The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-09-23

ard knowing among ho \'S' 81
entertain Degree OF D fidence Of their own
Judgment, where great Numbers Of the Lai-
" are of different Opinion.
AS this Plea OF Confidence is the Sheet
Anchor of the Advocates for the negaiiv'ng
Power, you will allow me to write liuie
more about it, and about It, without enter
ing fully toto the Dl(puie; and It l mould
confound this Point with that of the Power
of the KEYS, 10 which it is 70 near OF Kim
hope YOU will excule me. A MnlfteT pro-
pounds a Peifon for Admihicn into the
Church before, or at the Time for which,
o icGtlons are made; which being OF little
or no Weight, in the Judgment ct the
Church, when the Q leaion is put, they vote
to receive him. The MlnIlter being OF a
3ff.rent Judgment, what is TO be done
Why, Jays Mr.. Adams, " he PAitof IS
70 the Doorkeeper as to prevent the Admit
lion ofPerions ubombs deems nntVorfby, even
though there is a Vote of the Church" for il.
He will then pubIickIy declare, that be dtl-
tents tram the Vote they have pailed. his
ne has Right 90 do, on all Occsfions, IN
common with every other Member, and
in the fuppofed Gale, be maY think HIM
lef bound in Confidence TO do 1t. But will
The Church lhereupon conilder their Vote as
M lily, and the Perion as no Member !!
No, furely, unlefs they are the mott ietvlIe
of the Creation of God. On the next Com
munion Day the Pe'fon will be Prelent, 10
comply with a Goipel lnaituion. IT the
Mlnlfier lhould dehre, OF, which is more
confonant TO fuch Pretenfions, order him 10
withdraw, will he, on his Non compliance
VIC ate his Obligations as Gofpel Miniiter,
b. refufing to adminifer the Lords Suppef |?
Let him anfwer il TO his GREAT Mas.
TER if he lhould. A Plea OF Confidence
vii not avail, while he, without any Re
uGtance, has conhantly administered to fome
others whom he had no Realon in the
World to think have the fmalleif Degree Of
ioodnels in their Hearts for fuch 'hare are
ia almoff every Church; iome who cannot,
or want of Proof OF overt Acts, be dealt witt
IN the Way of gody DiicIpIine, and othr's
who on Ac ounI of their Emf ence, by ReA
ION of Riches, or Office, or their LlberaiItA
10 he MiniRer, or to the Chu'ch, or mere
y though lpirtuaI Incidence, are luffereo e
20 on quietly in an sVilWay. In the forme
uAfe the MinlGer has done his Duty, by en-
deavouring TO prevent the Pe:ion's Admfi
on; he has done all that Realon and he
New I eHament will warrant him in doing
and he may have a peaceful Confidence !;
IN the latter Cafe, nei her he nor the Church
can be blameels, till both have done as much
Is Realon and Scripture require of them ref
Jectively, 70 have the Difcipline of the
Church duly administered. Here again, i
he Church, in his Opinion, lhould be too
sender, or too ievere, be has Nothing to
do, IN order to keep good Confidence, bu'
by fair Argument to endeavour to thew to
them their Duty. But, fays Mr. Adams
I" he is lo the Door keeper as to prevent tbs
EXECUTION of Perfons," when he thinks thel
aught not to be excluded, Notwithstanding
he Vote of the Church. &c He is bound" ~
flch CAFE, sin Fathfulnefs to his Matter o
negative" the Vote, it being 4" contrary to
Laws and Interef of CHRIST" TO tx-
communicate a Member for Fault that
does not dsCerve ExcommUnication. nc
ccrdingIy the Minaer, if he is in Mr.
Adsms's Sentiments, will refufe to pro-
ounce the Sentence of the Church. Blu
oy luch Refufal, humbly conceive, as the
Duty OF his Office is violated, 70 he diico
vers his own OBj2inag, more than his Tend
ermE of Conference Cafe VIII Oh hap
pens oftner than moa People are aware
of. This is all he could do towards mui-
plying the Vote and Church which
acknowledges Miniaes pofleiied of (uch
Power, would fit down quietly under
the OnrTefiion bur where d fferent OBJ