
             it
             ;
             &
             though
             good
             ,
             wise
             or
             learned
             men
             may
             endeavour
             to
             obtrude
             it
             ,
             and
             plead
             ,
             its
             harmless
             ,
             ●●ifying
             ,
             or
             for
             the
             Interest
             of
             Religion
             ,
             yet
             according
             to
             the
             afore-quoted
             Rule
             of
             the
             reverend
             Mr.
             Willard
             ,
             we
             are
             to
             reject
             it
             ,
             and
             shall
             do
             so
             ,
             till
             it
             comes
             with
             a
             divine
             Stamp
             .
          
           
             But
             possibly
             this
             may
             be
             called
             a
             Misrepresentation
             .
             You
             will
             say
             ,
             Who
             owns
             it
             ,
             or
             will
             plead
             for
             it
             in
             this
             Dress
             ?
             
               We
               Answer
            
             ,
             by
             querying
             ,
             Whether
             there
             be
             not
             several
             that
             own
             and
             plead
             for
             the
             things
             contained
             in
             it
             ?
             We
             wish
             there
             were
             a
             less
             Number
             .
             But
             to
             evince
             it
             ,
             let
             us
             take
             it
             into
             the
             several
             parts
             .
             Are
             there
             none
             that
             plead
             for
             a
             seperate
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             some
             (
             and
             generally
             the
             lesser
             part
             )
             must
             enter
             into
             ?
             and
             if
             it
             be
             good
             ,
             and
             for
             good
             ends
             ,
             why
             must
             so
             many
             be
             excluded
             ?
             If
             it
             be
             to
             reform
             Manners
             ,
             if
             to
             maintain
             the
             Ministry
             and
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             if
             to
             lay
             stricter
             Bonds
             of
             Duty
             ,
             if
             to
             bring
             men
             more
             effectually
             to
             submit
             to
             Discipline
             ,
             why
             then
             are
             not
             the
             whole
             brought
             in
             ?
             for
             the
             whole
             Congregation
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             these
             Duties
             ,
             and
             why
             must
             the
             Covenant
             be
             seperate
             ?
          
           
             Again
             ,
             do
             not
             some
             plead
             ,
             it
             is
             requisit
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             a
             Persons
             partaking
             of
             the
             Lords
             Supper
             ?
             But
             did
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             require
             any
             such
             thing
             when
             he
             first
             instituted
             that
             holy
             Sacrament
             ?
             Did
             the
             Apostles
             when
             they
             administred
             it
             ?
             Was
             it
             the
             term
             of
             Communion
             in
             the
             primitive
             Church
             ?
             or
             where
             i●
             the
             Scripture
             that
             commands
             
             it
             ?
             and
             why
             should
             Gods
             holy
             Ordinances
             be
             annexed
             to
             Mens
             Covenant
             ?
             Again
             ,
             do
             not
             some
             plead
             ,
             that
             those
             who
             thus
             covenant
             ,
             have
             the
             Power
             to
             make
             and
             unmake
             Officers
             ?
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             will
             not
             scape
             here
             ,
             whose
             Opinion
             in
             this
             matter
             we
             shall
             see
             hereafter
             .
             And
             ,
             finally
             ,
             do
             not
             some
             pretend
             ,
             ●●at
             these
             are
             the
             Persons
             commissioned
             by
             Christ
             ,
             for
             the
             admitting
             and
             rejecting
             of
             Church
             Members
             ?
             This
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             defends
             with
             all
             his
             Might
             ,
             under
             the
             third
             Question
             ,
             tho'
             ,
             as
             we
             showed
             ,
             he
             could
             find
             no
             Proof
             .
             And
             so
             much
             for
             the
             Church
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             stranger
             to
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             has
             no
             foundation
             in
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           
             
               Q.
               6.
            
             
             Is
             publick
             Reading
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             without
             explication
             or
             exhortation
             there-with
             ,
             part
             of
             the
             Work
             incumbent
             on
             a
             Minister
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ?
          
           
             The
             Author
             does
             not
             mean
             ,
             (
             as
             we
             suppose
             ,
             )
             if
             there
             be
             no
             explication
             or
             exhortation
             throughout
             the
             whole
             time
             of
             exercise
             .
             If
             he
             doth
             ,
             he
             fights
             with
             the
             air
             ,
             for
             we
             know
             no
             Sect
             of
             Men
             but
             have
             some
             explication
             ,
             tho'
             many
             among
             us
             neglect
             reading
             .
             We
             therefore
             take
             his
             sense
             to
             be
             this
             ,
             If
             no
             explication
             follow
             immediately
             without
             the
             interposition
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             part
             of
             divine
             Worship
             .
             For
             we
             conceive
             that
             the
             ordinary
             preaching
             the
             Word
             may
             very
             properly
             be
             call'd
             
               exposition
               ,
               explication
            
             &
             exhortation
             ,
             and
             that
             in
             every
             Sermon
             there
             is
             a
             competent
             portion
             of
             Scripture
             for
             one
             time
             explicated
             and
             applyed
             .
             No●
             can
             we
             imagine
             ,
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             means
             that
             every
             clause
             a
             Minister
             reads
             in
             publick
             should
             be
             in
             a
             formal
             manner
             explicated
             :
             Methinks
             it
             should
             satisfie
             ,
             if
             after
             one
             or
             more
             Chapters
             read
             ,
             some
             select
             clause
             ,
             verse
             o●
             paragraph
             be
             insisted
             on
             and
             expounded
             ,
             
               i.
               e.
            
             chosen
             as
             a
             Text
             ,
             and
             preached
             on
             .
          
           
             We
             are
             obliged
             to
             the
             Author
             ,
             if
             but
             for
             quoting
             the
             Text
             in
             Timothy
             ,
             where
             it
             is
             given
             him
             in
             charge
             ,
             as
             his
             Ministerial
             Work
             ,
             
               To
               give
               attendance
               to
               Reading
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               to
               Doctrine
               &
               Exhortation
               That
               the
            
             Jews
             
               were
               wont
               to
               read
               the
               Scriptures
               in
               their
               Synagogue
               ,
            
             saith
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             
               we
               all
               know
               ;
               and
               that
               it
               was
               their
               Duty
               to
               read
               the
               Scripture
               at
               some
               set
               and
               solemn
               Times
               ,
               we
               also
               know
               ;
               for
               so
               it
               was
               appointed
               ,
            
             Deut.
             31.
             11.
             
             Again
             ,
             he
             grants
             that
             in
             
               Just
               in
               Martyrs
            
             time
             
               the
               Scriptures
               were
               read
               ,
               and
               thereupon
               followed
               a
               Sermon
               .
            
          
           
           
             We
             should
             have
             been
             thankful
             if
             he
             had
             added
             more
             Proofs
             ,
             by
             way
             of
             Encouragement
             (
             as
             he
             could
             easily
             have
             done
             )
             and
             thereby
             confirmed
             some
             that
             are
             apt
             to
             stagger
             .
             He
             could
             have
             to●d
             how
             the
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
             at
             
               West
               minster
            
             ,
             do
             order
             and
             advise
             to
             i●
             :
             He
             could
             have
             quoted
             the
             many
             famous
             Churches
             that
             do
             practise
             it
             at
             this
             day
             :
             He
             could
             have
             named
             several
             famous
             Ministers
             in
             England
             ,
             and
             some
             in
             New-England
             ,
             that
             plead
             for
             it
             ,
             and
             practise
             it
             .
             He
             could
             have
             told
             of
             more
             than
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Derry
             that
             complain
             of
             the
             neglect
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             (
             to
             use
             the
             wo●ds
             of
             a
             most
             eminent
             Divine
             not
             far
             from
             us
             )
             
               as
               the
               most
               just
               Reproach
               that
               the
               Churches
               of
            
             New-England
             
               labour
               under
            
             .
             He
             could
             have
             told
             ,
             for
             encouragement
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             a
             clause
             in
             our
             publick
             Confession
             of
             Faith
             in
             
               New-England
               ,
               chap.
            
             22.
             which
             treats
             of
             Religious
             Worship
             ,
             and
             the
             Sabbath
             day
             ,
             
               Sect.
               5
               ▪
               The
               reading
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               Preaching
               and
               hearing
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               singing
               of
               Psalms
               ,
               as
               also
               the
               Administration
               of
               Baptism
               and
               the
               Lords
               Supper
               ,
               are
               all
               parts
               of
               the
               Religious
               Worship
               of
               God
               ,
               to
               be
               performed
               in
               Obedience
               to
               God
               with
               Vnderstanding
               ,
               Faith
               ,
               Reverence
               and
               godly
               ●ear
               .
               Finally
               ,
            
             He
             could
             have
             told
             us
             (
             had
             he
             searched
             all
             our
             New-England
             Antiquities
             on
             this
             head
             )
             how
             in
             the
             Preface
             to
             our
             Version
             of
             the
             Psalms
             ,
             the
             reading
             of
             
             David's
             
               Psalms
               as
               other
               Scriptures
            
             )
             in
             Churches
             ,
             is
             taught
             to
             be
             one
             end
             of
             them
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             singing
             of
             them
             ,
             which
             is
             another
             end
             .
             It
             is
             ridiculous
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             reading
             ,
             with
             exposition
             is
             here
             meant
             ;
             for
             then
             why
             was
             it
             not
             so
             said
             ?
          
           
             However
             ,
             it
             looks
             very
             oddly
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             neither
             read
             nor
             exp●u●d
             ,
             should
             talk
             so
             much
             ,
             and
             quote
             so
             many
             Name●
             ,
             as
             our
             Author
             has
             done
             ,
             for
             a
             Practice
             which
             they
             never
             intended
             to
             come
             up
             unto
             .
          
           
             We
             have
             heard
             what
             our
             Author
             has
             said
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             that
             he
             could
             have
             said
             to
             encourage
             this
             good
             Practice
             :
             His
             Discouragements
             follow
             :
          
           
             And
             first
             ,
             he
             brands
             it
             with
             a
             hard
             uncouth
             Name
             ,
             and
             twice
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             som●
             call
             it
             
               Dumb
               Reading
               ▪
            
             We
             wish
             he
             had
             named
             those
             that
             so
             term
             it
             .
             There
             is
             so
             much
             Venom
             in
             the
             Epithite
             ,
             and
             so
             complicated
             a
             Mali●nity
             in
             the
             Phrase
             ,
             that
             we
             fear
             its
             infectious
             ,
             and
             may
             propagate
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Pride
             ,
             &
             contempt
             of
             his
             Neighbours
             ,
             and
             irreverence
             to
             his
             Maker
             .
             The
             Author
             well
             thought
             ,
             so
             odious
             a
             Mark
             on
             the
             Front
             ,
             would
             give
             all
             honest
             People
             a
             disgust
             to
             ●●
             
             villanous
             and
             stigmatiz'd
             a
             Practice
             .
             But
             his
             Policy
             has
             failed
             him
             ,
             for
             it
             raises
             a
             just
             Indignation
             in
             all
             sensible
             and
             ●n●enuous
             Christians
             .
             We
             will
             for
             once
             inform
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             that
             the
             Scriptures
             are
             read
             in
             Churches
             audibly
             and
             intelligibly
             .
             Nor
             can
             we
             guess
             what
             Dumb
             reading
             should
             mean
             ,
             unless
             when
             men
             sleep
             over
             their
             Books
             ;
             and
             in
             charity
             to
             the
             Author
             ,
             we
             wish
             he
             had
             been
             a
             sleep
             when
             this
             unlucky
             word
             dro●t
             from
             his
             Pen.
             
          
           
             We
             are
             further
             beholden
             to
             the
             Author
             for
             his
             judgment
             ,
             that
             the
             reading
             of
             one
             Chapter
             ,
             with
             a
             brief
             explication
             ,
             wi●●
             edifie
             the
             Congregation
             more
             than
             the
             bare
             reading
             of
             twenty
             Chapters
             .
             But
             this
             is
             only
             his
             single
             Opinion
             ,
             and
             as
             it
             will
             not
             weigh
             against
             the
             daily
             experience
             of
             thousands
             of
             People
             ,
             who
             must
             judge
             for
             themselves
             ;
             so
             neither
             does
             it
             favour
             of
             modesty
             ,
             to
             think
             any
             one
             of
             his
             Sermons
             o●
             short
             Comments
             ,
             can
             edifie
             more
             than
             the
             reading
             of
             twenty
             Chapters
             .
             We
             would
             not
             charge
             on
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             all
             the
             hard
             consequences
             of
             his
             own
             words
             ,
             or
             we
             should
             say
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             audacious
             so
             vilely
             to
             disparage
             the
             Inspirations
             of
             God.
             Alas
             !
             Sir
             ,
             the
             Scripture
             wants
             nothing
             of
             ours
             to
             make
             it
             Perfect
             .
             We
             have
             the
             Confessions
             of
             many
             who
             have
             come
             to
             hear
             the
             Word
             read
             with
             prejudice
             ,
             that
             God
             gives
             it
             authority
             from
             the
             lips
             of
             the
             Minister
             ▪
             And
             we
             know
             ,
             that
             as
             all
             Scripture
             is
             given
             by
             
               Inspiration
               of
               God
            
             ,
             so
             it
             is
             in
             it self
             profitable
             (
             without
             any
             help
             or
             advantage
             from
             us
             )
             
               for
               Doctrine
               ,
               for
               Reproof
               ,
               for
               Correction
               ,
               for
               Instruction
               in
               Righteousness
               —
               ●o
               perfect
               the
               Man
               of
               God
               ,
            
             the
             Minister
             as
             well
             as
             his
             People
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             were
             not
             so
             in
             it self
             ,
             it
             could
             not
             be
             so
             by
             being
             explained
             .
             Here
             let
             our
             
               Confession
               of
               Faith
            
             speak
             for
             us
             ,
             chap.
             1.
             
             Sect.
             7.
             
             
               All
               things
               in
               Scripture
               are
               not
               alike
               plain
               in
               themselues
               ,
               nor
               alike
               clear
               unto
               all
               ;
               yet
               those
               things
               w
               〈…〉
               are
               necessary
               to
               be
               known
               ,
               believed
               and
               observed
               for
            
             Salvation
             ,
             are
             so
             clearly
             
               propounded
               &
               opened
               in
               some
               place
               o●
               Scripture
               or
               other
               ,
               that
               not
               only
               the
               learned
               ,
               but
               the
               unlearned
               ,
               in
               a
               due
               use
               of
               the
               ordinary
               means
               ,
               may
               attain
               unto
               a
               sufficient
               understanding
               of
               them
               .
            
          
           
             There
             is
             one
             Argument
             in
             pag●
             47
             ,
             48
             ▪
             brought
             by
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             against
             this
             Dumb
             Reading
             ,
             but
             so
             picious
             a
             stu●●ble
             ,
             so
             miserable
             an
             incon●equence
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             loath
             to
             name
             i●
             .
          
           
             To
             issue
             this
             Head
             ,
             we
             are
             more
             and
             more
             confirmed
             ,
             that
             the
             reading
             Gods
             Word
             in
             the
             great
             Congregation
             ,
             is
             so
             far
             from
             being
             offensive
             to
             God
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             greatest
             Reverence
             and
             Honour
             we
             can
             do
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             most
             suitable
             acknowledgment
             we
             can
             make
             to
             
             him
             ,
             who
             in
             mercy
             has
             given
             us
             his
             Word
             ,
             and
             will
             judge
             the
             World
             by
             it
             at
             the
             great
             Day
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               7.
            
             
             Is
             Baptism
             to
             be
             administred
             to
             all
             Children
             ,
             whom
             any
             professing
             Christians
             shall
             engage
             to
             see
             educated
             in
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             according
             to
             his
             wonted
             Bounty
             ,
             a●
             first
             dash
             concedes
             to
             us
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             not
             oppose
             the
             adoptive
             right
             .
             We
             then
             declare
             our selves
             satisfied
             ,
             and
             crave
             no
             more
             ;
             for
             we
             do
             not
             conceive
             that
             any
             man
             can
             engage
             or
             undertake
             for
             the
             Education
             of
             a
             Child
             in
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             unless
             he
             has
             the
             Authority
             of
             a
             Parent
             devolved
             on
             him
             ,
             for
             the
             government
             of
             the
             Child
             .
             Nor
             would
             any
             conscientious
             Minister
             accept
             the
             engagement
             of
             one
             who
             has
             no
             power
             or
             ability
             to
             perform
             his
             Vows
             .
             So
             that
             this
             engagement
             necessarily
             implyes
             the
             care
             and
             authority
             of
             a
             Father
             ,
             and
             consequently
             there
             is
             an
             adoptive
             Right
             to
             Baptism
             .
          
           
             But
             the
             Author
             stumbles
             at
             the
             phrase
             ,
             
               professed
               Christians
            
             ,
             and
             seems
             to
             think
             that
             the
             Question
             ,
             if
             carried
             in
             the
             Affirmative
             ,
             would
             conclude
             for
             
               Papists
               ,
               Socinians
            
             ,
             and
             the
             groslest
             Hereticks
             ,
             as
             also
             for
             the
             most
             notorious
             Prostigates
             ,
             and
             prophane
             Persons
             ;
             as
             if
             it
             ever
             entered
             into
             the
             heart
             of
             a
             
               Protestant
               Divine
            
             to
             accept
             the
             Engagement
             of
             some
             lewd
             Debauchce
             or
             professed
             Papist
             to
             institute
             his
             Child
             for
             the
             Devil
             or
             Popery
             .
             Our
             complaint
             here
             is
             the
             same
             that
             the
             Reverend
             Mr.
             How
             once
             made
             of
             his
             Adversaries
             ,
             
               That
               ●e
               gravely
               falls
               a
               combating
               with
               his
               own
               Man
               of
               Straw
               ,
               and
               so
               we
               are
               to
               be
               tortured
               in
               Effigie
               .
            
             But
             to
             pacific
             him
             ,
             we
             would
             inform
             him
             what
             a
             charitable
             Man
             would
             understand
             by
             a
             
               professed
               Christian
               ,
               vi●
            
             .
             the
             s●me
             that
             our
             Catechism
             does
             ,
             when
             it
             instructs
             us
             ,
             That
             Baptism
             is
             not
             to
             be
             administred
             to
             any
             till
             
               they
               profess
               their
               Faith
               in
               Christ
               ,
            
             and
             obedience
             to
             him
             .
             We
             leave
             our
             Author
             therefore
             to
             fight
             it
             out
             with
             that
             Reverend
             Assembly
             ,
             for
             truly
             his
             Argument
             is
             form●dable
             against
             them
             ,
             in
             as
             much
             as
             
               Papists
               ,
               Socinians
               ,
               Heretick
            
             ;
             the
             
               Prophane
               ,
               &c.
            
             do
             all
             profess
             their
             Faith
             in
             Christ
             ,
             and
             Obedience
             to
             him
             .
             Such
             is
             the
             Power
             of
             Interest
             ,
             Faction
             ,
             Passion
             and
             personal
             Opposition
             ,
             that
             it
             blinds
             a
             Man
             on
             a
             suddain
             to
             fight
             with
             those
             Truths
             which
             he
             has
             learned
             and
             reverenced
             from
             his
             Infancy
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               Qu.
               8.
            
             
             Is
             Baptism
             in
             a
             private
             House
             ,
             where
             there
             is
             no
             Church
             Assembly
             ,
             allowable
             ?
          
           
             The
             Question
             seems
             to
             grant
             ,
             there
             may
             be
             a
             Church
             Assembly
             in
             a
             private
             House
             (
             as
             we
             read
             ,
             Rom.
             16.
             5.
             
             Phil.
             2.
             )
             so
             there
             may
             be
             a
             publick
             place
             ,
             and
             no
             Assembly
             ▪
          
           
             We
             agree
             with
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             that
             Baptism
             is
             a
             part
             of
             the
             publick
             Ministry
             ,
             nor
             may
             it
             be
             administred
             by
             one
             who
             is
             not
             called
             to
             the
             publick
             Ministry
             ;
             neither
             should
             it
             usually
             and
             o●●ina●●ly
             be
             administred
             but
             in
             a
             full
             Congregation
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             most
             publick
             manner
             ,
             nor
             would
             we
             drop
             a
             word
             to
             discourage
             so
             pious
             a
             Practice
             .
          
           
             Yet
             ,
             let
             the
             Congregation
             be
             never
             so
             great
             ,
             if
             the
             Administrator
             be
             not
             a
             publick
             Minister
             ,
             commissioned
             by
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             called
             private
             Baptism
             ,
             and
             altogether
             unallowable
             ;
             and
             if
             the
             number
             of
             people
             be
             small
             ,
             and
             the
             place
             otherwise
             private
             ,
             yet
             if
             the
             Administrator
             be
             a
             publick
             Officer
             and
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Baptism
             may
             in
             a
             sense
             be
             called
             Publick
             ,
             and
             in
             some
             cases
             (
             as
             that
             of
             dangerous
             sickness
             )
             not
             only
             allowable
             but
             necessary
             ,
             and
             a
             duty
             .
             When
             a
             Justice
             of
             the
             Peace
             acts
             in
             his
             Office
             ,
             though
             but
             few
             are
             present
             ,
             yet
             they
             are
             acts
             of
             publick
             Authority
             ,
             as
             truly
             as
             those
             done
             in
             higher
             Courts
             ,
             and
             with
             greater
             solemnity
             .
             Altho
             among
             us
             ,
             where
             Churches
             are
             orderly
             settled
             ,
             there
             is
             little
             occasion
             either
             for
             private
             preaching
             or
             Baptism
             ,
             it
             being
             certain
             the
             more
             publick
             both
             are
             ,
             the
             more
             God
             and
             his
             Ordinances
             are
             honoured
             ,
             &
             th●
             general
             profit
             of
             his
             people
             consulted
             .
          
           
             But
             yet
             (
             as
             was
             hinted
             before
             )
             there
             are
             some
             cases
             of
             necessity
             ,
             wherein
             it
             s
             ones
             duty
             to
             seek
             a
             more
             private
             Baptism
             ;
             the
             providence
             of
             God
             not
             permitting
             a
             more
             publick
             attendance
             ,
             and
             no
             Minister
             ought
             to
             refuse
             their
             desire
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             instance
             ,
             in
             apparent
             danger
             of
             death
             ,
             it
             would
             be
             cruelty
             to
             deny
             such
             a
             request
             ,
             if
             privacy
             be
             the
             only
             Objection
             .
             We
             need
             not
             suggest
             ,
             that
             all
             what
             we
             call
             private
             Baptism
             there
             may
             be
             a
             competent
             number
             of
             people
             present
             ;
             the
             neighbourhood
             being
             called
             in
             ,
             and
             notice
             given
             to
             some
             of
             the
             Brethren
             of
             the
             Church
             .
             We
             observe
             a
             good
             Medium
             herein
             between
             the
             two
             dangerous
             extreams
             .
             We
             avoid
             all
             unnecessary
             &
             common
             Baptizing
             in
             private
             ,
             for
             which
             our
             Brethren
             in
             England
             are
             so
             very
             faulty
             ;
             and
             we
             
             would
             correct
             our
             own
             defects
             here
             at
             home
             ,
             in
             refusing
             to
             Baptise
             in
             private
             ,
             be
             the
             extremity
             never
             so
             great
             ,
             or
             life
             never
             so
             ●azardous
             .
             Not
             that
             we
             are
             at
             all
             ti●ged
             with
             the
             error
             of
             St.
             Austin
             ,
             namely
             ,
             a
             pe●swasion
             of
             the
             absolute
             necessity
             of
             Baptism
             to
             Salvation
             :
             ●ut
             we
             ●●●eem
             i●
             the
             most
             publick
             owning
             of
             God
             which
             the
             state
             of
             the
             person
             admits
             of
             or
             the
             providence
             of
             God
             a●
             present
             allows
             ,
             and
             〈…〉
             good
             to
             ●e
             found
             in
             the
             way
             of
             blessing
             ,
             and
             we
             may
             expect
             that
             〈…〉
             his
             own
             Instit●tions
             .
          
           
             〈…〉
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             private
             Baptism
             ,
             in
             cases
             of
             necessity
             ,
             abundantly
             appears
             from
             that
             One
             instance
             of
             the
             Goaler
             ,
             Acts
             15.
             33.
             
             To
             ●●●ch
             our
             Author
             answers
             ,
             St.
             Paul
             was
             an
             extraordinary
             Officer
             .
             But
             by
             his
             leave
             ,
             that
             is
             nothing
             to
             the
             purpose
             ;
             for
             the
             ordinary
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Gospel
             succeed
             the
             Apostles
             in
             those
             thing
             in
             ta●e
             of
             an
             ordinary
             and
             standing
             nature
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             as
             baptism
             i●
             ▪
             ●ndeed
             ,
             his
             other
             reason
             is
             good
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             difficult
             ,
             if
             no●
             impossible
             to
             get
             a
             Congregation
             of
             Christians
             ;
             and
             therefore
             necessity
             was
             put
             upon
             the
             Apostle
             to
             Baptize
             the
             Goaler
             and
             family
             in
             private
             ;
             which
             plainly
             holds
             forth
             thus
             much
             ,
             that
             in
             like
             cases
             of
             necessity
             ,
             as
             in
             times
             of
             persecution
             ,
             danger
             of
             Death
             &c.
             the
             same
             practice
             is
             allowable
             and
             a
             duty
             ;
             wherein
             we
             have
             the
             promise
             of
             Christs
             gracious
             Presence
             with
             us
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             when
             it
             i●
             administred
             in
             a
             larger
             Congregation
             
               Mat.
               18.
               20.
               
               For
               where
               two
               o●
               th●●e
               are
               gathered
               together
               in
               any
               Name
               ,
               there
               a●
               I
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               them
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
               Q.
               9
            
             O●ght
             all
             that
             contribute
             towards
             the
             maintenance
             to
             have
             the
             privileage
             of
             voting
             in
             the
             Election
             of
             a
             Pastor
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverand
             Author
             in
             the
             very
             first
             line
             of
             his
             answer
             to
             this
             question
             ,
             t●r●sts
             in
             a
             most
             ●●kind
             in●●nuation
             ,
             and
             not
             altogether
             free
             from
             Calumny
             ,
             as
             if
             the
             affirmative
             could
             not
             be
             maintained
             ,
             but
             the
             change
             of
             Simony
             must
             be
             incurred
             .
          
           
             We
             therefore
             once
             for
             al
             profess
             ,
             that
             we
             abhor
             as
             much
             as
             he
             pretend
             to
             do
             ,
             the
             thought
             that
             Money
             should
             purchase
             us
             Church
             priviledges
             ;
             but
             this
             is
             so
             wide
             a
             Ramble
             that
             it
             is
             not
             worth
             while
             to
             say
             more
             to
             it
             .
          
           
             All
             the
             Authors
             arguments
             under
             this
             head
             infer
             only
             that
             it
             is
             the
             Churches
             priviledge
             to
             chuse
             their
             own
             Minister
             .
             And
             ●●der
             his
             4th
             argument
             he
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             nothing
             is
             more
             evident
             ,
             then
             that
             in
             the
             
             first
             Ages
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             Pastors
             were
             chosen
             by
             all
             and
             only
             their
             flocks
             .
             Which
             we
             verily
             believe
             ,
             no●
             could
             he
             have
             expressed
             the
             truth
             in
             more
             apt
             words
             .
             For
             long
             since
             he
             has
             caught
             us
             ,
             
               I
               ●as
               adult
               baptized
               Persons
               are
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
            
             and
             〈◊〉
             proved
             it
             in
             his
             Treatise
             annixed
             to
             the
             first
             Principles
             of
             
               New
               England
            
             ,
             under
             which
             denomination
             they
             claim
             the
             priviledge
             of
             voting
             in
             the
             election
             of
             a
             Minister
             .
          
           
             
               Indeed
               there
               is
               one
               argument
               at
               first
               blush
               seems
               pretty
               plausible
               ,
            
             p.
             68.
             
               for
               them
               who
               have
               no
               rig●●
               to
               the
               Lord●
               Supper
               themselves
               ,
               ●o
               ap●on●t
               ●●●
               shall
               be
               the
               Dispencer
               o●
               that
               Ordinance
               to
               others
               ,
               is
               ●ig●ly
               irrational
               .
            
          
           
             
               We
               Answer
            
             ;
             The
             administration
             of
             the
             Lords
             Supper
             is
             but
             one
             part
             of
             a
             Ministers
             work
             ,
             and
             but
             a
             little
             part
             ,
             compared
             with
             all
             the
             rest
             .
             Let
             us
             turn
             the
             argument
             then
             ,
             and
             say
             ,
             For
             some
             few
             to
             appoint
             who
             shall
             be
             the
             Preacher
             to
             the
             whole
             Congregation
             ,
             is
             as
             highly
             irrational
             .
          
           
             Suppose
             we
             what
             is
             frequent
             in
             this
             Country
             )
             thirty
             or
             forty
             Communicants
             ,
             and
             it
             may
             be
             two
             hundred
             to
             be
             admitted
             in
             convenient
             time
             ;
             is
             it
             not
             every
             whi●
             as
             absurd
             ,
             that
             not
             one
             of
             these
             who
             are
             to
             be
             examined
             ,
             prepared
             and
             admitted
             to
             this
             holy
             Ordinance
             ,
             shall
             have
             liberty
             to
             chuse
             the
             Person
             who
             shall
             do
             this
             Work
             for
             t●em
             ;
             but
             the
             Person
             must
             be
             altogether
             chose
             by
             others
             ,
             wh●●
             he
             has
             not
             this
             Work
             to
             do
             for
             .
             A
             hopeful
             argument
             that
             will
             help
             both
             sides
             !
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             calls
             it
             
               A
               priviledge
               purchased
               for
               the
               Communicants
               Only
               by
               the
               Blood
               of
               Christ
            
             ;
             but
             he
             gives
             no
             proof
             a●
             all
             of
             any
             such
             Appropriation
             ,
             and
             leaves
             ●●
             yet
             in
             the
             firm
             belief
             ,
             that
             the
             Priviledge
             is
             purchased
             for
             the
             whole
             Flock
             ,
             who
             had
             need
             stand
             for
             their
             own
             .
          
           
             We
             might
             here
             borrow
             of
             the
             Author
             the
             Maxim
             he
             gave
             us
             in
             another
             case
             ,
             
               Quod
               tangit
               omnes
               ●●b●t
               a●
               o●●●b●s
               app
               〈…〉
               ar●
            
             It
             was
             exploded
             in
             the
             other
             case
             ,
             but
             if
             he
             will
             give
             u●
             leave
             to
             put
             in
             
               Aequaliter
               (
               Quod
               tangit
               omne●
               aequaliter
               ,
            
             &c.
             )
             then
             ●t
             would
             suit
             the
             cas●
             ,
             and
             afford
             him
             some
             conviction
             .
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             also
             gives
             us
             another
             Maxim
             in
             pag.
             87.
             with
             this
             Elogium
             ,
             
               That
               it
               has
               its
               foundation
               in
               Nature
               and
               Reason
               ,
            
             though
             we
             are
             sure
             it
             makes
             strongly
             against
             him
             here
             ,
             namely
             ▪
             
               That
               which
               Pertains
               to
               all
               is
               not
               valid
               ,
               if
               some
               of
               all
               sorts
               have
               not
               a
               consent
               in
               it
            
             ;
             for
             
             some
             places
             have
             no
             Communicants
             ,
             and
             there
             all
             grant
             this
             Right
             and
             Priviledge
             belongs
             to
             the
             whole
             :
             if
             afterwards
             they
             come
             to
             have
             some
             Communicants
             ,
             by
             what
             Rule
             or
             Reason
             do
             they
             take
             away
             that
             Priviledge
             which
             belonged
             to
             others
             before
             ?
             In
             short
             ,
             let
             our
             Author
             find
             one
             Text
             that
             limits
             or
             confines
             it
             to
             the
             Communicants
             alone
             ,
             and
             then
             deprive
             the
             Majority
             .
          
           
             But
             since
             Scripture
             fails
             him
             ,
             he
             has
             another
             Refuge
             ,
             viz.
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Synod
             ,
             and
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Land.
             The
             last
             of
             these
             we
             think
             excepts
             Boston
             ,
             and
             of
             both
             we
             need
             only
             say
             ,
             that
             as
             they
             were
             done
             by
             men
             ,
             so
             they
             may
             be
             altered
             and
             undone
             by
             the
             same
             men
             ,
             when
             they
             please
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             also
             hinted
             ,
             
               That
               this
               may
               prove
               fatal
               to
               the
               Churches
               .
            
             But
             there
             is
             no
             danger
             ,
             Truth
             does
             no
             harm
             ;
             and
             we
             rather
             think
             it
             may
             be
             retorted
             on
             the
             Author
             and
             his
             Practice
             .
             There
             was
             lately
             a
             grievous
             Complaint
             made
             by
             a
             principal
             Man
             of
             Swanzy
             ,
             before
             some
             Ministers
             and
             others
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             which
             gives
             the
             Power
             to
             the
             Communicants
             only
             to
             call
             a
             Minister
             ,
             is
             like
             to
             ruin
             them
             and
             their
             Posterity
             forever
             ,
             by
             excluding
             them
             from
             an
             able
             and
             orthodox
             Ministry
             ,
             and
             the
             Ordinances
             ;
             for
             the
             Baptists
             taking
             advantage
             thereby
             ,
             have
             set
             up
             a
             gifted
             Brother
             ,
             and
             spoil
             the
             place
             of
             the
             publick
             Ministry
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               10.
            
             
             Is
             it
             expedient
             that
             Churches
             should
             enter
             into
             a
             Cons●ciation
             or
             Agreement
             that
             matters
             of
             more
             than
             ordinary
             ●●●ortance
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             gathering
             a
             new
             Church
             ,
             the
             Ordination
             ,
             Deposition
             ,
             or
             Translation
             of
             a
             Pastor
             ,
             be
             done
             with
             common
             consent
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             answers
             ,
             
               That
               it
               is
               both
               expedient
               and
               necessary
            
             ;
             though
             he
             had
             answered
             as
             well
             ,
             had
             he
             said
             ,
             
               It
               is
               altogether
               needless
            
             .
             But
             le●t
             we
             be
             mis-understood
             in
             this
             matter
             ,
             let
             the
             Reader
             carefully
             observe
             ,
             We
             do
             not
             mean
             that
             the
             Communion
             ,
             or
             Fellowship
             ,
             or
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             Assistance
             ,
             or
             Duties
             that
             the
             Church
             or
             People
             of
             God
             owe
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             are
             needless
             .
             But
             for
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             that
             are
             parts
             ,
             and
             result
             from
             the
             Catholick
             ,
             and
             are
             united
             to
             the
             Head
             ,
             and
             in
             Covenant
             with
             him
             ,
             and
             bound
             to
             perform
             all
             Duties
             both
             to
             the
             Head
             &
             to
             all
             the
             Members
             respectively
             ;
             for
             such
             to
             talk
             of
             entering
             into
             an
             agreement
             on
             this
             account
             ,
             seems
             very
             idle
             and
             needless
             .
             To
             i●●ustrate
             the
             matter
             ;
             if
             a
             Servant
             has
             
             bound
             himself
             to
             a
             Master
             ,
             he
             need
             not
             go
             to
             make
             new
             Covenants
             to
             carry
             it
             dutifully
             to
             the
             Mistress
             ,
             lovingly
             to
             the
             Children
             ,
             faithfully
             to
             the
             fellow
             Servants
             ,
             this
             being
             all
             contained
             in
             the
             Masters
             Covenant
             .
             So
             ,
             if
             a
             Person
             marry
             a
             Husband
             ,
             she
             has
             no
             need
             to
             make
             a
             new
             Covenant
             with
             his
             Father
             ,
             that
             he
             shall
             be
             her
             Father
             ,
             or
             that
             his
             Brothers
             ,
             Sisters
             or
             other
             Relations
             shall
             become
             hers
             ,
             this
             being
             all
             ●mplyed
             in
             the
             M●●●i●g●
             Covenant
             :
             The
             respective
             Duties
             must
             be
             performed
             ,
             but
             there
             is
             no
             need
             of
             new
             agreements
             or
             covenants
             to
             be
             entered
             into
             Mr.
             Burroughs
             ,
             as
             quoted
             by
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             expresses
             this
             well
             .
             
               They
               are
               bound
               in
               Consc●ince
               to
               give
               an
               account
               of
               the
               wayes
               to
               Churches
               about
               them
               ,
               or
               to
               any
               other
               who
               shall
               req●ir●
               it
               ;
               and
               this
               not
               in
               an
               A●bitra●●
               way
               ,
               ●●t
               as
               a
               Duty
               they
               owe
               to
               God
               and
               Man.
            
             The
             united
             B●eth●e●
             in
             London
             speak
             yet
             more
             fully
             in
             the
             Chapter
             of
             
               Communion
               o●
               C●ur●●es
               ,
               ●
               .
               1.
               
               We
               agree
               that
               particular
               Churches
               ought
               not
               to
               walk
               so
               dist●●ct
               and
               seperate
               from
               each
               other
               ,
               as
               o●
               to
               have
               care
               and
               tenderness
               to
               one
               another
               .
               But
               their
               Pastors
               ought
               to
               have
               frequent
               Meeting
               together
               ,
               that
               by
               mutual
               advice
               ,
               support
               ,
               encouragement
               and
               b●ot●●●ly
               intercourse
               ,
               they
               may
               strengthen
               the
               ●earts
               and
               hands
               of
               each
               other
               in
               the
               ways
               of
               the
               Lord.
            
             We
             may
             add
             here
             the
             whole
             Chapter
             of
             occasional
             Meetings
             of
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             so
             dismiss
             this
             Question
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               11.
            
             
             May
             the
             Brethren
             in
             Churches
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Pastors
             only
             ,
             be
             sent
             unto
             ,
             and
             have
             their
             Voice
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             Councils
             ?
          
           
             It
             is
             to
             be
             observed
             ,
             that
             by
             this
             means
             the
             Brethren
             in
             a
             Synod
             will
             surpass
             the
             Elders
             in
             Number
             ,
             and
             by
             a
             Cabal
             may
             easily
             out
             vote
             them
             ▪
             Wherefore
             we
             can
             never
             believe
             that
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             has
             left
             every
             private
             Brother
             an
             equal
             Vote
             with
             any
             of
             his
             Officers
             ,
             in
             ruling
             o●●●●●agi●g
             his
             Church
             .
             It
             will
             be
             granted
             that
             the
             advantage
             is
             of
             the
             Elders
             side
             ,
             as
             to
             Learning
             ,
             Prudence
             ,
             Par●●
             ,
             Piety
             ,
             Zeal
             and
             Devotion
             ,
             at
             least
             ,
             taking
             the
             whole
             Synod
             together
             ;
             yet
             that
             men
             of
             mean
             Parts
             ,
             no
             Education
             ,
             nor
             under
             the
             awe
             of
             an
             Office
             that
             obliges
             to
             the
             care
             of
             Souls
             peculiarly
             ,
             should
             be
             equalled
             to
             the
             former
             in
             all
             Decisions
             ,
             tho'
             not
             Debates
             ,
             whereof
             they
             are
             uncapable
             ,
             is
             very
             unaccountable
             .
             Indeed
             ,
             had
             our
             Lord
             in
             his
             Word
             positively
             required
             this
             ,
             we
             might
             expect
             that
             his
             Spirit
             of
             
             Counsel
             would
             more
             abundantly
             reside
             on
             the
             weaker
             Vessels
             ;
             but
             otherwise
             ,
             to
             fill
             a
             Council
             from
             the
             Plough
             ,
             and
             the
             ●●all
             ,
             is
             a
             tempting
             Christ
             ,
             and
             betraying
             the
             Church
             .
             Neither
             are
             we
             ignorant
             what
             Tools
             they
             are
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             any
             one
             designing
             Man
             of
             a
             Reverend
             and
             August
             Name
             ,
             let
             his
             Opinions
             be
             what
             they
             will
             ;
             these
             are
             Bigg●●s
             ,
             and
             the
             Man
             is
             himself
             a
             Synod
             .
             We
             co●s●ss
             such
             a
             Man
             would
             be
             tempted
             to
             stand
             up
             for
             the
             Brethrens
             Authority
             ,
             which
             is
             his
             own
             support
             ,
             and
             the
             mean
             while
             the
             Church
             is
             like
             to
             be
             well
             govern'd
             .
          
           
             But
             what
             is
             a
             further
             Outrage
             to
             the
             sacred
             Office
             ,
             the
             Author
             will
             not
             let
             Ministers
             fit
             as
             Officers
             of
             Christ
             ,
             or
             as
             Persons
             authorized
             by
             him
             ;
             for
             thus
             he
             expresses
             himself
             ,
             pag.
             80
             
               It
               s
               not
               their
               Office
               ,
               but
               the
               Churches
               Delegation
               ,
               that
               g●v●●●
               Power
               to
               th
               〈…〉
               Members
               of
               Sy●●●●
               ▪
               the
               specificating
               Act
               in
               which
               Synod
               all
               Power
               ,
               and
               so
               the
               rig●●
               o●
               a
               decisive
               Vote
               ●●●o●nded
               ,
               is
               t●e
               Churches
               Delegation
               .
            
             And
             to
             prove
             this
             ,
             he
             instancet●
             i●
             the
             first
             Synod
             that
             ever
             sate
             ,
             as
             ●e
             terms
             that
             Acts
             15.
             a
             Copy
             and
             Samplar
             left
             to
             all
             succeding
             Generations
             .
             But
             how
             Comical
             is
             this
             ?
             as
             if
             that
             was
             so
             constituted
             ,
             or
             its
             Members
             delegated
             by
             particular
             Churches
             .
             Or
             ,
             how
             long
             had
             this
             inspired
             Synod
             sat
             before
             that
             case
             was
             brought
             before
             them
             ?
             or
             were
             they
             summoned
             upon
             this
             single
             occasion
             ?
             Truly
             the
             Author
             beg●
             the
             whole
             ,
             and
             proves
             nothing
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             Indeed
             ,
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             tells
             us
             in
             the
             same
             page
             ,
             
               That
               of
               these
               Delegates
               from
               the
               Churches
               ,
               the
               ●l●ers
               o●g●t
               to
               be
               the
               principal
               ,
               or
               principally
               concerned
               .
            
             A
             mighty
             grace
             ineed
             !
             yet
             even
             this
             cannot
             be
             allowed
             ,
             and
             he
             consistent
             with
             himself
             ;
             for
             in
             the
             next
             page
             he
             tells
             us
             ,
             
               There
               are
               some
               Brethren
               in
               the
               Churches
               ,
               whose
               Gifts
               and
               Abilities
               are
               beyond
               their
               Pastors
               ,
               and
               some
               again
               are
               more
               Noble
               and
               Honourable
               .
            
             Now
             if
             they
             are
             alike
             delegated
             ,
             and
             those
             can
             act
             no
             more
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             Christ
             than
             the
             other
             ,
             pray
             why
             should
             they
             be
             the
             principal
             ?
             Why
             may
             not
             a
             ●rother
             of
             equal
             Authority
             as●ume
             and
             arrogate
             the
             first
             place
             to
             himself
             ,
             which
             if
             he
             chance
             to
             do
             ,
             we
             leave
             the
             Author
             to
             be
             catechized
             by
             him
             ,
             and
             to
             do
             Pennance
             patiently
             by
             his
             own
             Principles
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               12.
            
             
             Doth
             the
             Essence
             of
             a
             Ministers
             Call
             consist
             in
             his
             being
             Ordained
             with
             the
             imposition
             of
             hands
             by
             other
             Ministers
             ?
             
             
               Qu.
               13.
            
             
             May
             a
             Men
             be
             ordained
             a
             Pastor
             ,
             except
             to
             a
             particular
             〈…〉
             ,
             ana
             in
             the
             presence
             o●
             that
             Church
             ?
          
           
             We
             joyn
             these
             two
             together
             ,
             partly
             because
             they
             are
             of
             near
             affinity
             ,
             and
             partly
             because
             some
             things
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             asserts
             under
             one
             of
             them
             ,
             may
             indifferently
             be
             referred
             to
             the
             other
             .
             Our
             chief
             Exceptions
             may
             be
             reduced
             to
             these
             five
             .
          
           
             〈…〉
             .
             That
             he
             asserts
             ,
             she
             essence
             of
             a
             Ministers
             Call
             consists
             in
             a
             mutual
             election
             between
             him
             and
             his
             People
             ,
             pag
             91.
             
             If
             we
             under●tand
             the
             Author
             ,
             he
             means
             ,
             that
             a
             person
             cannot
             be
             a
             Minister
             without
             his
             mutual
             Election
             ,
             and
             that
             with
             it
             he
             may
             ,
             and
             is
             .
             He
             had
             just
             before
             no●ed
             ,
             that
             some
             think
             the
             essence
             of
             the
             Ministry
             to
             he
             in
             
               Orai
               〈…〉
               on
            
             ;
             others
             ,
             in
             its
             being
             done
             by
             a
             
               Bishop
               ;
               Which
               last
               No●●o●●●ts
               off
            
             (
             saith
             ●●
             )
             
               m●st
               of
               the
               Ministers
               in
               France
               ,
               Switzerland
               ,
               Denmark
               ,
               〈…〉
               d
               ,
               Scotland
               ,
            
             &c.
             
             But
             ,
             to
             retort
             you
             words
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             we
             think
             that
             your
             assertion
             cuts
             off
             more
             both
             for
             Number
             and
             for
             Eminence
             .
             It
             cuts
             off
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             !
             It
             cuts
             off
             all
             the
             Bishops
             that
             are
             and
             have
             been
             .
             And
             though
             these
             in
             general
             ,
             may
             signifie
             l●●tie
             with
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             yet
             some
             of
             them
             he
             mentions
             as
             great
             and
             eminent
             Lights
             .
             He
             cuts
             off
             Thousands
             of
             Presbyters
             ,
             famous
             Ministers
             ,
             who
             apprehending
             the
             Essence
             of
             their
             Ministerial
             Call
             to
             ●ie
             in
             their
             being
             ordained
             and
             sent
             of
             God
             ,
             do
             who●y
             wave
             this
             mutual
             Election
             ,
             as
             a
             little
             thing
             .
          
           
             The
             Scipture
             speaks
             ●ery
             highly
             and
             honourably
             of
             the
             
               Ministerial
               Calling
            
             .
             They
             are
             ●a●ed
             Ministers
             of
             God
             ,
             of
             Christ
             ,
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             ,
             of
             the
             Gospe●
             :
             Ministers
             in
             the
             Lord
             ,
             Ambassadors
             for
             Christ
             ;
             Angels
             ,
             Lights
             ,
             Stewards
             of
             the
             Mysteries
             of
             God
             ,
             &c.
             
             All
             whi●●
             th●ws
             ,
             that
             not
             only
             the
             ●●●enc●
             ,
             but
             the
             Excellency
             of
             the
             Ministry
             con●●sts
             in
             their
             Relation
             to
             God
             and
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             and
             to
             that
             seperate
             and
             sacred
             Work
             that
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             has
             called
             them
             unto
             ,
             
             Acts
             ●3
             2.
             
             But
             what
             scripture
             in●i●●tes
             to
             us
             ,
             That
             their
             Essence
             or
             Emmency
             lies
             in
             their
             Relation
             to
             this
             or
             that
             particular
             People
             ?
             The
             Prophets
             of
             old
             never
             pleaded
             their
             Election
             by
             Man
             ,
             but
             that
             they
             were
             called
             ,
             sent
             ,
             ordained
             and
             commissioned
             by
             God.
             
          
           
             The
             Authors
             chief
             Argument
             here
             is
             a
             Supposition
             of
             Shipwrack
             
             upon
             some
             desolate
             Island
             :
             and
             we
             easily
             grant
             ,
             that
             one
             of
             the
             Company
             being
             elected
             ,
             may
             become
             a
             Minster
             of
             God
             unto
             them
             ,
             but
             it
             is
             more
             from
             the
             Providence
             and
             Call
             of
             God
             ,
             than
             their
             Election
             .
             It
             s
             God
             must
             furnish
             〈…〉
             It●
             God
             must
             incline
             him
             to
             undertake
             it
             :
             Its
             God
             that
             ●●i●s
             up
             the
             People
             to
             receive
             and
             entertain
             him
             as
             a
             Minister
             :
             God
             gives
             success
             to
             his
             Ministry
             ,
             &c.
             
             But
             besides
             this
             ,
             it
             is
             to
             be
             considered
             ,
             that
             God
             does
             not
             tye
             himself
             to
             those
             means
             which
             he
             has
             tyed
             us
             unto
             in
             ordinary
             cases
             ;
             according
             to
             that
             usual
             saying
             ,
             
               Jus
               divinum
               p●s●tivum
               cedit
               juri
               divino
               Natural●
               .
            
             The
             case
             is
             who●●y
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             God
             that
             makes
             the
             Necessity
             wi●●
             also
             dispence
             with
             our
             unavoidable
             Complyance
             .
          
           
             Were
             our
             Author
             in
             the
             right
             ,
             the
             sinful
             Will
             of
             Man
             ,
             whereon
             the
             Election
             does
             depend
             ,
             might
             frustrate
             the
             whole
             Ministry
             that
             Christ
             has
             instituted
             .
             But
             ,
             alas
             !
             whether
             men
             will
             hear
             ,
             o●
             whether
             they
             will
             for
             bear
             ,
             our
             Lord
             will
             send
             his
             Ministers
             ;
             and
             whether
             Men
             will
             call
             them
             or
             no
             ,
             they
             shall
             beforced
             to
             confess
             ,
             
               Verily
               ,
               we
               had
               Prophets
               among
               us
               ,
            
             Ezek.
             33
             ▪
             33.
             
          
           
             We
             wonder
             also
             ,
             that
             they
             ●●o
             insist
             upon
             it
             ,
             That
             it
             is
             Christs
             peculiar
             Prerogative
             to
             state
             his
             own
             Worship
             ,
             should
             s●oil
             him
             of
             another
             part
             of
             it
             ,
             to
             make
             his
             own
             Officers
             .
             If
             the
             People
             may
             do
             one
             ,
             why
             not
             the
             other
             ?
             And
             it
             increases
             our
             Wonder
             ,
             that
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             should
             revive
             this
             Assertion
             at
             this
             ti
             〈…〉
             of
             day
             ,
             Forty
             six
             years
             after
             it
             has
             been
             so
             learnedly
             and
             so
             fully
             refu●ed
             in
             
               Jus
               Divinum
               Ministerij
               Eva
               g●li●i
            
             ,
             published
             by
             the
             Provincial
             Assembly
             of
             
               London
               ,
               chap.
            
             9.
             without
             taking
             Notice
             of
             their
             Answers
             and
             Arguments
             .
          
           
             2dly
             .
             We
             shall
             p●ss
             by
             several
             things
             in
             these
             Chapters
             ,
             which
             in
             a
             severe
             Disquisition
             ,
             we
             might
             justly
             except
             against
             .
             Our
             second
             Charge
             is
             ,
             
               That
               he
               makes
               imposition
               of
               hands
               a
               little
               unnecessary
               Ceremony
               .
            
             Though
             we
             can
             distinguish
             between
             Ordination
             and
             I
             ●position
             of
             Hands
             ,
             and
             approve
             what
             the
             afore-mentioned
             Assembly
             says
             ,
             pag.
             157.
             
             
               We
               must
               distinguish
               between
               the
               Substance
               ,
               Essence
               and
               formal
               Act
               of
               Ordination
               ,
               and
               the
               Rite
               used
               therein
               .
               The
               Essential
               Act
               of
               Ordination
               is
               the
               constit●ting
               or
               appointing
               a
               man
               to
               be
               a
               Minister
               ,
               or
               the
               sending
               him
               with
               Power
               and
               Authority
               to
               preach
               the
               Gospel
               ▪
               The
            
             
             
               Rit●
               is
               Imposition
               of
               hands
            
             .
             Yet
             we
             can
             see
             no
             reason
             why
             this
             Rit●
             ,
             being
             of
             divine
             Institution
             ,
             1
             T●m
             .
             5.
             22.
             used
             by
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             the
             primitive
             Church
             ,
             and
             generally
             since
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             should
             now
             be
             run
             down
             as
             so
             triffling
             a
             Ceremony
             ▪
             We
             know
             the
             Reyerend
             Author
             could
             have
             quoted
             a
             whole
             L●af
             of
             famous
             Authors
             ,
             who
             speak
             highly
             for
             it
             .
             If
             the
             Provincial
             Assembly
             at
             London
             displease
             him
             ,
             the
             New-England
             Plat-form
             may
             satisfie
             him
             ,
             
               That
               Church
               Officers
               are
               not
               only
               to
               be
               ●●o●●n
               by
               the
               Church
               ,
               but
               ab●●
               ordained
               by
               Imposition
               of
               hands
               ,
               and
               Prayer
            
             ;
             or
             the
             Answer
             to
             the
             32
             Questions
             ,
             that
             says
             expresly
             ,
             
               Ordination
               is
               necessary
               by
               divine
               Institution
               .
            
             But
             ,
             i●
             the
             Author
             indeed
             disquieted
             it
             the
             imposition
             of
             hands
             ,
             because
             but
             a
             Ceremony
             ?
             It
             is
             out
             looking
             back
             to
             pag
             80
             and
             we
             shall
             see
             he
             as
             much
             magnifies
             and
             contends
             for
             as
             meer
             a
             Rite
             ,
             to
             be
             sure
             ,
             s●●l
             .
             the
             right
             hand
             of
             fellowship
             .
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             not
             only
             speaks
             meanly
             of
             the
             laying
             on
             of
             hands
             of
             the
             Presbytery
             ,
             but
             ●●
             too
             ●●ch
             countenances
             the
             Imposition
             of
             hands
             by
             Brethren
             ,
             or
             Persons
             out
             of
             Office.
             His
             Text
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             Numb
             .
             8
             ,
             9
             ,
             10.
             respecting
             the
             Children
             of
             
               Israel
               ▪
               s
            
             putting
             their
             hands
             on
             the
             Levites
             ,
             is
             so
             fully
             and
             punctually
             answered
             by
             the
             Provincial
             Assembly
             of
             London
             ,
             pag.
             188.
             that
             we
             remit
             the
             Reader
             thither
             ,
             for
             ●●
             love
             ●ot
             to
             transeribe
             .
             In
             the
             New
             Testament
             he
             owns
             there
             is
             no
             instance
             of
             Persons
             out
             of
             Office
             imposing
             hands
             .
             And
             notwithstanding
             all
             his
             instances
             ,
             the
             Apostles
             assertion
             stands
             good
             ,
             Heb.
             7.
             7.
             and
             without
             all
             contradiction
             ,
             the
             less
             is
             blessed
             of
             the
             greater
             .
          
           
             The
             Authors
             next
             Essay
             is
             ,
             to
             remove
             the
             weighty
             Objection
             ,
             
               That
               none
               can
               give
               what
               himself
               hath
               not
               .
            
             And
             this
             he
             does
             by
             some
             Simili●udes
             .
             To
             touch
             upon
             one
             ,
             pag.
             99.
             
             
               A
               Woman
            
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             
               by
               giving
               her
               ●el●
               in
               Marriage
               ,
               causeth
               the
               Man
               ,
               to
               ●●o●●
               she
               giveth
               her self
               ,
               ●●
               have
               the
               power
               of
               a
               Husband
               ;
               but
               no
               man
               will
               be
               so
               absurd
               ●●
               to
               say
               ,
               that
               a
               Woman
               has
               formally
               the
               power
               of
               an
               ●●●sh●●d
               .
            
          
           
             A
             poor
             Return
             ind●●d
             ,
             to
             so
             weighty
             an
             Objection
             !
             An
             unmarri●d
             Woman
             has
             power
             over
             her self
             ,
             to
             rule
             and
             govern
             her self
             and
             her
             Actions
             ,
             as
             fully
             as
             the
             Husband
             has
             ,
             when
             she
             is
             married
             :
             though
             a
             particular
             Church
             ,
             without
             any
             Officer
             ,
             has
             not
             power
             to
             ●eed
             ,
             teach
             ,
             govern
             themselves
             ,
             and
             ad
             〈…〉
             Ordinances
             .
             Here
             ●●
             a
             plain
             Disparity
             !
             Moreover
             ,
             it
             is
             gro●●
             ,
             ●●●u●d
             to
             affirm
             ,
             that
             
             the
             Wife
             gives
             the
             Power
             to
             the
             Husband
             .
             Indeed
             ,
             she
             gives
             her self
             ,
             but
             it
             is
             the
             Institution
             and
             Command
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             gives
             the
             Power
             ;
             and
             could
             we
             suppose
             that
             to
             be
             laid
             aside
             ,
             they
             would
             be
             equal
             .
             To
             be
             sure
             ,
             it
             Women
             once
             get
             this
             Notion
             by
             the
             end
             ,
             that
             they
             give
             the
             Power
             to
             their
             Husbands
             ,
             we
             should
             soon
             have
             them
             indenting
             ,
             limiting
             and
             reserving
             in
             part
             to
             themselves
             ,
             by
             a
             Marriage
             Contract
             ,
             as
             well
             their
             Power
             and
             Authority
             ,
             as
             their
             Estates
             .
          
           
             4ly
             .
             The
             Author
             asserts
             ,
             That
             no
             man
             ought
             to
             be
             ordained
             a
             Pastor
             ,
             except
             unto
             a
             particular
             Church
             ,
             pag.
             101.
             
             Which
             kind
             of
             Doctrine
             doth
             indeed
             startle
             us
             ,
             because
             it
             manifests
             the
             Reverend
             〈◊〉
             to
             be
             very
             u●stable
             in
             his
             Judgment
             .
             It
             is
             credibly
             reported
             ,
             That
             at
             a
             general
             Convention
             of
             Ministers
             at
             
               Boston
               ,
               May
            
             26.
             1698.
             
             (
             and
             there
             are
             enough
             yet
             living
             ,
             who
             knew
             the
             truth
             of
             ●t
             ,
             to
             whom
             we
             appeal
             )
             this
             Question
             was
             discussed
             ,
             
               Whether
               a
               Minister
               might
               be
               ordained
               ,
               though
               he
               had
               ,
               as
               yet
               ,
               no
               particular
               Church
               ,
               in
               order
               to
               〈◊〉
               Administration
               of
               Baptism
               ,
               and
               the
               gathering
               &
               settling
               a
               Church
               ?
            
             This
             ,
             as
             we
             are
             told
             ,
             had
             a
             more
             peculiar
             reference
             to
             Mr.
             
               Clap's
               Nation
               at
               Rhode
               Island
            
             ,
             and
             it
             was
             voted
             and
             carried
             in
             the
             Affirmative
             ;
             and
             what
             is
             yet
             stranger
             ,
             was
             lead
             on
             and
             put
             to
             the
             Vote
             by
             the
             Author
             himself
             ,
             he
             being
             the
             Moderator
             of
             the
             Assembly
             .
             Upon
             this
             conclusion
             Mr.
             Williams
             was
             ordained
             in
             the
             Colledge
             Hall
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             his
             Voyage
             to
             Barbadoes
             .
             Now
             it
             is
             wonderful
             to
             us
             ,
             how
             the
             contrary
             to
             that
             which
             was
             a
             truth
             two
             years
             ago
             ,
             should
             obtain
             now
             .
             Possibly
             the
             Reverend
             Author'●
             modesty
             won't
             suffer
             him
             to
             think
             the
             Ballance
             equal
             ,
             or
             we
             would
             put
             the
             late
             Vote
             of
             May
             ,
             98
             in
             the
             Scale
             against
             the
             Council
             of
             Calcedon
             ,
             p
             105.
             
          
           
             5ly
             ,
             We
             crave
             the
             Readers
             patience
             ,
             and
             will
             offer
             but
             one
             Remark
             upon
             these
             two
             Chapters
             .
             In
             pag.
             102
             ▪
             its
             said
             ,
             
               Pastar
               and
               Flock
               are
               Relates
               ,
               and
               therefore
               one
               cannot
               be
               without
               the
               other
               .
               It
               is
               contrary
               to
               the
               Rules
               of
               Reason
               (
               as
               Logicians
               know
               )
               that
               the
               Relate
               should
               be
               without
               its
               Correlate
               .
               To
               say
               ,
               that
               a
               wandering
            
             Levite
             ,
             
               who
               has
               no
               Flock
               ,
               is
               a
               Pastor
               ,
               is
               as
               good
               sence
               as
               to
               say
               ,
               to
               the
               who
               has
               no
               Children
               is
               a
               Father
               ,
               and
               the
               Man
               who
               has
               no
               Wife
               ,
               is
               a
               Husband
            
          
           
             This
             is
             worn
             thred-bare
             ,
             and
             answered
             long
             ago
             by
             the
             Assembly
             
             at
             London
             ,
             and
             others
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             by
             the
             Author
             himself
             .
             A
             Minister
             may
             be
             considered
             under
             a
             double
             Notion
             ,
             as
             a
             Minister
             of
             C
             〈…〉
             t
             ,
             or
             of
             this
             or
             that
             particular
             Church
             .
             In
             this
             latter
             sence
             they
             are
             Relate
             &
             Correlate
             ,
             and
             no
             otherwise
             .
             Hence
             ,
             if
             he
             leaves
             them
             ,
             he
             ceases
             to
             be
             their
             Minister
             and
             they
             cease
             to
             be
             his
             Flock
             ▪
             but
             still
             he
             may
             be
             a
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             they
             a
             Church
             of
             Christ
             .
             And
             thus
             in
             that
             little
             Book
             that
             is
             en●it●led
             ,
             
               The
               judgment
               of
               several
               Divines
               of
               the
               Congregational
               way
               ,
            
             concerning
             a
             Pastors
             Power
             occasionally
             to
             exe●t
             Ministerial
             acts
             in
             another
             Church
             ,
             besides
             that
             which
             is
             his
             particular
             Flock
             ;
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             expresses
             himself
             after
             this
             manner
             ,
             pag.
             1.
             
             
               The
               Ministerial
               Power
               which
               a
               Pastor
               has
               received
               from
               the
               Lord
               Jesus
               Christ
               ,
               ●●
               not
               so
               ●o●fined
               to
               his
               particular
               Flock
               ,
               as
               that
               he
               shall
               cease
               to
               be
               a
               Minister
               when
               he
               shall
               act
               in
               the
               Name
               of
               the
               Lord
               else
               where
               .
            
             And
             a
             little
             after
             ,
             
               I
               am
               ,
               as
               to
               this
               particular
               ,
               fully
               of
               the
               same
               judgment
               with
               the
               learned
               Dr.
            
             J.
             Owen
             
               in
               〈◊〉
               judicious
               Treatise
               concerning
               a
               Gospel
               Church
               ,
            
             Pag.
             100
             ,
             101
             where
             he
             has
             these
             words
             ,
             
               Although
               we
               have
               no
               concer●●●us
               in
               the
               sig●ent
               of
               an
               indelible
               Character
               accompanying
               sacred
               Orders
               ,
               yet
               we
               do
               not
               think
               the
               Pastoral
               Office
               is
               such
               a
               thing
               as
               a
               man
               must
               leave
               be●●nd
               him
               every
               time
               he
               goes
               from
               home
               ;
               for
               my
               own
               part
               ,
               ●
               I
               did
               not
               think
               my self
               b●●nd
               to
               preach
               as
               a
               Minister
               authorized
               ,
               in
               all
               places
               ,
               and
               ●●
               all
               occasions
               when
               I
               am
               called
               thereunto
               ,
               I
               think
               I
               should
               never
               preach
               more
               in
               this
               World.
            
             Thus
             Dr.
             Owen
             .
          
           
             We
             see
             then
             ,
             that
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             and
             the
             famous
             Dr.
             Owen
             plainly
             hold
             ,
             that
             though
             there
             be
             a
             Relation
             to
             a
             particular
             flock
             ,
             yet
             a
             Minister
             is
             so
             au●hro●zed
             by
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             capable
             in
             his
             Name
             to
             perform
             Ministerial
             Acts
             in
             other
             places
             ,
             and
             upon
             all
             occasions
             .
             And
             were
             not
             our
             Author
             sincerely
             of
             this
             Opinion
             ,
             we
             cannot
             but
             think
             he
             would
             highly
             condemn
             any
             Minister
             that
             should
             be
             absent
             from
             his
             Flock
             four
             years
             together
             ,
             upon
             any
             service
             whatsoever
             .
             ●ure
             ,
             if
             he
             be
             no
             way
             capable
             to
             act
             as
             a
             Minister
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             he
             is
             all
             that
             while
             but
             as
             a
             stray
             Bird
             ,
             idly
             wandering
             from
             its
             Nest
             .
          
           
             Yet
             at
             this
             time
             ,
             our
             Author
             would
             bear
             the
             World
             in
             hand
             ,
             that
             a
             Minister
             has
             no
             power
             to
             act
             as
             such
             ,
             but
             to
             his
             particular
             Flock
             ▪
             and
             therefore
             quotes
             the
             words
             of
             the
             Plat-form
             ,
             chap.
             9.
             sect
             .
             7.
             
             
               He
               that
               is
               clearly
               loosed
               from
               his
               Office
               Relation
               to
               that
               Church
               whereof
               he
               was
               .
            
             
             
               a
               Minister
               ,
               cannot
               be
               looked
               on
               as
               an
               Officer
               ,
               nor
               perform
               any
               act
               of
               O
               〈…〉
               e
               in
               any
               other
               Church
               ,
               unless
               he
               be
               again
               called
               unto
               Office.
            
             But
             a
             more
             eminent
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
             at
             London
             ,
             have
             quoted
             this
             very
             Paragraph
             ,
             pag
             1●5
             and
             severely
             ,
             but
             justly
             answered
             it
             as
             a
             great
             ●bs●rdity
             ,
             and
             contrary
             to
             sound
             Doctrine
             .
          
           
             The
             answer
             to
             the
             other
             part
             of
             the
             Question
             ,
             
               Whether
               a
               Minister
               should
               be
               ordained
               only
               in
               the
               presence
               of
               that
               Church
               where
               he
               is
               ●●serve
               ●
            
             Will
             result
             from
             what
             has
             been
             already
             laid
             down
             .
          
           
             The
             presence
             of
             Christ
             must
             be
             supposed
             ,
             when
             ever
             a
             person
             is
             seperated
             to
             his
             Ministry
             ;
             but
             seeing
             our
             Lord
             Commissions
             none
             immediately
             ,
             such
             must
             be
             present
             as
             have
             Power
             to
             authorize
             ,
             Commission
             and
             give
             the
             charge
             in
             his
             Name
             .
             When
             ever
             a
             Call
             is
             given
             ,
             received
             and
             accepted
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             by
             Words
             ,
             Message
             or
             letter
             ,
             both
             Minister
             and
             People
             are
             conceived
             ,
             as
             present
             face
             to
             face
             .
             But
             the
             Circumstances
             of
             Times
             ,
             Places
             ,
             Persons
             ,
             Distance
             ,
             &c.
             must
             determine
             this
             matter
             ;
             which
             as
             they
             m●●
             fall
             out
             ,
             may
             sometimes
             render
             it
             both
             prodent
             ,
             regular
             and
             necessar●
             ,
             (
             &
             then
             its
             the
             Voice
             of
             Providence
             )
             for
             a
             Min
             〈…〉
             to
             be
             ordained
             on
             one
             Land
             ,
             and
             to
             serve
             in
             another
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Q.
               14.
            
             
             Is
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             Churches
             of
             New-England
             in
             granting
             Letters
             of
             Dismission
             or
             Recommendation
             from
             one
             Church
             to
             another
             ,
             according
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             the
             Example
             of
             other
             Churches
             ?
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             refers
             to
             many
             Scriptures
             to
             prove
             the
             Affirmative
             ,
             but
             not
             one
             of
             them
             reaches
             the
             Question
             ,
             or
             proves
             ●●
             dismission
             for
             this
             end
             ,
             soil
             to
             take
             a
             person
             off
             from
             being
             a
             Member
             of
             one
             Church
             ,
             to
             be
             made
             a
             Member
             of
             another
             .
             The
             Epistles
             or
             Letters
             he
             refers
             to
             ,
             are
             all
             Apo●ta●●cal
             or
             Ministerial
             ;
             not
             the
             Letters
             of
             one
             Church
             to
             another
             ,
             some
             only
             excepted
             ,
             which
             is
             mentioned
             as
             writ
             by
             the
             Brethren
             ;
             but
             Apol●●
             ,
             on
             whole
             behalf
             they
             wrote
             ,
             was
             not
             a
             Member
             of
             their
             Church
             ;
             nor
             do
             they
             write
             to
             those
             in
             Achaia
             to
             receive
             him
             as
             a
             Member
             ,
             but
             rather
             as
             a
             Minister
             ,
             or
             as
             a
             Christian
             of
             eminence
             and
             singular
             goodness
             .
          
           
             Indeed
             there
             may
             be
             a
             good
             use
             of
             Letters
             of
             Recommendation
             ,
             and
             especially
             among
             strangers
             and
             where
             a
             Member
             removes
             from
             one
             Church
             to
             another
             ,
             a
             mutual
             satisfaction
             may
             be
             laboured
             after
             .
             
             But
             we
             cannot
             but
             think
             such
             Letters
             frivilous
             ,
             when
             in
             the
             same
             Town
             ,
             and
             at
             two
             streets
             distance
             ,
             a
             Person
             known
             over
             all
             the
             Town
             for
             an
             exemplary
             Conversation
             ,
             prefers
             anothers
             Ministry
             .
             Civility
             will
             constrain
             such
             persons
             to
             acquaint
             then
             Ministers
             of
             their
             purposes
             ,
             and
             the
             same
             Christian
             Civility
             obliges
             such
             a
             Minister
             to
             acquaint
             the
             other
             Pastor
             (
             if
             need
             be
             )
             to
             whose
             Ministry
             they
             repair
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             carried
             themselves
             well
             in
             his
             Communion
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             hopes
             they
             may
             prove
             blessings
             in
             all
             other
             .
          
           
             But
             as
             for
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             We
             need
             not
             go
             to
             them
             ,
             to
             make
             a
             second
             Speech
             ,
             now
             to
             ask
             leave
             to
             with-draw
             ,
             and
             to
             render
             an
             account
             to
             every
             impertinent
             Talker
             who
             thinks
             the
             man
             Married
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             that
             his
             bed
             is
             broke
             into
             ,
             or
             that
             there
             's
             no
             just
             reason
             for
             a
             divorce
             .
          
           
             Moreover
             ,
             some
             people
             are
             forever
             dissatisfied
             ;
             neither
             conveniencies
             of
             Habitation
             ,
             liking
             the
             others
             Ministry
             ,
             profiting
             under
             it
             ,
             or
             dislike
             of
             some
             Customs
             and
             Practices
             which
             he
             would
             willingly
             be
             rid
             of
             the
             light
             of
             ,
             can
             satisfy
             .
             And
             what
             must
             the
             grieved
             person
             do
             further
             in
             this
             case
             ?
             Why
             ,
             truly
             he
             has
             done
             his
             duty
             ,
             and
             may
             hear
             and
             communicate
             ,
             where
             God
             and
             his
             own
             sober
             Conscience
             directs
             him
             .
             No●
             ought
             any
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ,
             to
             reject
             his
             claim
             to
             the
             Lords
             Table
             with
             him
             .
          
           
             To
             say
             no
             more
             ,
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             having
             in
             a
             former
             Treatise
             proved
             that
             persons
             baptized
             are
             thereby
             subjects
             of
             Discipline
             ,
             We
             think
             they
             all
             ought
             to
             be
             accountable
             to
             the
             Society
             where
             they
             are
             ;
             there
             persons
             being
             dismissed
             by
             the
             Providence
             of
             God
             ,
             whether
             they
             have
             letters
             of
             dismission
             or
             not
             .
             Else
             by
             their
             principles
             ,
             an
             ordained
             Minister
             in
             London
             ,
             formerly
             of
             Communion
             with
             a
             Church
             in
             Boston
             ,
             being
             called
             to
             Office
             in
             a
             particular
             Church
             ,
             and
             having
             accepted
             the
             Pastoral
             Care
             thereof
             ,
             must
             first
             send
             over
             a
             Pacquet
             to
             New-England
             for
             a
             Letter
             of
             dismission
             .
             And
             don't
             you
             think
             he
             would
             be
             well
             imployed
             ?
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               15
            
             Is
             not
             the
             asserting
             that
             a
             Pastor
             may
             administer
             the
             Sacrament
             to
             another
             Church
             besides
             his
             own
             particular
             Church
             ,
             at
             the
             a●fire
             of
             that
             other
             Church
             ,
             a
             declension
             from
             the
             first
             principles
             of
             New-England
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Congregational
             way
             ?
          
           
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             Answers
             ,
             No
             ,
             not
             at
             all
             .
             Had
             the
             Question
             been
             ,
             whether
             this
             be
             a
             deci●●sion
             from
             the
             Tru●●
             ,
             we
             had
             fully
             joyned
             with
             him
             in
             the
             Answer
             .
             It
             being
             true
             Doctrine
             ,
             that
             a
             Minister
             upon
             desire
             ,
             may
             as
             well
             Minister
             to
             another
             Church
             ,
             as
             to
             ●●●
             own
             :
             both
             being
             Churches
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             he
             a
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ,
             there
             being
             but
             
               one
               Faith
               ,
               one
               Body
               ,
               one
               Baptism
               .
            
          
           
             But
             had
             we
             been
             of
             the
             Authors
             Principles
             ,
             which
             he
             pleads
             for
             in
             this
             Book
             ,
             we
             must
             have
             answered
             ,
             that
             ●●
             is
             a
             great
             A●●stacy
             and
             Declension
             .
             And
             when
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             first
             put
             out
             this
             in
             the
             year
             1693
             ▪
             some
             of
             the
             old
             men
             and
             women
             did
             express
             themselves
             after
             this
             Rate
             —
             
               That
               it
               was
               not
               thus
               from
               the
               beginning
               ,
               and
               that
               he
               had
               pull'a
               such
               a
               Pin
               out
               of
               the
               good
               ole
               ●ay
               ,
               as
               would
               in
               a
               little
               w●ile
               bring
               the
               whole
               abri●k
               to
               the
               ground
               .
            
             No●
             was
             this
             complaint
             without
             reason
             ,
             for
             if
             particular
             Churches
             are
             specifically
             distin●●
             ▪
             if
             Pastor
             and
             Flock
             are
             Relate
             ●●●
             Correlate
             ,
             that
             give
             being
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             as
             Husband
             and
             Wife
             ;
             if
             the
             ●ssence
             of
             a
             Ministers
             Call
             lie
             in
             a
             mu●●●l
             Election
             between
             the
             Church
             and
             him
             ;
             then
             we
             can
             by
             no
             means
             allow
             the
             Authors
             assertion
             ,
             
               That
               a
               Pastor
               may
               administer
               ,
               &c
               T●●
               in
               vain
               to
               plead
               ,
               I
               were
               may
               be
               at
               well
               commu●●●●
               of
               Officers
               ,
               as
               of
               Members
            
             ;
             for
             these
             Principles
             will
             not
             allow
             so
             much
             as
             a
             Member
             of
             one
             Church
             to
             communicate
             in
             another
             .
             Hence
             the
             ac●●e
             Mr.
             Hooker
             (
             ●●
             the
             Author
             〈…〉
             iles
             him
             )
             could
             never
             get
             over
             that
             difficulty
             ,
             but
             looks
             upon
             it
             as
             unwarrantable
             or
             private
             Members
             to
             communicate
             in
             another
             Church
             .
             Neither
             can
             Dr.
             Oven
             or
             Dr.
             Goodwin
             (
             whom
             he
             〈…〉
             pillars
             among
             the
             Congregational
             )
             though
             they
             twist
             and
             squeze
             and
             strain
             hard
             ,
             maintain
             this
             〈…〉
             on
             these
             Principles
             ,
             no●
             satisfy
             a
             ●ational
             mind
             about
             it
             .
             Tho'
             they
             plead
             they
             are
             transient
             Members
             for
             that
             time
             ,
             yet
             this
             no
             more
             excuses
             it
             ,
             than
             if
             an
             A●ult●●●s
             ●o
             hi
             〈…〉
             ●●●
             shame
             and
             folly
             ,
             should
             excuse
             it
             by
             saying
             —
             
               She
               made
               the
               Man
               her
               Husband
               for
               that
               turn
               and
               act
               .
            
             For
             if
             we
             run
             it
             to
             the
             narrow
             ,
             the
             Administrator
             must
             deliver
             the
             Sacrament
             as
             an
             Officer
             ,
             or
             not
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             Medium
             :
             If
             as
             an
             Officer
             ,
             then
             he
             his
             Power
             from
             Christ
             ,
             as
             such
             ,
             to
             administer
             the
             Sacrament
             where
             he
             i●
             occasionally
             called
             .
             And
             then
             down
             go
             the
             Authors
             Principles
             at
             once
             ,
             of
             the
             Churches
             being
             specifically
             distinct
             ,
             of
             the
             Essence
             of
             the
             Ministerial
             Call
             lying
             in
             the
             mutual
             Election
             of
             Minister
             and
             People
             ,
             of
             Pastor
             and
             Flock
             being
             Relate
             and
             Correlate
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             give
             being
             to
             each
             
             other
             ,
             as
             such
             ;
             or
             else
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             said
             ,
             That
             a
             Minister
             ,
             when
             he
             administers
             to
             another
             Flock
             ,
             acts
             not
             as
             an
             Officer
             ,
             but
             as
             a
             private
             Man
             ;
             and
             this
             lays
             all
             in
             common
             ,
             and
             destroys
             the
             Ministerial
             Power
             at
             once
             .
             And
             to
             attempt
             to
             reconcile
             it
             with
             our
             New-England
             Platform
             ,
             will
             be
             but
             (
             as
             Mr.
             Hooker
             has
             the
             expression
             )
             
               to
               make
               the
               Plat-form
               to
               speak
               Daggers
               and
               Contradictions
               .
            
             Neither
             can
             it
             be
             pretended
             ,
             that
             the
             generality
             of
             the
             Ministers
             in
             New-England
             were
             of
             that
             mind
             in
             the
             beginning
             .
             In
             the
             Answer
             of
             the
             Elders
             of
             several
             Churches
             in
             
               N.
               England
            
             ,
             unto
             the
             Nine
             Positions
             ,
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             Position
             8.
             
             
               If
               you
               mean
               by
               a
               Ministerial
               Act
               ,
               such
               an
               act
               of
               Authority
               and
               Power
               in
               dispensing
               Gods
               Ordinances
               ,
               as
               a
               Minister
               does
               perform
               to
               the
               Church
               whereunto
               ●●
               is
               called
               to
               be
               a
               Minister
               ,
               then
               we
               a●ny
               that
               he
               can
               perform
               any
               Ministerial
               Act
               to
               any
               other
               Church
               but
               his
               own
               ,
               because
               his
               Office
               extends
               no
               farther
               t●a●
               his
               Call.
            
             And
             now
             we
             appeal
             to
             the
             Reader
             ,
             if
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             must
             not
             either
             Renounce
             these
             his
             darling
             Principles
             ,
             or
             own
             himself
             guilty
             of
             that
             Declension
             from
             the
             first
             Principles
             of
             New-England
             ,
             which
             in
             another
             he
             would
             call
             Apostacy
             .
          
           
             And
             indeed
             ,
             we
             know
             well
             enough
             ,
             that
             a
             few
             years
             ago
             ,
             no
             young
             man
             could
             have
             escaped
             that
             odious
             Brand
             ,
             that
             durst
             have
             printed
             such
             a
             Principle
             .
             But
             all
             is
             well
             that
             we
             do
             our selves
             ,
             and
             every
             other
             Congregational
             Tenet
             had
             been
             laudably
             rejected
             ,
             had
             some
             men
             the
             doing
             of
             it
             .
             Let
             another
             presume
             ,
             he
             is
             a
             Back●●i●er
             ,
             an
             
               Apos●a●●
               ,
               ●●●u●
               ,
               ●a●b
               ,
               Contemptuous
               ,
            
             and
             
               Despis●●
               of
               his
               Fathers
            
             .
             The
             same
             thing
             ▪
             (
             to
             a●ude
             to
             the
             Authors
             words
             ,
             pag.
             71.
             )
             in
             one
             man
             ,
             is
             a
             
               modest
               inoffensive
               Dissent
            
             in
             another
             ,
             a
             daring
             Contradiction
             to
             Synods
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               16.
            
             
             Is
             it
             a
             Duty
             for
             Christians
             in
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             to
             make
             use
             of
             the
             words
             of
             that
             which
             is
             commonly
             called
             the
             
               Lords
               Prayer
            
             ?
          
           
             Though
             the
             Authors
             answer
             hereto
             be
             very
             large
             ,
             yet
             we
             shall
             say
             very
             little
             to
             it
             ,
             or
             against
             it
             .
             He
             yeilds
             and
             allows
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             lawfully
             used
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             other
             Prayers
             and
             Passages
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             in
             our
             Addresses
             to
             Heaven
             :
             That
             it
             has
             been
             used
             in
             antient
             Times
             ,
             he
             does
             not
             deny
             ;
             and
             we
             know
             that
             it
             is
             most
             frequently
             used
             by
             the
             most
             famous
             Divines
             in
             these
             days
             .
             And
             he
             gives
             us
             an
             instance
             of
             
             Mr.
             
               Je●
               .
               Burroughs
            
             ,
             which
             we
             thank
             him
             for
             ,
             having
             never
             heard
             it
             before
             .
             That
             it
             has
             been
             abused
             to
             Superstition
             ,
             and
             the
             Tryal
             of
             Witch-craft
             ,
             we
             also
             know
             ;
             but
             the
             abuse
             of
             a
             thing
             does
             not
             take
             away
             the
             proper
             lawful
             Use
             of
             it
             ;
             nor
             is
             it
             fit
             so
             far
             to
             gratifie
             those
             that
             made
             it
             a
             Charm
             ,
             as
             ●o●●h●t
             reason
             to
             ●●●rain
             to
             use
             it
             .
          
           
             But
             verily
             the
             Author
             would
             have
             us
             more
             superstitious
             that
             we
             are
             willing
             to
             be
             ;
             for
             he
             quarrels
             ●●
             the
             varying
             but
             of
             one
             word
             or
             clause
             in
             this
             excellent
             form
             of
             Prayer
             :
             If
             instead
             of
             Debts
             or
             Sin●
             we
             say
             Trespasses
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             fearful
             Crime
             .
             For
             why
             ?
             says
             the
             Author
             ,
             
               It
               smells
               rank
               of
               the
               Li●●●gy
               ,
               its
               le●●n'd
               ●●●
               of
               the
               Common-Prayer
               Book
               .
            
             He
             might
             have
             said
             rather
             ,
             That
             we
             learn
             first
             to
             read
             ●●
             so
             in
             our
             Horn-Books
             ,
             and
             are
             mis-taught
             from
             our
             infancy
             .
             But
             truly
             ,
             we
             account
             this
             difference
             of
             Translation
             a
             petty
             thing
             .
             And
             if
             instead
             of
             Hallowed
             ,
             the
             Author
             would
             say
             sanctified
             ;
             and
             instead
             of
             
               daily
               Bread
            
             ,
             he
             would
             chuse
             to
             say
             
               convenient
               Food
            
             ,
             we
             should
             not
             full
             foul
             on
             him
             .
          
           
             No
             ,
             says
             the
             Author
             ,
             pag.
             123.
             
               why
               then
               you
               give
               up
               the
               Cause
               .
            
             In
             truth
             ,
             then
             the
             Author
             has
             no
             adversary
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             where
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             is
             used
             in
             any
             Language
             beside
             the
             Greek
             ;
             for
             who
             bind●
             himself
             to
             a
             Translation
             ,
             as
             to
             an
             Original
             ?
             but
             the
             Author's
             meaning
             is
             apparent
             ,
             he
             would
             insinuate
             into
             the
             heedless
             Reader
             ,
             That
             whoever
             useth
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             ,
             ought
             not
             to
             vary
             one
             word
             from
             the
             words
             Christ
             gave
             it
             in
             ▪
             and
             truly
             ,
             then
             they
             must
             ,
             like
             Barbarians
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             tone
             it
             in
             the
             
               Original
               Greek
            
             .
          
           
             We
             would
             offer
             here
             one
             Query
             more
             .
             Does
             the
             Author
             mean
             ,
             in
             stating
             this
             Question
             ,
             to
             enquire
             whether
             it
             be
             an
             indispensible
             Duty
             to
             use
             the
             words
             of
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             in
             all
             our
             Addresses
             to
             God
             ,
             so
             that
             as
             often
             as
             we
             bow
             our
             Knees
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             should
             think
             it
             necessary
             to
             repeat
             this
             Form
             ?
             Here
             again
             he
             would
             have
             no
             Adversary
             under
             Heaven
             Yet
             the
             Question
             may
             be
             strained
             to
             all
             this
             ,
             and
             he
             has
             taken
             no
             care
             to
             bound
             it
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             detain
             the
             Reader
             no
             longer
             ,
             't
             is
             enough
             and
             enough
             that
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             justifies
             it
             as
             lawful
             ;
             for
             then
             doubtless
             it
             may
             be
             sometimes
             proper
             :
             for
             that
             would
             be
             a
             strange
             thing
             indeed
             ,
             that
             is
             always
             lawful
             ,
             and
             never
             (
             in
             no
             Circumstances
             ,
             not
             in
             that
             of
             Mr.
             Burroughs
             himself
             I
             can
             be
             proper
             .
             But
             since
             't
             is
             lawful
             ,
             I'
             〈…〉
             or
             once
             give
             my
             sence
             when
             it
             is
             proper
             ,
             s●il
             ,
             When
             People
             have
             been
             
             long
             taught
             and
             made
             to
             believe
             ,
             that
             the
             Use
             of
             it
             is
             Superstitious
             ,
             To
             place
             a
             great
             part
             of
             their
             Religion
             in
             the
             dislike
             of
             it
             ;
             To
             think
             this
             a
             principal
             ground
             of
             Non-conformity
             ,
             and
             a
             distinguishing
             Badge
             of
             a
             Dissenter
             ;
             or
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             too
             vain
             a
             Formality
             to
             comport
             w●●h
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Devotion
             .
             Then
             ,
             if
             ever
             ,
             it
             is
             high
             time
             to
             correct
             such
             a
             Prejudice
             ,
             and
             to
             show
             the
             People
             it
             may
             be
             used
             without
             Superstition
             ,
             and
             that
             neither
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Religion
             ,
             nor
             yet
             the
             Arguments
             for
             
               Episcopacy
               ,
               Presbyteria●●sm
            
             nor
             Independency
             are
             any
             ways
             concerned
             in
             this
             affair
             .
          
           
             Here
             we
             would
             crave
             the
             Readers
             patience
             for
             one
             Quotation
             ,
             and
             the
             rather
             inasmuch
             as
             the
             N●●●
             of
             Mr.
             
               Philip
               Henry
            
             may
             be
             of
             more
             Authority
             with
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             ,
             than
             many
             arguments
             ,
             when
             barely
             offered
             by
             us
             .
             It
             is
             said
             in
             the
             97th
             page
             of
             Mr
             
             Henry's
             Life
             ,
             
               That
               he
               looked
               upon
               the
               
                 Lords
                 Prayer
              
               to
               be
               not
               only
               a
               Directory
               or
               Pattern
               for
               Prayer
               ,
               but
               (
               according
               to
               the
               advice
               of
               the
               
                 Assembly
                 of
                 Divines
              
               )
               proper
               to
               be
               used
               as
               a
               Form.
               He
               thought
               it
               was
               an
               Error
               on
               the
               o●e
               hand
               to
               lay
               so
               much
               stress
               upon
               it
               ,
               as
               some
               do
               ,
               who
               think
               no
               solemn
               Prayer
               accepted
               ,
               nor
               ●o
               solemn
               administration
               of
               Worship
               compleat
               without
               it
               ;
               and
               he
               thought
               it
               an
               Error
               on
               the
               other
               hand
               not
               to
               use
               it
               at
               all
               ,
               since
               it
               is
               a
               Prayer
               ,
               a
               compendious
               comprehensive
               Prayer
               ,
               and
               may
               be
               of
               Use
               to
               us
               ,
               at
               least
               ,
               as
               other
               
                 Scripture
                 Prayers
              
               ;
               but
               he
               thought
               it
               a
               much
               greater
               Error
               to
               be
               
                 angry
                 at
                 those
                 who
                 do
                 use
                 i●
                 ,
              
               to
               judge
               and
               censure
               them
               ,
               and
               for
               no
               other
               reason
               to
               conceive
               Prejudices
               against
               them
               and
               their
               Ministry
               .
               A
               great
               strait
               (
               faith
               he
               )
               poor
               Ministers
               are
               in
               ,
               when
               some
               will
               not
               hear
               them
               ,
               if
               they
               do
               not
               use
               the
               
                 Lords
                 Prayer
              
               ,
               and
               others
               will
               no●
               hear
               them
               it
               they
               do
               !
               What
               is
               to
               be
               done
               in
               this
               case
               ?
               We
               must
               walk
               according
               to
               the
               light
               we
               have
               ,
               and
               approve
               our selves
               to
               God
               ,
               either
               in
               using
               or
               no●
               using
               it
               ,
               and
               wait
               for
               the
               day
               when
               God
               will
               mend
               the
               matter
               ,
               which
               I
               〈…〉
               he
               will
               do
               in
               his
               own
               due
               time
               .
            
             —
             —
             Thus
             spake
             the
             holy
             and
             heavenly
             Mr
             Henry
             ,
             and
             with
             ●i●
             the
             late
             Reverend
             Dr.
             Bates
             ,
             who
             writ●s
             the
             Dedication
             of
             his
             Life
             ,
             and
             as
             h●
             hath
             fully
             expressed
             our
             sense
             in
             this
             matter
             ,
             so
             we
             would
             wait
             and
             pray
             with
             him
             ,
             
               for
               the
               Happy
               Day
            
             .
          
           
             
               Well
               ,
               but
               if
               the
               case
               be
               so
               circumstanced
               ,
            
             says
             the
             Author
             ,
             pag.
             135.
             
               that
               it
               cannot
               be
               done
               without
               Offence
               ,
               it
               is
               rather
               a
               Duty
               ,
               and
               will
               be
               most
               pleasing
               to
               Christ
               ,
               not
               to
               use
               it
               as
               a
               ●orm
               .
            
             But
             then
             such
             Offence
             must
             
             be
             manifested
             ,
             and
             appear
             to
             be
             conscientious
             .
             This
             confirms
             what
             I
             before
             suggested
             ,
             That
             there
             is
             a
             riv●●ed
             Prejudice
             people
             are
             educated
             in
             against
             this
             Practice
             ,
             that
             they
             start
             at
             it
             as
             a
             thing
             in
             it self
             sinful
             and
             scandalous
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             show
             we
             are
             in
             Charity
             with
             the
             Author
             ,
             and
             all
             those
             who
             omit
             the
             Use
             of
             this
             excellent
             Form
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             shall
             close
             this
             Chapter
             in
             the
             words
             of
             St.
             Paul
             ,
             Rom
             14.
             3.
             
             
               Let
               u●●
               h●m
               that
               ca●●th
               de●p●●●
               him
               that
               ●a●e●●
               no●
               ;
               and
               let
               not
               ●●m
               that
               ●a●eth
               no●
               ,
               judge
               him
               that
               ●ateth
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
               Qu.
               17.
            
             
             May
             the
             Churches
             under
             the
             Presbyterian
             and
             
               Congregational
               Discipline
            
             maintain
             Communion
             with
             one
             another
             ,
             notwithstanding
             their
             different
             Sentiments
             ,
             as
             〈◊〉
             Church
             Government
             ?
          
           
             The
             Author
             answers
             ,
             
               That
               they
               may
               and
               ought
               to
               do
               so
               .
            
             And
             truly
             ,
             had
             this
             Book
             contained
             only
             this
             one
             Question
             and
             Answer
             ,
             it
             might
             have
             turned
             to
             more
             Edification
             than
             the
             whole
             .
             He
             tells
             us
             ,
             There
             was
             greater
             Differences
             than
             these
             in
             the
             
               Apostolick
               Churches
            
             〈◊〉
             thinks
             then
             we
             of
             latter
             Days
             may
             the
             better
             ●ear
             with
             one
             another
             ▪
             the
             effusions
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Peace
             and
             Truth
             being
             since
             much
             restrained
          
           
             The
             Reverend
             Author
             observes
             further
             ,
             
               That
               both
               Perswasions
               have
               been
               Confessors
               and
               fellow
               Sufferers
               ,
               and
               he
               thinks
               this
               should
               endear
               them
               .
            
             We
             think
             so
             too
             ,
             but
             to
             our
             sorrow
             ,
             some
             of
             us
             have
             heard
             ho●●
             it
             hath
             been
             in
             England
             ,
             &
             now
             ,
             alas
             !
             we
             see
             it
             verified
             in
             our
             ●uthor
             ▪
             that
             when
             their
             own
             Persecution
             ceases
             ,
             they
             carry
             on
             the
             Tragedy
             on
             others
             ▪
             We
             do
             not
             wonder
             at
             what
             the
             Author
             saith
             Mr.
             Baxter
             told
             him
             ,
             
               That
               if
               all
            
             Independants
             
               were
               like
            
             N.
             England
             Independants
             ,
             
               he
               would
               soon
               be
               〈◊〉
               ▪
            
             For
             we
             can
             easily
             guess
             what
             deceived
             that
             excellent
             Person
             (
             whose
             Moderation
             s●ited
             his
             Pie●y
             &
             Devotion
             )
             into
             so
             endearing
             an
             Expression
             .
             He
             form'd
             his
             Idea
             of
             
               New-England
               Independency
            
             by
             the
             Authors
             Plausible
             carriage
             when
             in
             London
             ,
             which
             though
             for
             that
             time
             might
             be
             very
             sincere
             ,
             yet
             either
             the
             difference
             of
             the
             Climate
             ,
             or
             that
             his
             Dominion
             here
             is
             more
             rightful
             ,
             quite
             a●e●●
             him
             .
             We
             are
             assured
             ,
             the
             Author
             is
             esteemed
             more
             a
             Presbyterian
             than
             a
             
               Cengregational
               Man
            
             ,
             by
             scores
             of
             his
             Friends
             in
             
               London
               ▪
            
             〈◊〉
             is
             lov'd
             and
             reverenced
             for
             a
             moderate
             Spirit
             ,
             a
             peaceable
             Disposition
             ,
             
             and
             a
             Temper
             so
             widely
             different
             from
             his
             late
             Brothers
             in
             Lo●don
             .
             He
             was
             most
             conversant
             at
             the
             Presbyterian
             Board
             ,
             and
             of●●●est
             in
             their
             Pulpits
             ,
             and
             professed
             the
             greatest
             Reverence
             for
             their
             Persons
             .
             And
             no
             wonder
             Mr.
             Baxter
             should
             be
             so
             e●amoured
             of
             such
             Independents
             !
             Did
             our
             Reverend
             Author
             appear
             the
             same
             here
             ,
             we
             should
             be
             his
             〈◊〉
             P●oselites
             too
             .
             But
             we
             are
             loath
             to
             say
             how
             he
             forfeits
             that
             venerable
             Character
             ,
             which
             might
             have
             consecrated
             his
             Name
             to
             Posterity
             ,
             more
             than
             his
             Learning
             ,
             or
             other
             honorary
             Titles
             can
             .
             To
             confirm
             what
             we
             have
             here
             said
             ,
             the
             Author
             deelar●s
             how
             Instrumental
             he
             was
             to
             promote
             the
             Union
             betwixt
             the
             United
             Brethren
             in
             London
             .
             We
             only
             wish
             he
             would
             be
             as
             cordial
             and
             active
             to
             keep
             it
             ,
             as
             he
             was
             to
             make
             it
             ;
             or
             else
             the
             World
             will
             think
             his
             Zeal
             〈◊〉
             it
             was
             ,
             because
             far
             enough
             from
             home
             ,
             where
             Interest
             was
             not
             touched
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             the
             three
             
               Articles
               of
               Vnion
            
             ,
             which
             the
             Author
             transcribes
             ,
             we
             would
             endeavour
             to
             maintain
             them
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             rest
             .
             But
             there
             are
             some
             Cases
             and
             Times
             ,
             when
             Ministers
             of
             some
             particular
             Opinions
             will
             not
             bear
             to
             be
             consulted
             with
             .
             Or
             if
             there
             is
             a
             necessity
             of
             disobeying
             their
             Opinions
             for
             once
             ,
             it
             is
             best
             not
             to
             consult
             them
             ,
             meerly
             to
             do
             their
             Counsels
             the
             more
             Despight
             .
             We
             think
             this
             modest
             and
             ingenuous
             .
             Nor
             can
             it
             be
             reasonably
             expected
             that
             a
             
               Congregational
               Classis
            
             (
             if
             such
             there
             be
             )
             should
             be
             consulted
             in
             those
             things
             which
             are
             properly
             Presbyterian
             ,
             their
             Prejudice
             ,
             in
             favour
             of
             their
             own
             Opinions
             ,
             rendering
             them
             unfit
             to
             advise
             with
             in
             that
             matter
             ;
             and
             the
             more
             serious
             the
             application
             to
             such
             is
             ,
             the
             more
             severely
             would
             they
             think
             themselves
             ●antered
             .
          
           
             As
             to
             his
             Query
             ,
             
               Whether
               the
               embodying
               into
               a
               Church
               state
               be
               not
               a
               mighty
               matter
               ?
            
             We
             must
             needs
             profess
             ,
             we
             want
             some
             better
             account
             what
             that
             is
             ,
             before
             we
             can
             so
             esteem
             it
             .
             We
             read
             nothing
             in
             Scripture
             of
             gathering
             a
             Church
             ,
             or
             embodying
             it
             into
             a
             Church
             state
             ,
             unless
             it
             refers
             to
             the
             converting
             and
             baptizing
             of
             Heathen
             ,
             and
             then
             administring
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             the
             Gospel
             in
             a
             stated
             way
             to
             competent
             Numbers
             ,
             whose
             convenience
             will
             permit
             them
             to
             meet
             constantly
             at
             one
             and
             the
             same
             place
             of
             Worship
             .
             All
             further
             Solemnity
             in
             this
             matter
             is
             
               ex
               abundant●
            
             ,
             and
             therefore
             the
             matter
             seems
             not
             so
             very
             weighty
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             VVE
             now
             humbly
             take
             leave
             of
             the
             Author
             and
             his
             Book
             ,
             wishing
             there
             had
             been
             no
             occasion
             for
             these
             Reflections
             ,
             and
             accounting
             it
             a
             sufficient
             Apology
             ,
             that
             we
             have
             been
             contending
             for
             what
             we
             apprehend
             to
             be
             the
             Truth
             ;
             and
             it
             became
             the
             more
             necessary
             to
             vindicate
             it
             ,
             lest
             it
             should
             suffer
             more
             by
             the
             Reverend
             Author's
             Name
             and
             Authority
             ,
             than
             by
             〈◊〉
             arguments
             .
             So
             far
             is
             the
             Presidency
             of
             the
             Colledge
             from
             being
             a
             Protection
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             lo
             〈…〉
             est
             argument
             in
             on
             〈◊〉
             for
             a
             zealous
             us
             Con●u●●tion
             .
          
           
             Not
             can
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             much
             resent
             this
             our
             search
             after
             Truth
             ,
             if
             he
             remembers
             the
             liberty
             that
             the
             humble
             and
             ho●y
             
               Mr.
               Baxter
            
             once
             Pray'd
             him
             to
             take
             ,
             in
             〈◊〉
             and
             re●uting
             any
             Errors
             he
             should
             find
             in
             his
             Books
             ,
             or
             should
             the
             Author
             〈◊〉
             angry
             ,
             it
             would
             but
             cause
             us
             to
             suspect
             (
             what
             a
             bundance
             of
             people
             have
             〈◊〉
             obstinately
             believed
             )
             that
             the
             contest
             for
             his
             part
             is
             more
             for
             Lordship
             and
             Dominion
             than
             for
             Truth
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             possible
             some
             good
             people
             may
             blame
             us
             ,
             for
             carrying
             on
             the
             C●●t●●tion
             ,
             wherein
             ,
             as
             one
             saith
             ,
             though
             there
             be
             but
             little
             Truth
             gain'd
             yet
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             Charity
             may
             be
             〈◊〉
             .
             We
             hope
             the
             best
             ,
             as
             to
             both
             these
             ;
             but
             however
             it
             happens
             ,
             we
             are
             willing
             to
             promise
             the
             Reader
             ,
             that
             scarce
             any
             thing
             shall
             provoke
             us
             further
             to
             concern
             our selves
             in
             these
             disputes
             :
             no
             ,
             not
             so
             much
             as
             to
             make
             any
             Return
             ,
             should
             a
             Thousand
             pretended
             Answers
             be
             published
             ;
             for
             we
             love
             not
             to
             be
             contentions
             ,
             b
             〈…〉
             s
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             is
             wont
             to
             say
             in
             like
             cases
             ▪
             
               it
               suffices
               that
               〈◊〉
               have
               born
               our
               Testimony
               .
            
          
           
             And
             here
             we
             must
             do
             justice
             also
             to
             those
             who
             have
             first
             openly
             asserted
             and
             practised
             those
             Truths
             among
             us
             .
             They
             deserve
             well
             of
             the
             Churches
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             though
             at
             present
             decryed
             as
             Apostates
             and
             back●●●ders
             ,
             the
             generations
             to
             come
             will
             bless
             them
             .
             So
             a
             score
             of
             years
             or
             more
             p●st
             ,
             the
             Enlargement
             of
             Baptism
             was
             cryed
             out
             upon
             ,
             as
             a
             woful
             declension
             ▪
             but
             the
             present
             generation
             feels
             the
             happy
             effects
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             rising
             up
             at
             the
             Reformers
             names
             ,
             do
             call
             them
             blessed
             .
          
           
             To
             concluds
             all
             it
             is
             the
             Answerers
             sincere
             desire
             and
             design
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             possible
             ,
             and
             as
             far
             as
             in
             them
             is
             ,
             to
             live
             peaceably
             with
             all
             men
             .
             〈…〉
             is
             then
             prayer
             ,
             that
             God
             would
             grant
             peace
             and
             Truth
             in
             our
             dayes
             ,
             rebuke
             the
             evil
             Spirit
             of
             pride
             ,
             uncharitableness
             ,
             co
             〈…〉
             on
             and
             
             contempt
             of
             others
             ,
             and
             pour
             forth
             on
             us
             all
             his
             Spirit
             of
             Grace
             and
             Love.
             
          
           
             And
             now
             the
             God
             of
             Peace
             ,
             that
             brought
             again
             from
             the
             Dead
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             the
             great
             Shepherd
             of
             the
             Sheep
             ,
             through
             the
             Blood
             of
             the
             everlasting
             Covenant
             ,
             make
             us
             perfect
             in
             every
             good
             Work
             to
             do
             his
             Will
             ,
             working
             in
             us
             that
             which
             is
             well
             pleasing
             in
             his
             sight
             ,
             through
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             to
             whom
             be
             glory
             forever
             .
          
           
             Amen
             .
          
        
         
           
             Postscript
             .
          
           
             IT
             is
             strange
             that
             our
             Review
             should
             be
             assaulted
             before
             it
             can
             be
             P
             〈…〉
             .
             Yet
             so
             it
             happens
             in
             a
             late
             Pam
             〈…〉
             ,
             en
             〈…〉
             ,
             
               A
               ●o●t
               Answer
               to
               the
               Do
               〈…〉
               o
               instituted
               Churches
               .
            
             Let
             them
             can
             it
             soft
             who
             have
             lo●●
             their
             feeling
             !
             For
             th●
             '
             t
             is
             confessed
             there
             are
             no
             very
             ●●rd
             Arguments
             ,
             yet
             Jealousie
             ,
             Censures
             ,
             Contempts
             there
             are
             ,
             which
             greate
             hard
             enough
             .
          
           
             In
             pag.
             12.
             the
             Reverend
             Authors
             seem
             jealous
             of
             some
             Injurious
             Treatment
             in
             this
             our
             Review
             ;
             whereas
             their
             
               soft
               Treatise
            
             is
             in
             〈…〉
             ▪
             us
             not
             to
             us
             only
             ,
             but
             to
             
               whole
               Synods
               and
               Nations
               of
               Presbyterians
               .
            
             They
             dare
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             their
             
               Gospel
               Order
            
             ,
             which
             is
             here
             answered
             ,
             is
             
               vindicated
               in
               every
               point
               ,
               from
               the
               Concessions
               of
               the
               Reforming
            
             Presbyterians
             
               beyond
               Sea
               ;
               and
               that
               not
               only
               from
               particular
               Authors
               of
               great
               fame
               among
               them
               ,
               but
               W
               〈…〉
               le
               Synods
               ,
               Whole
               Nations
               of
               them
               .
            
             O
             injury
             to
             Truth
             and
             Modesty
             !
             Tell
             us
             (
             Sirs
             )
             we
             beseech
             you
             ,
             what
             Synods
             ,
             what
             Nations
             of
             Presbyterians
             do
             oppose
             reading
             Gods
             Word
             in
             publick
             Worship
             ,
             ●o●
             the
             using
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             excellent
             ,
             perfect
             and
             most
             comprehensive
             Fo●m
             ?
             That
             limit
             the
             Right
             of
             chusing
             a
             Minister
             to
             a
             particular
             Church
             Covenant
             ?
             That
             say
             ,
             the
             ●ssence
             of
             the
             Ministerial
             Ca●
             co●fist●
             not
             in
             the
             imposition
             of
             the
             hands
             of
             the
             Presbytery
             ,
             or
             that
             the
             Brethren
             may
             lay
             on
             hands
             ,
             or
             that
             there
             shou'd
             be
             no
             Ordination
             but
             to
             a
             particular
             Church
             .
             You
             reasonably
             add
             ,
             
               Optimus
               ille
               qui
               ●urre
               novit
               injurias
               plarim●●
            
             —
             ,
             Though
             the
             best
             men
             in
             the
             world
             〈◊〉
             hard
             bear
             all
             this
             Could
             〈◊〉
             Authors
             perswade
             us
             to
             believe
             ,
             this
             we
             would
             obey
             him
             ,
             and
             name
             our
             selv●●
             no
             
             more
             Presbyterians
             .
             We
             appeal
             (
             in
             our
             Authors
             words
             ,
             pag.
             16.
             )
             
               To
               all
               the
            
             Presbyterians
             
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               say
               ,
               O
               ye
               Men
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               of
               Order
               !
               What
               Reparation
               can
               our
               Authors
               make
               you
               for
               this
               Wrong
               ▪
               in
               making
               your
               Name
               the
               Vmbrage
            
             of
             these
             their
             Errors
             .
          
           
             We
             are
             ,
             moreover
             oblig'd
             to
             the
             Reverend
             Authors
             for
             their
             Ci
             〈…〉
             ies
             ,
             pag
             7
             
               '
               〈◊〉
               a
               g●●ding
               ,
               unstudyed
               ,
               unstable
               Generation
               ,
            
             full
             of
             
               ●●vity
               ,
               bleating
               ▪
               and
               lo●i●g
            
             An●i●a●●
             ,
             
               Raw
               ●out●
            
             ,
             pag.
             15.
             
             They
             me
             〈…〉
             (
             fo●●o●th
             !
             )
             this
             contempt
             for
             calling
             themselves
             
               Presbyterians
               ▪
            
             but
             even
             let
             the
             Calf
             be
             known
             by
             its
             bleating
             .
             Too
             late
             that
             〈◊〉
             came
             to
             mind
             ,
             pag.
             50.
             
             
               Being
               reviled
               ,
               we
               bless
               ,
               being
               defamed
               ,
               we
               entreat
               .
            
          
           
             In
             pag.
             14.
             the
             Authors
             complain
             ▪
             That
             we
             pay
             not
             due
             Deference
             to
             the
             Classis
             of
             the
             Pastors
             in
             the
             Vicinity
             ,
             and
             yet
             they
             assume
             not
             any
             Power
             of
             a
             Classis
             ,
             any
             further
             than
             to
             forbid
             us
             to
             be
             Presbyterians
             .
          
           
             We
             highly
             approve
             of
             many
             particulars
             in
             pag.
             17.
             
             That
             the
             Proponant
             for
             the
             Lords
             ●able
             be
             examined
             of
             his
             Baptismal
             Vow
             ,
             his
             sense
             of
             spiritual
             Wants
             ▪
             Sinfulness
             and
             Wretchedness
             ,
             his
             Hope
             ,
             Faith
             ,
             Experiences
             ,
             Resolutions
             through
             the
             Grace
             of
             God
             But
             then
             come
             two
             words
             ,
             Covenant
             and
             Brethren
             ,
             in
             Capital
             Letters
             ,
             as
             a
             Lyon
             Rampant
             ,
             insulting
             a
             couching
             Classis
             ,
             a
             bleeding
             Presbytery
             .
             But
             if
             we
             look
             over
             the
             Answer
             to
             the
             last
             Question
             in
             
               The
               young
               Mans
               claim
               to
               the
               Sacrament
            
             (
             whereto
             these
             words
             in
             our
             Author
             do
             refer
             )
             we
             shall
             find
             ,
             that
             the
             Proponant
             promises
             nothing
             more
             than
             to
             be
             subject
             to
             the
             censures
             administred
             unto
             him
             by
             the
             
               Poster
               of
               the
               Church
               and
               its
               Officers
               .
            
             So
             ,
             Sirs
             ,
             the
             Brethren
             are
             dropt
             ,
             wittingly
             ,
             no
             doubt
             ,
             by
             the
             quick-sighted
             Author
             .
             And
             indeed
             ,
             for
             the
             Brethren
             to
             be
             named
             in
             the
             Question
             ,
             and
             neglected
             in
             the
             Answer
             ,
             is
             a
             fair
             Negative
             on
             them
             .
             The
             Proponant
             promises
             no
             subjection
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             the
             Reverend
             Authors
             sagacity
             is
             wonderful
             in
             that
             Answer
             ,
             for
             the
             Question
             takes
             the
             Congregational
             Brother
             ,
             the
             Answer
             satisfies
             a
             Presbyterian
             .
          
           
             It
             seems
             also
             that
             the
             Adversaries
             of
             this
             Gospel
             Order
             multiply
             a
             pace
             ;
             for
             in
             pag.
             22.
             
             
               They
               are
               meerly
               a
               few
               gentlemen
               at
            
             Boston
             
               and
               New-York
            
             .
             But
             by
             that
             time
             you
             come
             to
             pag
             30.
             our
             Brethren
             of
             Connecticut
             
               exceed
               all
               the
               rest
               of
            
             New-England
             
               in
               proclaiming
               their
            
             
             
               Indisposition
               to
               it
            
             .
             And
             by
             the
             following
             Exclamation
             ,
             
               O
               Tim●●
               and
               Manners
            
             !
             ●t
             seems
             that
             Cicero
             must
             be
             called
             from
             the
             Grave
             to
             i●●●●gh
             against
             these
             Raw-Yo●●●s
             ,
             th●se
             licentious
             Ca●al●es
             .
          
           
             We
             can't
             pass
             over
             pag.
             61.
             without
             a
             Remark
             .
             
               The
               Apostacy
               of
               our
               Young
               Men
            
             (
             say
             our
             Authors
             ▪
             )
             
               is
               great
               before
               the
               Lord.
            
             The
             Apostacy
             (
             it
             seem
             )
             respects
             the
             
               Examination
               and
               Qualifications
               of
               Comm●●●●●nts
               at
               the
               Lords
               Table
               ,
            
             which
             is
             suggested
             to
             be
             
               in
               d●●●ying
               the
               Necessity
               of
               mens
               coming
               to
               the
               holy
               Table
               with
               Repentance
               ,
               Fait
               and
               Love.
            
             God
             forbid
             we
             should
             so
             accuse
             ,
             or
             not
             vindicate
             our
             Brethren
             .
             This
             is
             to
             a●ledg
             a
             Crime
             abhorred
             by
             the
             Generation
             〈◊〉
             .
             —
             Well
             ,
             but
             they
             
               zealously
               disperse
               unhappy
               Pamphlets
            
             .
             If
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Instituted
             Churches
             ●●
             referred
             to
             ,
             that
             is
             but
             one
             ;
             and
             what
             other
             the
             Reverend
             Authors
             mean
             ,
             we
             cannot
             guess
             ;
             and
             that
             Tr●ati●●
             in
             most
             parts
             is
             a
             Mine
             of
             Gold
             ,
             and
             a
             rich
             Treasury
             of
             right
             Thoughts
             .
          
           
             The
             next
             Surmize
             is
             a
             meer
             Defamation
             ,
             That
             
               Go●ge
               ,
               Roberts
               ,
               Dolittles
            
             Books
             must
             be
             h●●s'd
             back
             to
             Europe
             again
             .
             A
             pre●●●
             device
             to
             praise
             the
             Gentlemen
             beyond
             Sea
             ,
             and
             at
             the
             same
             time
             condemn
             those
             here
             that
             conform
             to
             their
             constant
             Practice
             .
          
           
             Had
             the
             Attestation
             in
             pag
             63
             ▪
             been
             only
             to
             recommend
             the
             following
             Treatise
             of
             the
             excellent
             Mr.
             
             Quick's
             to
             our
             perusal
             and
             Practice
             ,
             no
             Minister
             in
             
               New
               England
            
             ,
             that
             c●●●s
             himself
             a
             Presbyterian
             ,
             but
             would
             chearfully
             subscribe
             it
             ;
             but
             we
             believe
             few
             would
             confederate
             in
             its
             Reflections
             on
             the
             Reverend
             Mr.
             S●●ddard
             ,
             or
             favour
             that
             worse
             Report
             ,
             That
             
               under
               the
               Vmbrage
               of
               the
               Name
               of
            
             Presbyterians
             
               some
               would
               bring
               in
               Innovations
               ,
               ruinous
               to
               our
               Churches
               ,
               and
               contrary
               to
               the
               Doctrine
               and
               Spirit
               of
               Mr.
            
             Quick'●
             Book
             .
          
           
             And
             to
             add
             one
             Guess
             h●re
             ,
             It
             s
             twenty
             to
             one
             if
             any
             one
             of
             the
             Attestators
             knew
             what
             a
             
               soft
               Answer
            
             was
             to
             be
             prefixed
             to
             their
             Attestation
             .
             For
             this
             would
             not
             be
             the
             first
             time
             that
             men
             have
             subscribed
             a
             Paper
             ,
             which
             had
             they
             known
             would
             have
             been
             placed
             to
             such
             advantage
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             less
             discerning
             R●ad●●
             to
             seem
             an
             Attestation
             to
             the
             whole
             Book
             ,
             they
             would
             have
             refused
             their
             Names
             with
             Indignation
             .
          
           
             What
             remains
             is
             to
             Recommend
             that
             Treatise
             ,
             
               The
               Young
               Man's
               Claim
               to
               the
               Sacrament
               ,
            
             to
             the
             serious
             and
             diligent
             perusal
             of
             our
             Youth
             .
             
             A
             Performance
             ,
             for
             its
             kind
             ,
             very
             perfect
             ,
             and
             highly
             profitable
             .
             But
             the
             Reverend
             Author
             and
             his
             Treatise
             are
             both
             abused
             in
             this
             impression
             ▪
             Mr.
             Quick
             is
             here
             betrayed
             in
             a
             specious
             show
             of
             Reverence
             and
             Friendship
             ;
             while
             his
             Name
             is
             used
             to
             Combate
             those
             very
             men
             and
             their
             Principles
             ,
             which
             he
             most
             values
             and
             honours
             .
             And
             were
             Mr.
             Quick
             here
             among
             us
             ,
             and
             should
             continue
             what
             is
             his
             stated
             Practice
             in
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             he
             would
             be
             decryed
             among
             the
             
               Presbyterian
               Formalists
            
             ,
             in
             pag
             9.
             as
             much
             as
             he
             is
             now
             magnified
             for
             a
             Reformer
             .
             For
             our
             parts
             ,
             we
             do
             sincerely
             believe
             him
             to
             be
             our
             
               Exemplary
               Reformer
            
             ,
             and
             wi●h
             our
             Reverend
             Authors
             would
             credit
             their
             Character
             of
             him
             ,
             and
             follow
             his
             Example
             ;
             for
             he
             is
             conscientious
             to
             have
             the
             Scriptures
             reed
             ●very
             Sabbath
             in
             the
             publick
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             together
             with
             〈◊〉
             Ten
             Commandments
             ,
             and
             he
             as
             often
             uses
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             .
             Nay
             〈…〉
             few
             years
             since
             this
             Reverend
             and
             holy
             Person
             took
             leave
             of
             a
             reverend
             Minister
             ,
             returning
             to
             us
             ,
             in
             words
             to
             this
             effect
             ,
             
               Sir
               ,
               〈◊〉
               our
               Reverend
               Brethren
               in
            
             New-England
             
               that
               they
               must
               come
               over
               to
               the
            
             Presbyteri●●
             ▪
             
               Government
               ,
               if
               they
               would
               perserve
               their
               Churches
               .
            
          
           
             And
             would
             it
             not
             now
             provoke
             a
             just
             Indignation
             to
             see
             People
             so
             deluded
             ,
             and
             a
             Gentlemans
             Name
             (
             so
             dear
             and
             venerable
             as
             it
             is
             with
             us
             )
             advanced
             against
             his
             own
             Principles
             ?
             And
             will
             it
             not
             turn
             unto
             us
             for
             a
             Testimony
             to
             use
             the
             Authors
             words
             ▪
             pag
             5●●
             )
             not
             only
             that
             we
             have
             endeavoured
             to
             vindicate
             the
             Truth
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             do
             〈◊〉
             ▪
             Quick
             justice
             ?
          
           
             FINIS
             .