Thirty important cases, resolved with evidence of Scripture and reason (mostly) by several pastors of adjacent churches, meeting in Cambridge, New-England (with some other memorable matters) ; now published for general benefit.

CASE XI. A QUESTION.

What Singular Expedient. should we further Meditate and Prosecute, for promoting of the great Design of REFORMA••ION among us?

1. THere is a large number of people in this Country, which not lying within the reach of our Ecclesiastical Discipline, do from thence encourage thomselves, in the Liberty which they take, to do the things for which the wrat•• of God comes upon the Land. It would very much promote the designs of Reformation a∣mong us, if all due means were used, for the bringing of more than there are, and as many as may be, to submit unto our Church Watch: 'twere highly desireable and necessary that the body of this professing people should thus be brought into the way of Reformation. It hath been by an happy experience found, that God hath given a singular Success unto the Admoniti∣ons of our Churches, apply'd unto such as have by their Miscarriages thereto exposed themselves;

many have been thereby savingly brought home unto God.

2. The Expedients for the Reformation of our Land, offered by the Synod, in the year 1679. ought not to be forgotten, but the Remem∣brance and the consideration thereof should be revived.

3. The Concurrence of such as do sustain place in the Civil Government is of great Importance, in the prosecution of our desired Reformation: and that we may enjoy this, it must be endea∣voured, that there should be no misunder stand∣ings between any in the Government, and in the Ministry. This being observed, a General Con∣sultation, upon the Methods of Reformation, is to be asked for.

4. For the Pastors of our Churches, in Visiting of their Flocks, to inform themselves about the Morals of their people in every quarter, and thereupon both publickly and privately set themselves to Cure what shall be found amiss, would signisie very much in a glorious Refor∣mation.

5. Particular Churches, have a power of Self-Reformation, and they would contribute more than a little, to an Universal one, if they would be Exemplary unto one another, in deliberations upon their own circumstances, and in Renewing, Explaning and Enforcing of their Covenant.

6. It would be well, if the Ministers in this

(as well as any other) Association would single out the more Observeable Iniquities in the Country, and successively at fit seasons, publish brief, but full Testimonies against those Iniquities. A manifold advantage might accrue to our Attempts of Reformation, by those Testimonies.

7. Solemn Dayes of Prayer with Fasting, cele∣brated in our Churches, to Implore the Grace of God, for the Rising Generation, would proba∣bly be of blessed Confequence for the turning of our Young People, unto the God of our Fa∣thers. The more there is this way ascribed unto Grace, the more is the Grace of God like to be communicated; and there is in this way a Natural and Plentiful Tendency to awaken our Unconverted Youth, unto a sense of their Everlasting Interests: which were it generally accomplished, a Remarkable Reformation were therein effected.