A vindication of the government of New-England churches. Drawn from antiquity; the light of nature; Holy Scripture; it's noble nature; and from the dignity Divine Providence has put upon it. / By John Wise, A.M. Pastor to a church in Ipswich. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]

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Author:	Wise, John, 1652-1725.
Title:	A vindication of the government of New-England churches. Drawn from antiquity; the light of nature; Holy Scripture; it's noble nature; and from the dignity Divine Providence has put upon it. / By John Wise, A.M. Pastor to a church in Ipswich. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]
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Print source:	A vindication of the government of New-England churches. Drawn from antiquity; the light of nature; Holy Scripture; it's noble nature; and from the dignity Divine Providence has put upon it. / By John Wise, A.M. Pastor to a church in Ipswich. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts] Wise, John, 1652-1725., Higginson, John, 1616-1708., Hubbard, William, 1621 or 2-1704., Wise, John, 1652-1725. Churches quarrel espoused., White, John, 1677-1760. New England's lamentations. Selections., Cambridge Synod (1646-1648 : Cambridge, Mass.) Platform of church discipline., Boston Synod (1679-1680). Confession of faith. Boston:: Printed and sold by John Boyles, in Marlboro'-Street., MDCCLXXII. [1772]
Subject terms:	Church polity. Congregational churches -- New England -- Government. Local church councils. Subscribers' lists.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/N09928.0001.001
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Table of Contents

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title page

The constitution of New-England CHURCHES, as settled by their Platform, may be fairly justified, from Antiqui|ty; the Light of Nature; Holy Scripture; and from the Noble and Excellent Nature of the Constitution itself. And lastly from the Providence of GOD dignifying of it.

CHAP. I. To distribute the whole Christian Aera into three Parts may serve to raise a clearer light, and make a brighter aspect in this Essay.

CHAP. II. Of the Church.

CHAP. III.

CHAP. IV. The Prerogatives, or Peculiar Immunities of the Laity.

CHAP. V.

CHAP. VI.

CHAP. I.

CHAP. II.

Demonstration III. From Holy Scripture.

Demonstration IV.

Plea II.

Plea III.

Demonstration V.

The Conclusion.

A TESTIMONY To the order of the gospel, in the churches of New-England: Left in the hands of the churches, by the two most aged ministers of the gospel, yet surviving in the country.

POSTSCRIPT.

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letter

QUESTION AND PROPOSALS.

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. To the Fraternity of the Churches in the New-England Colonies.

I. PETITION.

II. PETITION.

III. PETITION.

IV. PETITION.

I. Private Brethren.

2. Public Officers.

3. The churches.

V. PETITION.

VI. PETITION.

AN ANSWER To the foregoing PROPOSALS.

1st Query.

2d Query.

3d Query.

4th Query.

5th Query.

part

SECT. I.

SECT. II.

SECT. III.

SECT. IV.

SECT. V.

SECT. VI.

section

SECT. VIII.

PART. II.

SECT. I.

SECT. II.

SECT. III.

SECT. IV.

SECT. V.

SECT VI.

SECT. VII.

SECT. VIII.

CONCLUSION.

The following is an Extract from a Book intituled, New-England's LAMENTATIONS, wrote by the Reverend Mr. JOHN WHITE, late Pastor of the first Church in Gloucester; to which is subjoined a Letter by another Hand, shewing Reasons for adhering to our PLATFORM, as a Rule of Church-Government, and Objections against Ruling Elders answered: Which ex|tract and Letter are here inserted at the Request of a Number of the Subscribers to Mr. WISE's two Publi|cations.

REASONS For adhering to our PLATFORM, as a Rule of Church-Government, and Objections against Ruling ELDERS answered. In a Letter to a Friend. By another Hand.

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At a General Court held at BOSTON, May 19, 1680.

The PREFACE.

CHAP. I. Of the form of church government; and that it is one, immutable, and prescribed in the word.

CHAP. II. Of the nature of the catholic church in general, and in special of a particular visible church.

CHAP. III. Of the matter of the visible church, both is respect of quali|ty and quantity.

CHAP. IV. Of the form of a visible church, and of church-covenant.

CHAP. V. Of the first subject of church power, or, to whom church power doth first belong.

CHAP. VI. Of the officers of the church, and especially of pastors and teachers.

CHAP. VII. Of ruling elders and deacons.

CHAP. VIII. Of the election of church officers.

CHAP. IX. Of ordination, and imposition of hands.

CHAP. X. Of the power of the church, and its presbytery.

CHAP. XI. Of the maintenance of church officers.

CHAP. XII. Of the admission of members into the church.

CHAP. XIII. Of church members their removal from one church to another, and of recommendation and dismission.

CHAP. XIV. Of excommunication, and other censures.

CHAP. XV. Of the communion of churches one with another.

CHAP. XVI. Of Synods.

CHAP. XVII. Of the civil magistrates power in matters ecclesiastical.

APPENDIX.

At a SYNOD at Boston, New-England,Sept. 10, 1679.

At a general meeting of ministers in Boston, New-England,May 27, 1697.

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At a General Court held at BOSTON, May 19, 1680.

A PREFACE.

CHAP. I. Of the holy Scripture.

CHAP. II. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

CHAP. III. Of God's eternal Decree.

CHAP. IV. Of Creation.

CHAP. V. Of Providence.

CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

CHAP. VII. Of God's Covenant with Man.

CHAP.VIII. Of Christ the Mediator.

CHAP. IX. Of Free-Will.

CHAP. X. Of Effectual Calling.

CHAP. XI. Of Justification.

CHAP. XII. Of Adoption.

CHAP. XIII. Of Sanctification.

CHAP, XIV. Of saving Faith.

CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation.

CHAP. XVI. Of good Works.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Law of God.

CHAP. XX. Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.

CHAP. XXI. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience.

CHAP. XXII. Of Religious Worship, and of the Sabbath-Day.

CHAP. XXIII. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the Civil Magistrate.

CHAP. XXV. Of Marriage.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the Church.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the Communion of Saints.

CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Sacraments.

CHAP. XXIX. Of Baptism.

CHAP.XXX. Of the Lord's Supper.

CHAP.XXXI. Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the last Judgment.

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES