The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-09-02

ticular churches, or by general councils,
to determine what posrers belong TO the Pal.
tor, who is the only remaining Prc9yfty,
YOU might have faid, IL !, qHej2isn, or a.
point in dilpnte, whether Jingle pANor may
claim the privilege OF n0n- esSfarrirg, or the
power of aegafiVing the votes of church,
which power the platform evidently gives 20
an elde.j6ip But this would have been very
different from laying as you did, tina: extracts
from 1zsbammsd's Koran would have been
as much to my parp0ff, as extracts from the
platform, sc. That Mr.. Adams is not Gngu-
Iarin fuppoiing thata peqv would not be
guilty of violating the Rules Of the platform,
lhoud he, on fome occaiions dnenr from
the votes of the church, and 70 render them
void and of no effect, might now evince by
referring to the praeiife of Tome OF the mott
godly miniRers, That have adorned thofe
churches but as thoie fathers, are ylj9iag
from their lab0Erl. and their names are We
nerated by the Pteient generation, would
chooic not to mention them.
| And that Twas not altogether miffaken in
what was extracted from the writings Of DR..
Mather, believe you mutt acknowledge
if you will give yourfe!f,he trouble TO read The
tracts from which the fentences were taken.
The Doctor was not fefting the power Of the
prei1yf0yor eldsyj6ip, butwas expressly ihow-
f'"G wuat powers belonged to peyqOy5 when
met with ibe brethren in eccleiiaitical coun-
Gals. And nothing is more evident lfan that
ne ules the words PaRsrs and EldI,y byomic
eEsgG. "Whel. paRors of churches con-
vene in lynods, il is not their pagwal office.
but thechurche, delegation which gives them
a right to be there. Il was once dilputed
whether the Bilhops have negative in the
ttouie OF Lords, 70 that there can be no va
I'D ACT of Parliament without their CONCUR
renee. Mr.. Baglhaw Ia learned lawyer
moved they had no, becaufe they did
not fet there by virtue of their o6Tes.
but of the Baronies which belonged 10
them. IF then paffors do not fet in couu-
Gil as eFc0J, but as msaengers deputed by
their churches, they may not claim a ne
g0fiVs - True il is when council is CAL
led for, the churches ought to fend their
patton - Nevertheless they do NOT fct
there as PejlsrJ, O6teys, RHLr5- And
hence it does not follow, that If sldsys have
a negative Vsies in their particular churches
which our platform Of dicipline gives them,
that they have 70 in councils becauie in their
particular churches they are Rulers, to whom
sbfdiTnes IS due. Heb. xiii. IL. But 10 fy-
mods They have no power of rule. A paiior,
when ietting in council, aes as a church
meaengcr, and not as church officer"
DR.. Laereayf AzafbD. DiSME on Ed.
e0aneih. p. I3. and "a"
What can be plainer-I muR think, Sir,
the fentences produced on. of the writings
OF DIR. Mather were Gxat7y to my purpofc.
But you may ifill ak, " lii esnl4 be d..
m'HGrHfsd that fbs fri JfhLr5 Of MsrO. Ene-
land beiisOsd Nth A1r. AdamS, rejbet7izg fbs
pss9fr Of The elSrgy, Of lObaf impsrfants Is IL 10
y'Hr rr0deri, EVb' can and poiA Judge far fb.m-
jSio6 :" anfwer, ifthis point can be proved,s
may ferve to quiet the minds of lome good
people among Us, who are by fome means or
other pohelIed of jealouiy, thar the clergy
are attempting to leap the bounds which
were formerly iei them, and ahume Ghoie
p'SVerS and psrcgatiUeS which were never be.
fore heard Of while il is certain, the clergy
never claimed LsG power Than they do az
the Preient dsy.-lt may a.lo prevent the
exercife of undue refrnimeut ssainfi Mr.. A
Jams, who, for aUghi know, is very good
nan, although be did how li'e uaynfb
when b. thought himfe'i sbuled By bis Boil
toa neighbour. can make great allow.
asces ET ah.s os11'= ~ of..-ifs in the he,