The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-09-30

icaadAiouS ml'luSI, WhhSSN 49, -
ccu"cil Fl It directing thereto n. no.
o. IT. Is i,ncta maniisit contraeic'ion'"
fuppole particular church to be the nigne"
clefi.aicsl iudicatory on earth, and yesto iuP-
pole an eccIefiad. cal council 10 refrain or Coz
troul its acts H. 's'
O. az. Is not fuch controul, on the power
of chu oh in the act of difmaiog its paltors
pleaded for at this day , a. Yes.
o 40. Is il not part of the liberty where
with Chrilt has made his psople free, TO luose
Who m II bs, and who ihall noble, theirminl"e''
H. Yes. -.
9,c. /, i. fate for-sny church 70 give up
this RI ht OF judging for ilielf, who ih'll or
lhall no, be its miniter ! II. No.
9 Al. Did rot our fathers find by lad ex
perence, that i, was uniafe to give uP this
light 20 silhops7 And do not We their children
fad b. like experience the danger Of giving It
up TO ecclefialtical counciisl d. Yes.
9 q. Is il not then the great duty ct the
hui ches 10 this lovince to Rand fat in the IL
berty wherevith lhrilt has made them free, in
iud eing for themlelves, who ihall and who
hall no, be their minifteTsf d. Yes.
9 "a. Will not an eafy, honeA and con
6lien, Contraction of the whole Of our ecele-
fi.ftical contribution, render any further expla-
cation needless, at this day, concerning the
power of every particular church, in difmfiing
rs p.aor, although councils retufe their advice
Tor it? II. Yes.
9. a. Is il no, high time for the churches
f this province to awake up and carefully ex
nine fuch candidates as they are about le,tlirg
with them, not only as TO the foundnefs Of
their dottrinal faith, but ALTO as to their juds
meri about the power of miniaers and coun-
ellis, lelt they foon find their young paGors in
petition of power lying by them to invali-
iUe the votes of the whole church, and luch
IS are fecure from being brought in without the
,ori.nt of lhofs who they are pleafed to call
sheir peers, however corrupt and lcsndalous
icy may be II. Yes.
o as. Can fober chriGian, think the law
of Chit, or our eccleiaRical contribution, 70
blurd, as to bind church or people to keee
AID fuppoh any man as their Paitor, merely
oecau(e council does not sdvile his dilmifiion,
wheo at the fame time they are bound in then
condolences 10 withdraw from him for his IN
wcrthinels II No.
o. as. Is it not clear to every one. that il
4 council By refuine to adv(e the difmflion Of
minilier, binds people to keep fuch a mi
oiller, then they are held by fach method in
tate of lpiritual favery, to the dietion Of
an eccleiiaaical council II. Yes.
9. A.. Has Chsia given luch power to &C.
clefisft!cal councils, to ensgave the condolences
of his people 10 this msnneri H. No.
9 s8. Are eccleisaical councils an ordi-
nance of God, and to be uled BY his church
H. Yes.
9 90. How fa- does the power of eoaneils
b nd the condolences Of thofe to whom the adj
vice is given
H. As far as it agrees with the word of God.
Q. 40. Who are the judges in this cafe,
whether fuch advice sgrees with the word of
God or notf
A Thole to whom it is given, whole con-
licences are to be bound by 1t.
Q. Al. Isl the right of Psftor to refuie
the members of filter church, aud 10 break
with it, without the voice OF
his own church A. No.
o al. Has not this been the cafe with
,eqs-d 10 Gome of the members of the church
{ GhriR in 30 ton A. Yes
94,. II we duly conider what Is con-
a.ned in the foregoing queitions. Does i no
ppear that our religious privileges are as
much iu danger, as our civil Privileeesf
A. Yes.
Il Ey;s11 ia True Liberty,