A Trial of the New Church Way in New England, Title page – To the reader
A TRYALL OF THE NEVV-CHVRCH VVAY IN NEW-ENGLAND AND IN OLD. Wherein are handled theſe Queſtions following.
1. Whether a ſtinted forme of Prayer and ſet Liturgie be unlawfull.
2. Whether it be unlawfull to joyne in Prayer, or receive the Sacraments where a ſtinted Liturgie is uſed.
3. Whether the children of godly and approved Chriſtians, be not to be baptized till their parents be ſet-members of ſome particular Congregation.
4. Whether the parents themſelves being of approved pietie, ought not to be received to the Lords Supper, untill they be firſt admitted as ſet-members.
5. Whether the power of Excommunication, &c. be ſo in the body of the Church, that what the major part ſhall allow, that must be done, though the Paſtors and Governors, and part of the Aſſembly be of another minde, and peradventure upon more ſubſtantiall reaſons.
6. Whether thoſe that are admitted as ſet-members, ought not to depart or remove, without the conſent of that Congregation whereof they are members.
7. Whether a Miniſter be ſo a Minister to a particular Congregation, that if they diſlike, or leave him, he utterly ceaſeth to be a Miniſter.
8. Whether a Miniſter may not performe miniſteriall acts to another Congregation then his owne.
9. Whether members of one Congregation, may not communicate in another.
By that learned and godly Miniſter of CHRIST, JOHN BALL, of Whitmore.
Penned a little before his death, and ſent over to the New England Miniſters, Anno 1637. As a reply to an Anſwer of theirs in juſtification of the ſaid Poſitions. Now publiſhed (by occaſion mentioned in the Epiſtle to the Reader following in the next page) upon the deſire of many godly and faithfull Miniſters, in and about the Citie of London, who love and ſeek the truth. By WILLIAM RATHBAND and SIMEON ASH.
1 Theſ. 5. 21.
Prove all things, hold faſt that which is good.
LONDON: Printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons, for Thomas Vnderhill in Great Wood-ſtreet, 1644.
To the Reader.
Good Reader,
VPonUpon the receipt of the Anſwer returned unto the Nine Poſitions, Maſter Ball moved by the requeſt of Brethren, drew up this reply, which upon peruſall and joynt approbation, was directed unto the reverend Elders of the ſeverall Churches in New England. The Reply ſent miſcarrying in the hand, to which it was committed, though both Letters and printed Bookes truſted in the ſame hand were delivered: Hereupon another Copie was from New England deſired, and accordingly prepared in the yeare following. In the meane time, the Anſwer being tendered to the Preſſe, it was judged more meete to keepe the Reply in readineſſe to attend the publiſhing of the Anſwer, then to part with it in the other way. This intelligence was the laſt yeare conveyed into New England, ſince which time, there hath been an expectation to ſee that in Print, which now is ſent abroad to open view. By this Relation it is manifeſt who are voluntiers, and who are preſſed to come forth as defendants, in theſe Controverſies. Theſe differences betwixt the loving Brethren of old England and New, had not been made thus notorious, if ſome who cry up the Church way in New England, as the only way of God, had not been forward, to blow them abroad in the world. But ſurely the providence of God is remarkeable in bringing theſe queſtions into debate at this time, when the Miniſters of the Goſpell from all the Counties in the Kingdome are called together by both houſes of Parliament, to conſult about the healing of our breaches, which are very many and dangerous: The Copie of this Reply being committed to our cuſtodie we are neceſſitated to appeare in the publication of it: yet we ſhall preface nothing concerning the Treatiſe it ſelfe, becauſe our known reſpects to the reverend and judicious Author will render us partiall, and our teſtimony can adde no credit to his works, which withall indifferent Readers will plead ſufficiently for their own acceptance. If this diſcourſe ſhall adde any diſcovery of light unto them, who deſire a ſound judgement in the controverſies here agitated, our end is obtained, and our prayers anſwered, who are.
Thy Servants in and for the truth,
Simeon Aſh,
William Rathband.