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DUKE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 DIVINITY SCHOOL 
 LIBRARY 
 
ay 
 
 Ave 
 
: | PLATFORM 
 
 oF 
 
 : *CHURCH DISCIPLINE: 
 | 
 
 GATHERED OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND AGREED UPON 
 BY THE 
 
 ELDERS AND MESSENGERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CHURCHES ASSEMBLED IN THE 
 4 SYNOD F 
 AT CAMBRIDGE, IN NEW-ENGLAND : 
 
 TO BE PRESENTED TO THE 
 CHURCHES AND GENERAL COURT, 
 
 YOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE IN THE LORD, 
 - THE EIGHTH MONTH, awNno 1648. 
 
 low amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts. Pial. toate, s 
 
 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine bonour 
 dwelicth Psat. xuvi. 8. 
 
 One thing have | desired of the Lord, that will I seck after, that 1 may dwell in 
 the house of the Lord all Sodan ler life, to beauty of the « ord, 
 and to enquire in his temple. wor On Psat. axvii 
 
 SQ “9, 
 
 ae 1867 
 
 > 
 
 an 
 -) 
 
 Cy pe 
 BOSTON: °f Washi > 
 if = hai — PRINTED AND SOLD BY BELCHER AND ARMSTROXG, 
 
 ae | Pt a i oe SUFFOLK BUILDINGS, STATE STREET. 
 au ES >) | 1808. 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 = Ls 
 
 ——_ = 
 
4 
 
 4 
 
 - 
 
 Dare 
 
At a General Court held at Boston, May 19th, 1680. 
 
 THIS Court having taken into serious consideration 
 the request that hath been presented by several of the 
 reverend elders, in the name of the late Synod, do approve 
 thereof, and accordingly order, Tue Conression oF 
 Fairu, agreed upon at their second session, and THe 
 Pratrorm or Discretiwe, consented unto by the Synod 
 at CAMBRIDGE, anno 1648, to be printed for the benefit 
 of the churches in present and after times. 
 
 EDWARD RAWSON, Sec’y. 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 THE setting forth of the public confession of 
 the faith of churches hath a double end, and both 
 tending to public edification: First, the mainten- 
 ance of the faith intire within itself: Secondly, the 
 holding forth of unity and harmony both a 
 
 and with other churches. Our ches here, as, 
 by the grace of Christ, we believe and profess the 
 same doctrine of the truth of the gospel, which gen- 
 erally is received in all the reformed church¢s of 
 Christ in Europe, so especially we desire not to 
 vary from the doctrine of faith and truth held forth 
 by the churches of our native country, For though 
 it be not one native country that can breed us all 
 of one mind; nor ought we to have the glorious 
 
 faith of our Lord Jesus with respect to. , 
 ag 8 one i tn cw, to 
 
 d forth the doctrine of justification by faith, and 
 of the resurrection of the dead, ac ing as he 
 
 knew his godly countrymen did, who were Jews by 
 nature, (Gal. ii. 15, Acts xxvi. 6. 7.) s0 we who are 
 by nature Englishmen, do desire to hold forth the 
 same doctrine of religion, especially in fundamen- 
 tals, which we see and know to be held by the 
 — of England, according to the truth of the 
 
 ‘The more we discern (that which we do, and 
 have cause to do with incessant mourning and 
 trembling) the unkind, and unbrotherly, and un- 
 christian contention of our godly brethren and 
 countrymen in matters of church government, the 
 more carnestly do we desire to see them join to- 
 gether in one common faith, and ourselves with 
 them, For this end, having perused the public 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive wr 
 in 2023 with funding from — 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https /larchive. 2.org/details/platformofchurch0t cam 
 
confession of the faith, agreed upon by the reverend 
 assembly of divines at Westminster, and finding the 
 6um and substance thereof, in matters of doctrine, 
 to express not their own judgment only, but ours 
 also ; and being likewise called upon by our godly 
 magistrates, do draw upa public confession of that 
 faith which is constantly taught, and generally pro- 
 fessed amongst us; we thought good to present 
 unto them, and with them to our churches, and 
 with them to all the churches of Christ abroad, our 
 professed and hearty assent and attestation to the 
 whole confession of faith (for substance of doctrine) 
 which the reverend assembly presented to the re- 
 ligious and honourable parliament of England - 
 excepting only some sections in the 25. 30. and 
 31. chapters of their confession, which concern 
 
 points of controversy in church discipline ; touch. — 
 
 ing which we refer ourselves to the draught of the 
 church discipline in the ensuing treatise. 
 
 The truth of what we here declare may — 
 by the unanimous vote of the Synod of the Elders 
 and Messengers of our churches, assembled at 
 Cambridge, the last of the sixth month, 1648, 
 which jointly passed in these words: ‘This synod 
 having perused and considered, with, much glad- 
 ness of heart, and thankfulness to God, the con- 
 fession of faith, published of late by the reverend 
 assembly in England, do judge it to be very holy, 
 orthodox, aud judicious in all matters of faith ; 
 and do therefore freely and fully consent there- 
 unto, for the substance thereof. Only in those 
 things which have respect to church government, 
 and discipline, we refer ourselves to the platform 
 of church discipline, agreed upon by this present 
 assembly ; and do therefore think it mect, that 
 this confession of faith should be commended to 
 
 ue churches of Christ amongst us, and to the hon- 
 oured court, as worthy of their due consideration 
 and acceptance. Howbeit, we may not conceal, 
 that the doctrine of vocation, expressed in clap. 
 x. sect. 1. and summarily repeated in chap. xiii. 
 sect. 1. passed not without some debate. Yet con- 
 sidering the term of vocation; and others by which 
 itis described, are capable of a , or more strict 
 sense and use, and that it is not intended to bind ap- 
 prehensions precisely in point of order or method, 
 there hath been a general condescendency thereunto. 
 
 Now by this our professed consent and free 
 concurrence with them in all the doctrinals of re- 
 ligion, we hope it may appear to the world, that 
 as we are a remnant of the people of the same na- 
 tion with them, so we are professors of the same 
 common faith, and fellow-heirs of the same com- 
 mon salvation, Yea moreover, as this our pro- 
 fession of the same faith with them, will exempt 
 
 us, even in their judgments, from suspicion of 
 heresy ; so, we trust, it may exempt us in the. 
 
 like sort from suspicion of schism: that though 
 we are forced to dissent from them in matters of 
 church-discipline, yet our dissent is not taken up 
 out of arrogancy of spirit in ourselves, whom, 
 they sce, willingly condescend to learn of them, 
 neither is it carried with uncharitable censorious- 
 ness towards them, (both which are the proper and 
 essential characters of schism) but in meekness of 
 wisdom, as we walk along with them, and follow 
 them as they follow Christ ; so where we conceive 
 a different apprehension of the mind of Christ ; as 
 it falleth out in some few points touching church- 
 order, we still reserve duc reverence to them 
 whom we judge to be, through Christ, the glori. 
 Ous lights of both nations, and only crave leave. as 
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 in the spirit we are bound, to follow the Lamb 
 whithersoever he goeth, and, after the apostles ex- 
 ample, as we believe, so we speak. 
 
 And if the example of such outcasts as 
 ourselves might prevail, if not with all (for that 
 were too great a blessing to hope for) yet with 
 some or other of our brethren in England, so far 
 as they are come to mind and speak the same 
 thing with such as dissent from them, we hope 
 in Christ it would not only moderate the harsh 
 judging and condemning of one another in such 
 differences of judgment as may be found im the 
 choicest saints; but also prevent, by the mercy 
 of Christ, the peril of the distraction and destruc- 
 tion of all the churches in both kingdoms. Oth- 
 erwise, if brethren shall go on to bite and devour 
 one another, the apostle feared, as we also with 
 sadness of heart do, it will tend to the consuming 
 of them, and us all, which the Lord prevent. 
 
 We are not ignorant, that besides these asper- 
 sions of heresy and schism other exceptions also 
 are taken at our way of church government, but, 
 as we coneccive, upon as litle ground. As, 
 
 1. ‘That by admitting none into the fellowship 
 of our church but saints by calling, we rob many 
 parish churches of their best members, to make 
 up one of our cougregations, which is not only 
 to gather churches out of churches, a thing un- 
 beard of in scripture, but also to weaken the hearts 
 and hands of the best ministers in the parishes, by 
 despoiling them of their best hearers. 
 
 2. ‘That we provide no course for the gaining, 
 and calling in of ignorant, and erroneous, and scan- 
 dalous persons, whom we refuse to receive into 
 our churches, and so exclude from the wholesome 
 remedy of church discipline. 
 
 3. That in our way we sow sceds of division, 
 and hindrance of edification in every family ; whilst 
 admitting into our churches only voluntaries, the 
 husband will be of one church, the wife of another ; 
 the parents of one church, the children of another ; 
 the master of one church, the servants of another. 
 And so the parents and masters being of different 
 churches from their children and servants, they 
 cannot take a just account of their ting 4 
 what they hear; yea, by this means the hu 
 parents, and masters shall be chargeable to the 
 maintenance of many other churches, and chureh 
 officers, besides their own ;_ which will prove a 
 charge and burthen unsupportable. 
 
 But for answer, as to the first ; for gathering chur- 
 ches out of churches, we cannot say that it is a 
 thing unheard of in scripture. The first christian 
 church was gathered out of the Jewish church, and 
 out of many synagogues in that church, and con- 
 sisted partly of the Gadileans ; who though they 
 kept some communion in some parts of public 
 worship with the temple, yet neither did they fre- 
 quent ihe sacrifices, nor rcpair to the sanhedrim 
 for the determining of their church causes, but 
 kept intire and constant communion with the apos- 
 les’ church in all the ordinances of the gospel. 
 And for the first christian church of the Gentiles 
 at Antioch, it appeareth to have been gathered and 
 constituted partly of the dispersed brethren of the 
 church at Jerusalem whereof some were men of 
 Cyprus and Cyrene, and partly of the beieving 
 Gentiles. Acts xi. 10, 21. 
 
 If it be said, the first christian church at Jeru- 
 salem, and that at Antioch, were gathered not out 
 of any christian church, but of the Jewish temple 
 and synagogues, which were rly after to be 
 
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 abolished, and ae gathering to Antioch was 
 upon occasion of dispersion in time of persecution 
 adele it may be considered, 1. That the 
 members of the Jewish church were more strong- 
 ly and straitly tied by express holy covenant, to 
 keep fellowship with the Jewish church till it was 
 abolished, than any members of christian parish 
 churches are wont to be tied to keep fellowship 
 with their parish churches. The episcopal canons, 
 which bind them to attend on their parish church, 
 it is likely they are now abolished with the episco- 
 pacy. ‘The common law of the land is satisfied, 
 as we conceive, if they attend upon the worship 
 of God in any other church, though not within 
 their own parish. But not like such covenant of 
 God, nor any other religious tie lieth upon them 
 to attend the worship of God in their own parish 
 ehurch, as did lie upon the Jews to attend upon 
 the worship of God in their temple and syna- 
 es. 
 
 2 Though the Jewish temple church at Jerusalem 
 was to be abolished, yet that doth not make the 
 desertion of it by the members to be lawful, till 
 it was abolished. Future abolition is no warrant 
 for present desertion, unless it be lawful, in some 
 case, whilst the church is yet in present standing, 
 to desert it; to wit, either for avoiding present 
 polutions, or for hope of greater edification, and 
 so for better satisfaction to conscience in either. 
 Future events, or foresight of them do not dissolve 
 present relations, else wives, children, servants, 
 might desert their husbands, parents, masters, 
 when they be mortally sick. 
 
 3. What the members of the Jewish church did, 
 in joining to the church at Antioch in time of per- 
 secuuon, it may well be conceived the members 
 
 = 
 
 ofany christian church may do the like for satisfac- 
 tion ofconscience. Peace of conscience is more de- 
 sirable than the peace of the outward man ; and free- 
 dom from scruples of conscience is more comfortable 
 to a sincere heart, than freedom from persecution, 
 
 If it be said, those members of the christian 
 church at Jerusalem that joined to the church at 
 Antioch, removed their habitati together with 
 their relations; which if the b of the con- 
 gregational way would do it would much abate 
 the grievance of their departure from their pres- 
 byterial churches. 
 
 We verily could wish so to do, as well 
 approving the like removal! of habitation, in case 
 of changing church relations, provided that it 
 may be done without too much detriment to their 
 outward estates, and we for our parts have done 
 the same. But to put a necessity of removal of 
 habitation in such a case, it is to foment and 
 cherish a corrupt principle of making civil cohab- 
 itation if not a formal cause, yet at least a proper 
 adjunct of church relation, which the truth of the 
 gospel doth not acknowledge. Now to foment 
 an error to the prejudice of the truth of the gospel, 
 is not to: walk with a right foot, a ing to the 
 truth of the gospel, as Pau/ judgeth, Gai. ii. 1. 
 
 4. We do not think it meet or safe, for a mem- 
 ber of a presbyterial church forthwith to desert 
 his relation to his church, betake himself to the 
 fellowship of a congregational church, though he 
 may discern some defect in the estate or govern- 
 ment of his own. For, 
 
 1. Faithfulness of brotherly love in church re- 
 lation requireth that the members of the church 
 should first convince their brethren of their sinful 
 defects, and duly wait for their reformation, before 
 
a 
 
blessing F 
 prevail much with their elders and neighbours 
 towards a reformation, i uch as that 
 
 ? 
 
 ur e 
 
 . But to add a word further, touching the ga- 
 thering of churches out of churches : what if there 
 were no example of such a thing extant in the 
 scripture ? That which we are wont to answer the 
 
 fourth book of conscience, in answer to two ques- 
 tions chap. xiv.num. 16. Ifany said he, wronged with 
 
 Li 
 
 to another more pure, yet without condemning of 
 the church he leaveth, he is not therefore to. be 
 held as a ie = pay ee 
 cious doctor deciareth the lawfulness of 
 
 dwelling together in the same town, they may €2- 
 sily order the times of public assembly, as to at- 
 tend constantly upon the ministry of their former 
 church ; and either after or before the public as- 
 sembly of the parish, take an opportunity te ga- 
 ther together for the administration of the sacra- 
 
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 12 
 
 ments and censures, and to get church ordinances 
 poe The first apostolic church 
 assembled to hear the word with the Jewish church 
 in the open 1 Ag the lincaadraea' eae: 
 
 thered together for breaking and r 
 sou aitdhaneleenter, from house to house. 
 
 3. Suppose presbyterial churches should com- 
 municate some of their best gifted members to- 
 wards the erecting of another church, it would not 
 forthwith be their detriment, but may be their en- 
 largement. It is the most noble and perfect work 
 of a living creature, both in nature and grace, to 
 
 i te and multiply his kind; and it is the 
 Deaear-of the faithful spouse of Christ to set for- 
 ward the work of Christ as well abroad as at home. 
 The church in Cant. viii. 8. to help forward her 
 little sister church was willing to with her 
 choice materials, even beams of cedar, and such 
 precious living stones as were fit to build a silver 
 palace. In the same book the church is sometimes 
 compared to a garden, sometimes to an orchard, 
 Cant. iv. 12,13. No man planteth a garden or 
 orchard, -tengrenrstenh a “y choicest sas and 
 
 ts of his nei , an freely im 
 omg nor do they count it a ter fl thes = 
 and orchard, but rather a glory. Nevertheless, 
 we go not sofar, we neither seek nor ask the choice 
 members of the parishes, but accept them being 
 offered. 
 
 If it be said, they are not offered by the minis- 
 ters, nor by the parish churches, who have most 
 right in them, but only by ourselves, 
 
 It may justly be demanded, what right or what 
 power have either the ministers or parish church 
 over them? Not by solemn church government, 
 for that, though it be the firmest engagement, is not 
 
 13 
 
 owned, but rejected. If it be their joining with 
 the parish in calling and election of a minister to 
 
 indeed just weight in such an 
 
 a minister, unless it be upon such as 
 justly give him due catialaae aa 
 
 hike there 
 doubtless sundry and ious hearers in 
 parishes in that do and will refer 
 
1 
 
 14 
 
 them. It never grieved nor troubled John Baptist 
 that his disciples a Er frem him to follow after 
 Christ, John iii. But if the congregational way 
 should prove to be, not the institution of Christ, as 
 we take it, but the invention of men, then doubtless 
 the presbyterian form, if it be of God, will swallow 
 up ie other, as Moses’s rod devoured the rods of 
 the tians. Nor will this put a ecessity upon 
 both the opposite parties to shift for themselves, 
 and seck to supplant one another, but only it will 
 call upon them (Aletheuein En Agape) w seek and 
 follow the truth in Jove, to attend in faithfulness 
 each unto his.own flock, and to administer to them 
 all the holy things of God, and their portion of food 
 in due season ; and as for others, quictly to forbear 
 them, and yet to instruct them with meekness, that 
 are contrary minded, leaving it to Christ, in the use 
 of all good means, to reveal his own truth in his own 
 time, and meanwhile endeavouring to keep the 
 unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, Phil. iii. 
 15. 16. Eph. iv. 3. 
 
 To the second exception, that we take no course 
 for the gaining and healing, and calling in of ignorant 
 and erroneous persons, whom we refuse to receive 
 into our churches, and so exclude them from the 
 remedy of church discipline, 
 
 We conceive the receiving of them into our 
 churches, would rather loose and corrupt our 
 churches, than gainand heal them. A little leaven 
 laid ina lump of dough, will sooner leaven the 
 whole lump, than the whole lump will sweeten it 
 We find it therefore safer to square rough and un- 
 hewn stones before they be laid into the building, 
 rather than to hammer and hew them when they 
 lie unevenly in the building. And accordingly twe 
 
 r5 
 
 means we use to gain and call in such as are igno- 
 rant and scandalous. 
 
 1. The public ministry of the word, which 
 they are invited by counse), and required by whole- 
 some laws. And the word it is, which is the pow- 
 er of God to salvation, to the calling and winning 
 of souls. 
 
 2. Private conference, amd conviction by the 
 elders, and other able brethren of the church, whom 
 they do the more respectfully hearken unto, when 
 they see no hope of enjoying church fellowship, or 
 a ation pup geen for themselves or 
 
 ir ti y approve their judgments to 
 be sound and. orthodox, and their roll subdued to 
 some hope of a godly conversation. What can 
 classical discipline, or excommunication itself do 
 more in this case. 
 
 The third exception wraps up in it a_ threefold 
 domestic inconvenience, and each of them meet 
 to be eschewed. 1. Dis-union in families be- 
 tween cach relation. 2. Disappointment of edifi- 
 
 cation, for want of opportunity in the governors 
 of families to take account of dines beard be their 
 children and servants. 3. Disbursements of charge- 
 able maintenance to the several churches, where- 
 unto the several persons of their families are joined. 
 _ All which a either do not fall out 
 in congregational churches, or are easily redressed ; 
 for none are orderly admitted cy uk i 
 churches, but such as are well 
 
 testumony to be duly observant of family be so : 
 or if any otherwise disposed should creep in, they 
 are either orderly healed, or duly removed in a 
 way of Christ. Nor are they admitted, unless 
 
 can give some good account of their profiti 
 ordinances, before the elders and neal of the 
 
Gomes ee 3 
 wks oer pelts equeed 
 
 cp 73) 56. On 
 
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16 
 
 church, and much more to their parents and masters. 
 Godly tutors in the university can take an account 
 of their pupils ; and godly householders in the city 
 take an account of their children and servants, how 
 they profit by the word they have heard in several 
 churches, and that to the greater edification of the 
 whole family, by the variety of such administrations. 
 
 may bring more honey and wax into the hive, 
 when they are not limited to one garden of flowers, 
 
 but may fly abroad to many. 
 Nor is any charge expected from wife, children 
 or servants to the maintenance of tional 
 
 churches, further than they may be furnished with 
 personal estates or —- which may enable them 
 to contribute of such things as they have, and 
 not of such things as they have not. God : 
 eth not robbery for a sacrifice. And though a 
 
 householder may justly take himself bound in con- 
 science to contribute to any such church, whereto 
 his wife, or children, or servants do stand in rela- 
 tion, yet that will not vate the burthen of his 
 charge no more than if were reccived mem- 
 bers of the same church whereto himself is related. 
 
 But why do we stand thus long to plead exem 
 
 tions from exception? The help all his faith. 
 ful servants, whether presbyterial or eh a, patel 
 al, to judge and shame ourselves before the Lord, 
 for all our former compliances to greater enormi- 
 ties in church government than are to be found 
 either in the congregational or byterial way ; 
 and then surely a the Lord will clear up his 
 own will to us, and so frame and subdue us all to 
 one mind and one way, (Zzek. xliii. 10, 11.) or else 
 we shall learn to bear one another’s burthens in a 
 spirit of meekness. It will then doubtless be far 
 from us, so toattest the discipline of Christ, as to de- 
 
 17 
 
 test the disciples of Christ: so to contend for the 
 seamless coat of Christ, as to crucify the living mem- 
 bers of Christ ; so to divide ourselves about church 
 communion, as gh breaches to open a wide 
 
 p for a deluge of anti-christian and profane mia-. 
 fignit to swallow up botlrchurch and civil state. 
 ls dale on more ? Is difference of cl : 
 order become the inlet of all the disorders in the 
 kinedom? Hath the Lord indeed left us to such — 
 hardness of heart, that the church government 
 shall become a snare to Zion, as sometimes Moses 
 was to Egypt, Exod. xx. 7, that we cannot leave 
 contesting and. contending about it, till the king- — 
 
 dom be destroyed ? Did not the Lord Jesus, whet 
 he dedicated his sufferings for his church, and his 
 also unto his Father, e it hi. earnest and 
 
 prayer forus in this world, that we allmight be one — 
 in him, John xvii. 20, 21, 22,23, And is it possi--— 
 ble that he, whom the Father heard always, John — 
 xi. 42, should not have this last nfost 
 pe ee al ree Or shall it be 
 Reh hie oabets elsewhere and .not for the saints 
 in England, so that a 
 w even about church ee union? — 
 f it be possible for a little faith, so muc as agrain 
 of mustard seed, to remove a mountain, is it mot — 
 Haaren the te | of faith as it is, tobe © 
 und in all the godly kingdoms, to remove those 
 i of jealousy, and ‘to cast those stumbling. 
 blocks out of the way, which may hinder the free — 
 passage of brotherly love amongst brethren? Itis 
 true indeed, the national covenant doth justly en- — 
 gage both parties faithfully to endeavour the utter 
 extirpation of the antichristian hierarchy; and 
 much more of all blasphemies, heresies, and errors. 
 B2 
 
 them. dis-union shall — 
 
. ef} if, 
 i 
 
 Ry cas 
 
needed not the of the Samaritans to re-edify 
 the temple of ; yea, they rejected their help 
 wher it was offered, ELzraiv, 1,2, 3. And if the 
 
 congregational way be a way of truth, as we be- 
 lieve, and if the brethren that walk in it be reslous 
 of the truth and hate false way, as by the 
 
 their are instructed 
 
 END OF THE PREFACE. 
 
 PLATFORM. 
 
 ecg 1 i 
 
 ‘CHAP. I. - 
 
 | Of the form of church government ; and that it 
 
 one, immutable, and prescribed in the world. 
 
 church 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL polity, or 
 
 * 
 
20 
 
 to the second commandment, and therefore tocon- _ 
 tinue one and the same unto the appearing of our | 
 i ‘that cannot be | 
 shaken, until he shall deliver it up unto God, | 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, as a 
 
 even to the Father. So that it is not left in the 
 power of men, officers, churches, or any state in 
 the world to add or diminish, or alter any thing 
 in the least measure therein. 1 Zim. iii 15. 1 
 Chron. xv. 18. Exod. xx. 4. 1 Tim. vi. 13, 16. 
 Heb. xii. 27, 28. 1 Cor. xv. 24. Deut. xii. 32. 
 
 4. The necessary circumstances, as time and | 
 
 place, &c. belonging unto order and decency, are 
 not so left unto men, as that under estes of thom, 
 they may thrust their own inventions upon the 
 churches, bei + aggre bn word with 
 many general limitations, where are deter- 
 mined in respect of the matter, to be neither wor- 
 ship itself, nor circumstances 
 
 cently and in order, according to the nature of the 
 —— themselves, and civil and church custom: 
 
 not even nature itself teach you? Yea; 4 
 are in some sort determined perticularly, © 
 jae , that they be done in such a manner, as, all | 
 eircumstances considered, is most expedient for | 
 edification : so as if there be no error of man — 
 concerning their determination, the determining _ 
 
 of them is to be accounted as if it were divine. 
 
 Ezek. xiiii. 8. 1 Kings xii. 31, 32, 33. 9 Kings | 
 23 r 
 
 xii. Exod. xx. 19. Isa. xxviii. 13. Col. i. 22, 23. 
 Acts xv. 28. Mat. xv. 9. 1 Cor. xi, 28. and viii. 
 34. 1 Cor. xiv. 26 and xiv. 40, and xi. 14, 16. 
 and xiy, 12, 19. Acts xy. 28. 
 
 from wor. | 
 
 2} 
 
 CHAP. IL. 
 
 Of the nature of the catholic church in general, and 
 in spenial of a particular visible churc. 
 
 THE catholic church is the whole company of - 
 those that are elected, redeemed, and in time ef- 
 fectually called from the state of sin and 
 unto a state of and salvation in Jesus Christ, 
 Eph. i. 22, 23, and y. 25, 26, 30. : 
 2. This church is either tridmphant or mili- 
 tant; triumphant, the number of them who are 
 mg Bes heaven; salt number .of 
 who are conflicting wi “enemies upon 
 earth. Heb, xii. 23. Rom. viii. 17. 2 Tim. ii. 12. 
 
 in their persons and in particular churches, / 
 so there may be acknowledged an universal 
 church. 2 Tim. ii. 19. Mev. ii. 17. 1 Cor. vi. 
 17. Eph.iii. 17. Rom.i.8. 1 Thess.i.8. Tea. 
 ii. 2. 1 Tim. vi. 12. scan 
 4, The members of the visible militant church 
 considered either as not yet in church order, or 
 bo | according to the church order of the gos 
 pel. In order, and so besides the spiritual 
 and communion common to believers, they 
 moreover an union and communion ecc ical - 
 pelivical. So we deny an universal visible church. 
 Acts xix.1. Col. ii. 5. Mat, xviii. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 
 
‘\ 
 
 22 
 
 5. The state of the members of the mili 
 visible church walking in ordcr, was dither | ire 
 
 the law, economical, that is in families; or 
 
 der the, law national ; or since the coming of Christ 
 only congregational. The term independent we 
 approvenot. Therefore neither national, provincial 
 nor classical. Gen. xviii. 19. Exod. xix. 6. 
 
 _ 6. A congregational church is by the institu- 
 tion of Christa part of the militant visible church 
 consisting of a company of saints by calling, uni. 
 ted into. one body by an holy covenant, for the 
 public worship of God, and the mutual edifica- 
 ton one of another, in the fellowship of the Lord 
 
 Jesus. 1 Cor. xiv. 23, 36. and i. 2 ii 
 . XIV. ‘ . 2. and xi. 27. 
 . xod. xix. 5. 6. Deut. xxix. l. and9t 
 u. 42. 1 Cor. xiv. 26. disdain 
 os Rey 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the matter of the visible ehurch, both in respect 
 of quality and quantity. 
 
 Tue matter of a visi 
 ; isible church are sai 
 calling. 1. Cor. i. 2. Eph. i 1. ait 
 2. By saints we understand, 1. such as have 
 not only attained the knowledge of the principles 
 of religion, and are free from gross and open 
 scandals, but also do together with the profession 
 of their faith and repentance, walk in blameless 
 obedience to the word, so that in charitable dis- 
 cretion they may be accounted saints by calling, 
 though perhaps some or more of them be unsound 
 and hypocrites inwardly, because the members 
 of such particular churches are commonly by the 
 Holy Ghost called saints and faithful brethren 
 
 eo 
 
 23 
 
 in Christ; and sundry churches have been reprov- 
 
 ed for receiving and suffering such persons to con- 
 
 tinue in fellowship amongst them, as have been 
 
 offensive and scandalous ; the name of God also 
 
 by this means is blasphemed, and the holy th 
 
 of God defiled and profaned, the hearts of 
 grieved, and the wicked themselves hard- 
 
 godl 
 - ened and helped forward to damnation. 
 
 example of such doth endanger the sanctity of 
 others : a little leaven leaveneth the whole ae 
 
 2. The children of such, who are also holy. 
 
 vi. 1. 1 Cor. i. 5. Rom. vi. 17. 1 Cor. i, 2. Phil 
 32. Col. i.2. Eph.i1. 1 Cor v. 12, 13. 
 Rev. ii. 14, 15, 20. Ezek. xliv. 7, 9. and xxiil. 38, 
 39. Num. xvi. 20. Hag. ii, 15. 14. 1 Cor. xi. 27 
 29, Psal. xxxvii. 21. 1 Cor. v. 6. 2 Cor. vii. 14. 
 
 3. The members of churches, though orderly 
 constituted, may in time degenerate and grow 
 corrupt and scandalous, which though they ought 
 not to be tolerated in the church, yet their con- 
 tinuance therein, through the defect of the ex- 
 ecution of discipline and just censures, doth not 
 immediately dissolve the being of a church, as 
 appears in the church of Isracl, and the churches 
 of Galatia and Corinth, Pergamus and Thyatyra. 
 Jer. ii. 21. 1 Cor. v. 12. Jer. ii. 4. Gal. v. 4, 2 
 Cor. xii. 21. Rev. ii, 14, 15. and xx. 21. 
 
 4. The matter of the church in respect of its 
 quantity, ought not to be of greater number than 
 may ordinarily meet together conveniently in 
 one place ;_ nor ordinarily fewer, than may con- 
 veniently carry on church work. Hence when 
 the holy scripture makes mention of the saints 
 combined into a church estate, in a town or C 
 where was but one congregution, it usually call- 
 eth those saints (the church) in the singular num- 
 
a 
 
 Be 
 
 echo, Gals 
 (Sead vali 
 teh ne ae o 
 
 + Leet rts % 
 eaten i Pe 
 
 ie 
 
 My 
 l . din 
 ie + , 
 
 f ie: 
 terry 
 5 nf 
 af 
 ‘ 
 ee ¢ 7 
 , ‘ 
 , 
 wy 
 . & Lt 
 
 4; 
 
 i 
 a 
 
 4 
 
24 
 
 ber; as, the church of the Thessalonians, the 
 church of Smyrna, Philadelphia, and the like; but 
 When it speaketh of the saints in a nation or prov- 
 ince, wherein there were su i 
 
 congregations, 
 it frequently and usually calicth them by the 
 
 name of churches, in the plural number, as the 
 churches of Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, and the 
 hike ; which is further confirmed by what is writ- 
 ten of sundry of those churches in particular, how 
 they were assembled and met t +, the whole 
 church in one place, as the church at Jerusalem, 
 the chureh at Antioch, the church at Corinth, and 
 Cenchrea, though it were more near to Corinth, it 
 being the port thereof, and answerable to a vil- 
 lage, yet being a distinct congregation from Co- 
 rinth, it had a church of its own, as wellas Co- 
 rinth had. 1 Cor. xiv, 21. Mat. xviii. 17. Rom. 
 xvi. 1. 1 Thess. i.1. Rev. ii. 8. and iii. 7. 1 Cor. 
 xvi. 1, 19. Gali.2. 2 Cor. viii. 1. 1 Thess. 
 ii. 14. Aets ii. 46. and v. 12, and vi. 2. and xiv. 
 27. and xv. 38. 1. 5. 4 and xiv. 23. Rom. 
 xvi. 1. 
 
 5. Nor can it with reason be eon aoe 
 every church appointed and ordained by Christ, 
 had a ministry ordained and appointed for the 
 same; and yet plain it is, that there were no ordi- 
 nary officers appointed by Christ for any other 
 than 2 Gay ee churches ; elders being ap- 
 pointed to » hot all flocks, but the particu- 
 lar flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hd 
 made them overseers, and that flock they must at- 
 tend, even the whole flock ; and one congregation 
 being as much as any ordinary elder can attend, 
 therefore there is no greater church than a con- 
 ee. which may ordinarily meet in one piace, 
 Acts xx, 28. 
 
 25 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 Of the form of a visible church, and of church 
 
 cavenant. : 
 
 S AINTS by calling must have a visible political 
 union among themselves, or ‘clse they are not yet © 
 a particular church, as those similitudes . 
 forth, which the scripture makes use of to shew 
 the nature of particular churches, as a body, a build- 
 ing, house, hands, eyes, feet, and other members 
 must be united, or else (remaining separate) are 
 not abody. Stone, timber, though squared, hewn 
 and polished, are not a house, until they are com- 
 pacted and united ; so saints ur believers im judg 
 ment of charity are nota church, unless orderly 
 knit together. 1 Cor. xii. 27. 1 Tim. iii. 15, 
 Eph, ii. 22. 1 Cor. xii 15, 16, 17. fev. i. 
 
 2. Particular churches cannot be distinguished 
 one from another, but by their forms: Ephesus is 
 not Smyrna, nor Pergamus, Thyatira, but cach one 
 a distinct society of itself, having officers of their 
 own, which had not the charge of others ; virtues of 
 their own, for which others are not praised ; corrup- 
 tions of their own, for which others are not blamed, 
 
 3. This form is a visible covenant, agreement, 
 or consent, whereb; they give up themselves unto 
 the Lord, to the observing of the ordinances of 
 Christ together in the same society, which is usual- 
 ly called the church covenant; For we see not 
 otherwise how members can have church power 
 one over another mutually. | The comparing of 
 each particular church to acity, and unto a spouse, 
 seemeth to conclude not only a form, but that form 
 is by way of covenant. “The covenant, as it was 
 
 C 
 
26 
 
 that which made the family of .4draham, and chil- 
 dren of Jsrae/to be a chureh and people unto God, 
 so it is that which now makes the several societies 
 of Gentile believers to be churches in these days. 
 Exod. xix. 5,8. Deut. xxix. 12,13. Zech. xi. 14. 
 and ix, 11. Eph. ii. 19. 2Cor. xii. 2. Gen. xvii. 7. 
 Deut. xxix. 12, 13. Eph. ii. 12, 18. 
 
 4. This voluntary agreement, consent or cove- 
 nant, (for all these are taken here for the same) 
 although the more express and plain it is, the more 
 fully it puts us in mind of our mutual duty, and 
 stirreth us up to it, and leaveth less room for the 
 questioning truth of the church estate of a 
 company of professors, and the truth of member- 
 ship of particular persuns; yet we conceive the 
 substance of it is kept, where there is a real agree- 
 ment and consent of a company of faithful persons 
 to meet constantly together in one congregation, 
 for the public worship of Ged, and thew mutual 
 edification; which real agreement and consent they 
 do express by their constant ice in coming 
 
 for the public worshtp of God, and by 
 their religious subjection to the ordinances of God 
 there; the rather if we consider how scripture 
 covenants have been entered into not only cxpressly 
 by word of mouth, but by sacrifice, by hand writing 
 and seal, and also sometimes by silent consent, 
 without any writing or expression of words at all. 
 Ewed. xix. 5. xx. 8 and 24. 3,17. Josh. 
 xxiv. 18, 24. Psal. lL 5. Neh. ix. 3, 8, and 
 10. Gen. i. 17. Deut. xxix. 
 
 5. This form being by mutual covenant, it 
 followeth, it is not faith in the heart, nor the 
 — of that faith, nor cohabitation, nor 
 
 aptism. 1. Not faith in the heart, because that 
 is invisible. | 2. Nota bare profession, because 
 
 27 
 
 that declareth them no more to be the members of 
 one church than another. 3. Not cobabitation ; 
 atheists or infidels may dwell together with believ- 
 ers. 4. Not baptism, because it pre-supposeth a 
 church estate, as circumcision inthe old testament, 
 which gave no being to the church, the church be- 
 ing before it, and in-the»wilderness without it. 
 Seals pre-suppose a covenaint already in being. 
 One person is a ee subject of ar ge but 
 one personis uncapable of being a church. 
 
 6. All believers ought, as God giveth them 
 opportunity thereunto, to endeavour to join them- 
 selves unto a particular church, and in _re- 
 2 of the honour of Jesus Christ, m hiy ¢xam- 
 
 an 
 
 i 
 F 
 
 special in the ; whence they have 
 fellowship with him, and in him on thane 
 also, for the ne of them in the way of God’s 
 
 recovering of them in case of 
 
 ing, which ali Christ’s sheep are subject to 
 
 in this life, being unable to return themselves ; 
 together with the benefit of their mutual edifica- 
 tion, and of their posterity, that they may not be 
 cut off from an sen am of the covenant. Oth. 
 erwise, if a believer offends, he remains destitute 
 of the remedy provided in that behalf. And should 
 all believers neglect this duty of joining to all par- 
 ticular congregations, it might follow thereupon, 
 that Christ should have no visible political churches 
 upon earth. Acts ii. 24, and ix. 26. Mat. iii, 
 
28 
 
 13, 14, 15, and 28, 29, 30. Psal. cxxiii. 2, 3. and 
 Ixxxvii. 7. Maz. xviii. 20. 1 Johni. 3. Psal. cxix. 
 176. 1 Pet. ii. 25. Eph. iv, 16. Joh. xxii. 24, 25. 
 Mat. xviii. 15, 16, 17. 
 
 =e 
 CHAP ¥. 
 
 Of the first subject of church power ; or, to whom 
 church power doth first belong. 
 
 Tue first subject of church power is either 
 supreme or subordinate and ministerial ; the su- 
 reme, by way of gift from the Father, is the 
 yee Jesus Christ: The ministerial is cither ex- 
 traordinary as the apostles, prophets and evan- 
 gelists ; or ordinary, as every particular congre- 
 gational church. Mart. xvii. 18. Rev. iil. 7. 
 Tsa. ix. 6. John xx. 21, 23. 1 Cor. xiv. 32. Tit. 
 cies oR Cor. v. 12. 
 
 2. Ordinary church power, is either the power 
 of office, that is, such as is proper to the eldership, 
 or power of privilege, such as belongs to the bro- 
 therhood. ‘The latter is in the brethren formally, 
 and immediately from Christ, that is, so as it may 
 be acted or exercised immediately by themselves ; 
 the former is not in them formally or immediately, 
 and therefore cannot be acted or exercised imine- 
 diately by them, but is said to be in them, in 
 that they design the persons unto office, who on- 
 ly are to act, or to exercise this power. Rom. 
 xil. 4,8. Acts i. 2, 3. and vi. 3, 4. and xiv. 23. 
 1 Cor. x. 29, 30. 
 
 ee ee 
 ain? wey 
 
 Foe 
 
 29 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the officers of the church, and especially of pas- 
 tors and teachers. 
 
 A CHURCH being a company of people com- 
 bined together by covenant for the worship of God, 
 it appearcth thereby, there may be the essence 
 and being of a church without any officers, see- 
 ing there is both the form and matter of a church ; 
 which is implied when it is said, the apostles or- 
 dained elders in every church, 4ets xiv. 23. 
 
 2. Nevertheless, though officers be not absolute- 
 ly necessary to the simple being of churches, when 
 they be called, yet ordinarily to their calling they 
 are, and to their well being, and therefore the 
 Lord Jesus, out of his tender compassion, hath ap- 
 
 inted and ordained officers, which he would not 
 
 ve done, if they had not been useful and need- 
 ful for the church ; yea, being ascended into heav- 
 en, he received gifts for men, and gave gifts to 
 men, whereof officers for the church are justly ac- 
 counted no small parts, they being to continue to 
 the end of the worid, and for the perfecting of all 
 the saints. Rom. x. 17. Jer. iii. 15. 1 Cor. xii. 
 28. Eph. iv. 11. Psal. \xviii. 18. Eph. iv. 8, 11. 
 and iy. 12, 13. 
 
 S. These officers were cither extraordinary o 
 ordinary : extraordinary, as apostles, p ' 
 evangelists ; ordinary, as elders and deacons. 
 The apostles, prophets, and evangelists as they 
 were called extraordinarily by Christ, so their office 
 ended with themselves; whence it is that Paul 
 directing Timothy how to carry along chutch ad- 
 ministrations, giveth no direction about the choiet 
 
 C 2 
 
30 
 
 apostles, prophets, or evangelists, but 
 only of elders and deacons ; and sie was 
 to take his last leave of the church of Ephesus, he 
 committed the care of the church to no 
 other but unto the elders of church. The 
 like charge doth Peter commit tothe elders. 1 Coy. 
 xii. 18. iv. 11. Acts. viii. 6, 16, 19. and xi. 
 28. Rom. xi. 13. 1 Cor. iv. 9. 1 Tim. iii. 1, 2, 8 to 
 13. Tit. i. 8. Acts xx. 17, 28. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2,3. 
 
 4. Of elders, who are also in scripture called 
 
 Ve ; m 
 bishops, some attend chiefly to the ministry of the 
 teachers 
 
 word, as the pastors and ; others attend 
 especially unto rule, who are therefore called rul- 
 ing elders. 1 Zim. ii. 3. Phil. i. 1. Acts xx. 17. 
 28. — = 7. P 
 
 5. office of pastor and teacher, appears td 
 be distinct. The Ss egiealal dowath,ia to aetied 
 to exhortation, and therein to administer a word of 
 wisdom ; the teacher is to attend to doctrine, and 
 therein to administer a word of knowledge; and 
 cither of them to administer the seals of that cove- 
 nant, unto the dispensation whereof they are alike 
 called ; as also to execute the censures, being but 
 a kind of application of the word: The i 
 of which, together with the application thereof, 
 they are alike charged withal. pA. iv. 11. Rom. 
 xii. 7, 8. 1 Cor. xii. 8. 2 T7Tim. iv. 1, 2. Titus 
 i. 9. 
 
 6. And forasmuch as both pastors and teachers 
 are given by Christ for the perfecting of the saints, 
 and edifying of his body; which saints and body 
 of Christ is his church: And therefore we account 
 pastors and teachers to be both of them church 
 officers, and not the pastor for the church, and the 
 teacher only for the schools: Though this we glad- 
 v acknowledge, that schools are both lawful, pro- 
 
 a 
 
 te 
 
 ~ 
 
 $l 
 
 fitable, and necessary for the training up of such in 
 literature or i be 
 
 ! — 
 church. pA. iv. 11, 12. and i. 22, 23. 1 Sam. 
 x. 12, 19, 20. 2 Kings ii. 3, 15. 
 
 a 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Of ruling elders and deacons. 
 
 THE ruling elder’s office is distinct from the 
 office of pastor and teacher. The ruling elders 
 
 ing 
 the former. om. xii. 7, 8,9. 1 
 2 
 
 speedy dispatch. 4. To moderate the carriage of 
 all matters in the church assembled; as, to pro- 
 
rank and place, without a calling, or idl 
 7. To prevent and su 
 in life or in doctrine, as might corrupt the church. 
 8. To feed the flock of God with a word of ad- 
 shall be sent for, to 
 
 visit and pray over the sick . 10. Andat 
 other times as ity shall serve thereunto. 
 1 Tim. v. 17. 2 . xxiii. 19. Rev. xxi. 21. 
 
 1 Tim. iv. 14. Mat. xxviii. 17. 2 Cor. a. 7, 8. 
 Acts xxi. 18, 22, 23. and vi. 2, 3. and xiii. 15. 
 2 Cor. viii. 19. Heb. xiii. 7, 17. 2 Thess. ii. 10, 
 Il, 12. Acts xx. 28, 32. 1 Thess. v. 12. James 
 v. 14. Acts xx. 20. 
 
 8. The office of a deacon is instituted in the 
 ehurch by the Lord Jesus; sometimes they are 
 The scripture telleth us how 
 should be qualified, ‘* Grace, not double 
 
 given i filthy lucre.”’ 
 They must first be q 
 
 of a deacon, being 
 and work of a deacon, is to receive the offerings of 
 the church, it ines tate earch; bid ww beep 
 the treasury of the church, and therewith to serve 
 the tables which the church is to provide for; as 
 the Lord’stable, the table of the ministers, and of 
 such as are in necessity, to whom they are to dis- 
 tribute in simplicity. Acts vi. 3. Phil. i. 1. 
 1 Tim. iii. 8. 1 Cor. xii. 28. 1 Tim. ii. 8, 9. Actes 
 iv. 35, and vi. 2,3. Rom, 12, 8. 
 
 3 
 $ 
 3 
 § 
 z 
 z 
 3 
 § 
 ro} 
 
 oe 
 
 358 
 
 4. The office therefore being limited unto the 
 care of the temporal good things of the church, it 
 extends not to the attendance upon, and adminis- 
 tration of the spiritual things thereof, as the word 
 and sacraments, or the like. 1 Cor. vii. 17. _~ 
 
 5. The ordinance of the apostle, and 
 of the church, commends the Lord’s day as a fit: 
 time for the contribution of the saints. 1. Cor, 
 xvi. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 6. The instituting of all these officers in the 
 church, is the work of God himself, of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, of the Holy Ghost ; and therefore 
 such officers as he hath not appointed are 
 ther unlawful either to be placed in the chu 
 or to be retained therein, and are to be looked at 
 as human creatures, mere inventions, 
 ee a to the great di of Christ - 
 
 esus the Lord ofhis house, the king of his church, 
 whether popes, patriarchs, cardinals, arch- 
 lord-bishops, arch-deacons, officials, issari 
 and the like. These and the rest of that hierarchy 
 and retinue, not being plants of the Lord’s t. 
 
 ing, shall all be certainly rooted out and cast forth, 
 
 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv. 8,11. Acts xx. 28. 
 Mat. xv. 13. 
 
 7. The Lord hath appointed ancient widows, 
 where they may be had, to minister in the church, 
 in giving attendance to the sick, and to give suc- 
 cour unto them, and others in the like necessities. 
 1 Tim. v. 9, 10. 
 
34 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 Of the election of church officers. 
 
 N O man may take the honour of a church offi- 
 cer unto himself, but he that is called of God, as 
 was Aaron. Heb. v. 4. 
 2. Calling unto office is either immediate, by 
 = egg gga was the call of the apostles 
 is manner of calling ended with 
 a hath been rat 
 
 3. It is meet that before any be ordained, or 
 chosen officers, they should be first tried'and proved, 
 because hands are not suddenly to be laid upon 
 any, and both elders and deacons must be of han. 
 est and 1 Tim. v. 22. and vii. 10. 
 Acts xvi 2. vi. 3. 
 
 i asarelaiddown. 1 7im. iii. 2. Tie. 
 i. 6 to9. Deacons to be fitted as is directed, 
 Acts vi. 3. 1. Tim. iii. 8 to 11. 
 
 5. Officers are to be called by such churches 
 whereunto they are to minister. Ofsuch moment 
 is the preservation of this power, that the churches 
 exercised itin the presence of the apostles. -4cts 
 xiv. 23. andi. 23, and vi. 3, 4, 5. 
 
 6. A church being free, cannot become — 
 to any, but by a free election ; yet when such a 
 people do choose any to be over them in the Lord, 
 then do they become subject, ang most willingly 
 
 35 
 
 submit to their ministry in the Lord, whom they 
 have so chosen, Gel. y. 3. Hed. xiii. 17. 
 7. And if the church have power to choose their 
 
 officers and ministers, then in case of manifest un- - 
 
 worthiness and delinquency, they have power also 
 to depose them : for to open and shut, to choose and 
 refuse, to constitute in efhce and remove from of- 
 
 fice, are acts belonging to the same power. Hom, 
 
 xvi. 17. 
 8. We judge it much conducing to the well be- 
 ing and communion of churches, that where it may 
 
 conveniently be done, neighbour churches be 
 vised withal, and their help be made use of in the 
 trial of church officers, in order to their choi, 
 Cant. viii. 8, 9. 
 
 9. The choice of such church officers belongeth 
 not to the civil maagistrates, as such, or diocesan 
 bishops, or patrons ; for of these, or any such like, 
 the scripture is wholly silent, as having any power 
 therein. 
 
 a 
 CHAP. IX. 
 Of ordination and imposition of hands. 
 
 CHURCH officers are not only to: be Ghee 
 by the church, but also to be ordained «Bh 
 position of hands and prayer, with which at the or- 
 dination of elders, fasting also is to be joined, ets 
 xiii. 3. and xiv. 23. 1 Tim, v. 22. 
 
 2. This ordination we account nothing else but 
 the solemn putting a man into his place and office 
 in the church, whereunte he had right before by 
 election ; being like the installing of a i 
 in the commonwealth. Ordination is 
 
So 
 
 not to go before but to follow election. The es- 
 sence and substance of the outward calling of an 
 ordinary officer in the church, doth not consist in 
 his ordination, but in his voluntary and free elec- 
 tion by the church, and his accepting of that elec- 
 tion ; whereupon is founded that relation between 
 
 or and flock, between such a minister and such 
 a people. Ordination doth not constitute an off- 
 cer, nor give him the essentials of his office. ‘The 
 apostles were elders without imposition of hands 
 by men ; Pau/ and Barnabas were officers before 
 that pane of hands, ets xiii. 3. The pos- 
 terity of Levi were priests and levites, before hands 
 were laid on them by the children of Israel, Numé. 
 vill. 10. Acts vi. 5, 6. and xiii. 2, 3. and xiv. 23. 
 1 Tim. iv. 14. 1 Tim. v. 22. 
 
 3. In such churches where there are elders, im- 
 ition of hands in ordination, is to be performed 
 those elders. 
 
 4. In such churches where there are no elders, 
 imposition of hands may be performed by some of 
 2S Sectinen orderly x ie te the church there- 
 unto. For if the people may elect officers, which 
 is the greater, and wherein the substance of the of- 
 fice doth consist, they may much more, occasion 
 and need so requiring, impose hands in ordination, 
 which is less, and but the accomplishment of the 
 other. Numb. viii. 10. 
 
 5. Nevertheless, in such churches where there 
 are no elders, and the church so desire, we sce not 
 why imposition of hands may not be performed by 
 the clders of other churches. Ordinary officers 
 laid hands upon the officers of many churches : 
 The presbytery at Ephesus laid hands upon Timo- 
 thy, an evangelist ; the presbytery at Antioch laid 
 
 37 
 hands upon Pau/and Barnabus, 1 Tim. iv. 14. Acts 
 
 xiii. 3. 
 
 6. Church officers are officers to one church, 
 Fn 
 
 4.4 
 
 even that particular church oy ich 
 Ghost hath made them orcineee a 
 elders are commanded to feed, not all 
 a aa Pe nose is committed to their faith : 
 rust, and dependeth upon them. con- 
 stant residence at one ye" i sa be wate 
 - a Rage no, nor yet lawful, if he be 
 Inister to one zatio th 
 church universal , because reny he Re S 
 em an of Ars church to which he is a minister, 
 is Called to attend unt 
 a fe ty he unte all the flock. 1 Peg, 
 7. He that is clearly loosed f; i 
 lation unto that earch oto Napotl — 
 wre looked at as an officer, nor n 
 act of office in any other church, unless ’ 
 orderly called unto office ;_ which ret re 
 we know nothing to hinder, but imposition of 
 also in his ordination ought to be used towards 
 again, For so Paul the apostle received 
 
 tion of hands twice at least las, Acts 
 17. and xiii. 3. en ae = 
 
 ee 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of the power of the church and its presbytery, 
 
 SUPREME and 
 
 lordl 
 churches upon the ot dts cok: waif. 
 — Christ, who is king of the church and 
 cad thereof. He hath the government u 
 shoulders, and hath all power given to him in 
 
38 
 
 heaven and earth, Psal. ii. 6. Eph. i. 21,22. Isa. 
 ix. 6. Mat. xxviii. 18. 
 
 2. Aco of professed believers ecclesias- 
 are a church, before 
 they have officers, and without them ; so even in 
 that estate, subordinate church , under Christ, 
 
 i doth Bilge 00: thesn in 
 such a manner as is before ex , Chap. 5. 
 ing from the very nature and es- 
 sence of a church : It being natural to all bodies, 
 ance unto a church body, to be furnished with 
 
 ient power for its own preservation and sub- 
 sistence. Acts i, 23. and xiv. 23 and vi. 3, 4. 
 Mat. xviii. 17. 1 Cor. v. 4, 5. 
 
 and or from Christ granted unto them, it re- 
 and 
 
 committed unto them, it is an aristocra- 
 cy. Rev. iii. 7. 1 Cor. v.12. 1 Tim. v. 27. 
 
 4. The a power which is peculiar unto 
 Christ is exerci 1. In calling the church out 
 of the world unto holy fellowship with himself. 
 2. In instituting the ordinances of his worship, 
 and appointing his ministers and officers for the 
 dispensing of them. 3. In giving laws for the 
 ordering of all our ways, and the ways of his housc. 
 4. In giving power and life to all his institutions, 
 and to his people by them. 5. In protecting and 
 delivering his church against and from all the ene. 
 mies of their peace. Gal. i. 4. Rev. v. 8,9. Mar. 
 
 39 
 
 xxviii. 20. Eph. iv. 8, 11. Jam. iv. 12. Isa. xxxiil. 
 22. 1 Tim. ii. 15. 2Cor. x. 4, 5. Zsa. xxx 
 Luke xvii. 1. , 
 
 5. ‘The power granted by Christ unto the holy 
 body of the church and brotherhood, is a 
 tive or privilege which the church doth creel 
 1. In choosing their own officers, whether elders 
 deacons. 2. In admission of their own members, 
 and therefore there is great reason they ‘should 
 have power to remove any from their f 
 again. Hence in case of offence, any 
 hath power to convince and admonish an offen 
 brother ; and in case of not hearing him, to t 
 one or two more to set on the admonition; and: 
 case of not hearing them, to proceed to tell @ 
 church ; and as his offence may require, the whe 
 church hath er to proceed to the cens 
 him, whether by admonition or excomm 
 and upon his repentance, to restore him ag 
 his former communion. Acts iii: 5. and xiv. 
 and ix. 26. ‘Mat: xviii. 15, 16, 17. Ti. tii. 
 Col. iv. ¥7. 2 Cor. ii. 7, 8. | : 
 
 6. In case anelder offend incorrigibly, | 
 ter so , as the church had ' 
 him to office, so they have power 
 der (the council of other churches, where it 
 be had, directing thereto) to remove him from” 
 office; and being now ‘but a member, in ¢ 
 add contu to his ‘sin, the church 
 power to receive him into their fellowship, 
 also the same power to cast him out, that they 
 concerning any other member. Col. iv. 17. 
 xvi. 17. Mat. xviii. 17. 
 
 7. Church government or rule, is 
 Christ in the officers of the church, who are 
 fore called rulers, while they rule with God; 
 
<2 
 
40 
 
 in case of mal-administration, they are subject to 
 the power of the church, as hath been said before. 
 The Holy Ghost frequently, yea always, where it 
 mentioned church rule, and church government, 
 
 governors, 
 erned in the Lord. 1 Tim. v. 17. Heb. xiii. 17. 
 
 tthe judgment or sentence of the elders, with- 
 out sufficient and weighiy cause, because such 
 practices are manifestly contrary unto order and 
 government, and inlets of disturbances, and tend 
 to confusion. dets xx. 28. and vi. 2. Niumd. xvi. 
 12. Ezek. xivi. 10. Asts xiii. 15. Hos. iv. 4 
 9. It belongs also unto the elders to examine 
 any officers or members before they be received of 
 the church ; to receive the accusations brought to 
 the church, and to prepare them for the church’s 
 hearing. In handling of offences, and other matters 
 before the church, they have power to declare and 
 publish the counsel and will of God, touching the 
 sime, and to pro.ounce sentence with consent af 
 
 the church. Lastly, They have power; =a . 
 dismiss the people, in the “Ss 
 the Lord. Rev. ii. 2. 1 Tim. v. 19. Acts xxi. 18. 
 2223. 1 Cor. v. 4,5. Num. vi. 23 to 36, 
 
 10. This power of in the elder | 
 doth not any wise prejudice the of pr = 
 in the ; as neither > power Of | 
 
 power, who took in the concurr 
 of the brethren in church 
 
 out the consent of 
 
 Of the maintenance of church officers. 
 
 41 
 
 to bless them 
 
 ; 
 
 both. 
 TB 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 THE apostie concludes, that necessary and suifi- 
 
 cient maintenance 
 D 
 
 ‘s due unto the ministers of the 
 9 
 
= 4 
 cn i COT xis aS ie) ae 
 
42 
 
 word, from the law of nature and nations, from the 
 law of Moses, the equity thereof, as also the rule of 
 common reason. Moreover, the scripture doth not 
 only call elders, labourers, and workmen, but also 
 
 caking of them doth say, that the labourer is wor- 
 
 of his hire; and requires, that he which is 
 taught in the word should communicate to him in 
 ull good things ; and mentions it as an ordinance 
 of the Lord, that they which preach the gospel 
 should live of the ; and forbiddeth the muz- 
 zling the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. 
 L Cor. ix. 14,15. Mat. ix. 38. and x. 10. 1 Tim. 
 ve 2. os vi. 6. 1 Cor. ix. 9, 14. 
 
 . scriptures alledged, requiring this main- 
 tenance as a bounden duty and due debt, and not 
 4 a matter of alms and free gift, therefore people 
 are not at liberty to do or not to do, what BE fa 
 they please in this matter, no more than in any 
 other commanded duty, and ordinance of the Lord ; 
 but ought of duty to minister of their carnal things, 
 to them that labour among them in the word and 
 doctrine, as well as they ought to pay any other 
 Workmen their wages, and to discharge and satisfy 
 their other debts, or to submit themselves to ob- 
 serve any other ordinance of the Lord. Rom. xv. 
 27. a osx. S. 
 
 3. The apostle (Gal. vi. 6.) enjoining that he 
 which is taught communicate to him hot ipacheth 
 in all good things, doth not leave it arbitrary, what 
 or how much a man shall give, or in what propor- 
 tion, but even the latter, as well as the former is pre- 
 scribed and appointed by the Lord. 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 
 
 4. Not only members of churches, but all that 
 are taught in the word, are to contribute unto him 
 that teacheth in all good things. In case that con- 
 gregations are defective in their contributions, the 
 
 43 
 
 deacons are to call upon them to do their duty; iff 
 their call sufficeth not,,the church by her power is 
 to require it of their members ; and where church 
 power, through the corruption of men, doth not 
 or cannot attain the end, the ow is to see 
 that the ministry be duly provided for, as appears 
 from the a Pind eot Nehemiah, The 
 
 istrates ure nursing-fathers and ing-mo- 
 thers, and stand charged with the custedy af both 
 tables; because it is better to prevent a scandal 
 that it may not come, and easier also, than to re- 
 move it when it is given. It is most suitable to rule, 
 that by the church’s care each man should know 
 his proportion according to rule, what he should 
 do before he do it, that so his judgment and heart 
 may be satisfied in what he doth, and just offence 
 prevented in what is done. -4cts vi. 3, 4. Neh 
 <iti, 11. Zsa. xlix. 23. 2 Cor. viii, 13, 14. 
 
 a 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 Of the admission of members into the church. 
 
 THE doors of the churches of Christ upon earth, 
 do not by God’s appointment stand so wide open, 
 that ali sorts of people, good or bad, may enter 
 therein at their pleasure, but such as are admitted 
 thereto as members ought to be examined and 
 triedfirst, whether they be fit and meet to be re- 
 ceived into church society or not. The eunuch ° 
 of Ethiopia, before his admission was examined by 
 
 Philip, whether he did believe on Jesus Christ w 
 
 all bis heart. Theangel of the church at Ephesus is 
 commended for trying such as said they were apos- 
 tles and were not. ‘here is like reason for trying: 
 
be 
 
44 
 
 of them that profess to be believers. ‘The officers 
 are charged with the keeping of the doors of the 
 church, and therefore are in a special manner to 
 make trial of the fitness of such whoenter. Twelve 
 angels are set at the gates of the temple, lest such 
 as were ceremonially unclean should enter thereinto. 
 2 Chron. xxiii. 19. Mat. xiii. 25. and xxii. 12. 
 Acts viii. 37. Rev. ii. 2. Acts ix. 26. Rev. xxi. 12. 
 2 Chron. xxiii. 19. 
 
 2. The things which are requisite to be found 
 in all church members, are repentance from sin, and 
 faith in Jesus Christ; and there are the things where- 
 of men are to be examincd at their admission into 
 the church, and which then they must profess and 
 hold forth in such sort, as may satisfy rational char- 
 ity that the things are there indeed. John Bapust 
 admitted men to baptism confessing and bewailing 
 their sins; and of others it is said, that they came, 
 and confessed and shewed their deeds. Acts 1. 38 
 to 42. and viii. 37. Maz. iii. 6. Acts i. 9, 18. 
 
 3. The weakest measure of faith is to be ac- 
 cepted in those that desire to be admitted into the 
 church because weak christians, if sincere, have 
 the substance of that faith, repentance and holi- 
 ness which is required in church members, and 
 such have most need of the ordinances for their 
 confirmation and growth in grace. The Lord Je- 
 sus would not quench the smoaking flax nor break 
 the bruised reed, but gather the tender lambs in 
 his arms and carry them gently in his bosom. 
 Such charity and tenderness is to be used as the 
 weakest christian, if sincere, may not be excluded 
 nor disco d. Severity of examination is to 
 be avoided, Hom. xiv. 1. . xi. 20. Zsa. xi. 11. 
 
 4. Incase any through excessive fear, or other 
 infirmity, be unable to make their personal rela- 
 
 45 
 
 tion of their spiritual estate in public, it is sufficient 
 that the elders have received private satisfacti 
 make relation thereof in public before the chi 
 
 they testifying their assents thereunto, this 
 
 the way that tendeth most to edification. 
 
 where persons are of greater abilities, there it is 
 most expedient that they make their relations and 
 confessions personally with their own mouth, as 
 David professeth of himself. Psalm Ixvi. 16. 
 
 _ 5. Appersonal and public confession and declar- 
 ing of God’s manner of working upon the soul is 
 both lawful, expedient, and useful in sundry 
 
 and upon sundry grounds. Those three 
 
 Acts u. 37, 41. before they were admitted by the 
 apostles, did manifest that they were pricked in the 
 heart at Peter’s sermon, together with earnest de- 
 sire to be delivered from their sins which now 
 wounded their consciences and their ready receiv- 
 ing of the word of promise and exhortation. We 
 are to be ready to render a reason of the hope that is 
 in us, toevery one that asketh us; therefore we must 
 be able and ready upon any occasion to declare and 
 
 rig t congregation. Psa 
 xl. 10. 1 Pet. iti. 15. Hed. xi. 1. Zph. tp 18 
 6. This profession of faith and repentance, as 
 must be by such at their admission, that were 
 never in church society before; so nothing hi 
 but the same way also be performed by such as 
 formerly been members of some other 
 the church to which they now jon themselves as 
 members may lawfully require same. 
 three thousand, Acts i. which made their 
 sion, were members of the church of the Jews 
 
tet 
 
46 
 
 so were they that were baptized by John. Churches 
 err in their admission, and persons regularly 
 admitted may fall into offence. Otherwise if EReIeN. 
 es might obtrude their members, or if church mem- 
 bers might obtrude themselves upon other church- 
 es without due trial, the matter so requiring, both 
 the liberty of churches would hereby be infringed in 
 thatthey might not examine those concerning whose 
 fitness for communion they were unsatisfied ; and 
 besides the infringing of their liberty the churches 
 themselves would unavoidably be corrupted, andthe 
 ordinances defiled, whilst they might not refuse but 
 must receive the unworthy, which is contrary unto 
 the scripture, teaching that all churches are sisters 
 and therefore equal. Maz. iii. 1, 6. Gal. ii. 4. 1 
 Tim. v.24. Cant. viii. 8. 
 7. The like trial is to be required from such 
 members of the church as were born in the same, 
 
 or received their membership and were baptized 
 
 in their infancy or minority, by virtue of the cov- 
 enant of their parents, when being grown up un. 
 to years of discretion they shall desire to be made 
 partakers of the Lord’s supper; unto which, be- 
 cause holy things must not be given to the un- 
 worthy, therefore it is requisite that these as well as 
 others, should come to their trial and examination, 
 and manifest their faith and repentance by an open 
 oe a thereof, before they are received to the 
 
 ord’s supper, and otherwise not to be admitted 
 thereunto. Yet these church members that were 
 soborn or received In their childhood before they 
 are capalne of being made partakers of full com- 
 munion, have many privileges which others, rot 
 church members, have not ; they are in covenant 
 with God, have the seal thereof upon them, viz. 
 baptism ; and so if not regenerated, yet are in a 
 
 ‘ 
 “* 4 
 
 more hopeful way of attaining regenerating grace, 
 and all the spiritual blessings both of the covenant 
 and seal: they are also under church-watch, and 
 consequently subject to the reprehensions, admoni- 
 tions, and censures thereof for their healing and 
 amendment as need shall require. Mat. vii. 6. 1 
 Cor. xi. 27. 
 
 alii 
 CHAP. XHI. 
 
 Of church members their removal from one church 
 to another, and of recommendation and dismission. 
 
 CuurcH members may not remove or d 
 from the church, and so one from another fry 
 
 , hor without just and weighty cause, but 
 ought to live and dwell together, forasmuch as they 
 ane commanded not to forsake the ee 
 selves together. Such departure tends to the dis- 
 solution and ruin of the body, as the pulling of 
 stones and pieces of timber from the building, and 
 of members from the natural body tends to the de- 
 struction of the whole. Heb. x. 25. 
 
 2. It is therefore the duty of church members 
 in such times and places where counsel may be had, 
 to consult with the church whereof they were 
 members about their removal, that accordi 
 they having their approbation, may be encoura 
 or otherwise desist. They who are joined 
 consent, should not depart without consent, except 
 forced thereunto. Prov. xi 16. 
 
 . 3. Ifa member’s departure be manifestly unsafe 
 and sinful, the church may not consent thereunto ; 
 for in so doing they should not act in faith and should 
 partake with him in his sin. If the case be doubtful 
 
48 
 
 and the not to be persuaded, it seemeth best 
 to leave the matter unto God and not forcibly detain 
 him. Rom. xiv. 25. 1 Tim. v.22. Acts xxi. 14. 
 
 4. Just reasons for a member’s removal of him- 
 self from the church, are, 1. If a man cannot con- 
 tinue withcut partaking in sin. 2. In case of per- 
 sonal persecution, so Paul departed from the dis- 
 ciples at Dumascus. Also in case of general per- 
 secution when all are scattered. 3. In case of real, 
 and not only pretended want of competent subsist- 
 ence, a door being opened for better supply in an- 
 other place, together with the means of spiritual ed- 
 ification. In these or like cases a member may law- 
 fully remove, and the church cannot lawtully de- 
 tan him. ZpA.v. 11. Acts ix. 25, 29, 30. and 
 viii. 1. Neh. xiii. 20. 
 
 5. Tos«parate from a church, either out of con- 
 tempt of their holy fellowship or out of covetous- 
 ness, or for greater enlargements, with just gri 
 tothe church ; or out of schism, or a of = 
 and out of a spirit of contention in respect of some 
 unkindness, or some evil only conceived, or indeed 
 in the church, which might and should be tolerated 
 and held with a spirit meekness and of which 
 evil the church is not yet convinced {though per- 
 haps himsclf be) nor admonished , for these or the 
 like reasons to withdraw from public communion 
 in word, or seals, or censures is unlawful and sin- 
 ful. 2 Zim. iv. 10. Rom.xvi. 17. Jude v. 19. 
 Eph ww. 2,3. Col. i. 13. Gal. vi. 1, 2 
 
 6. Such members as have orderly removed their 
 habitation ought to join themselves unto the church 
 in order where they do inhabit, if it may be ; oth- 
 erwise they can neither perform the duties nor re- 
 ceive the privileges of members. Such an exam- 
 ple tolerated in some is apt to corrupt others, which 
 
 9 ~- 
 
 if many should follow, would threaten the dissolu- 
 tion and confusion of churches, con to the 
 scripture. Jsa.lvi. 8. Actsix.26. 1 Cor. xiv. 33. 
 
 7. Order’requires that a member thus i 
 have letters testimonial, and of dismission from 
 church whereof he yet is, unto the church w 
 unto he desireth to be joined, lest the churchshould 
 be deluded ; that the church may receive him im 
 faith, and not be corrupted by receiving deceivers 
 and false brethren; until the person dismissed be 
 received into another church he ceaseth not by his - 
 letters or dismission to be amember of the church 
 whereof he was, the church cannot make a member 
 no member but by excommunication. Acts xviii. 27. 
 
 8. Ifa member be called to remove only for a 
 time, where achurch is, letters of recommendation 
 are requisite and sufficient for communion with 
 that church in the ordinances and in their watch ; 
 as Phebe, a servant ef the church at Cenchrea, had 
 letters written fer her to the church at Rome, that 
 she might be received as becometh saints. Rom. 
 xvi. 1, 2. 2 Cor. iii. 1. 
 
 9. Such letters of recommendation and dismis- 
 sion were written for Apollos, for Marcus tothe Co- 
 lossians, for Phebe to the Romans, for 
 others to other churches. And the apostle 
 us that some persons, not sufficiently known other. 
 erwise, have special need of such letters, though he 
 for his part had no need thereof. The use of them 
 is to be a benefit and help to the party for whom 
 they are written and for the furthering of his re- 
 ceiving amongst the saints in the place whereto he 
 goeth, and the due satisfaction of them in their re. 
 ceiving ofhim. Acts xviii. 27. Col. iv.10. Rom. 
 xvi. I. 2 Cor. iii. 1. 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Of excommunication and other censures. 
 
 THE censures of the church are appointed by 
 and healing 
 
 which may infect the whole lump ; for vindicating 
 the honour of Christ, and of his church, and the holy 
 profession of the gospel, and for preventing of the 
 
 Jude v.19. Deut. xiii. 11. 
 ii. 24, Rev. ii, 14, 15, 16, 20. 
 2. If an offence be private, one brother offending 
 another, the offender is to go and acknow his 
 repentance for it unto his offended brother, is 
 then to forgive him ; but if the offender neglect or 
 
 selves privately: If thereupon the offender be 
 Lama to ; t of his offence, the admonisher 
 hath won his brother ; but if the offender hear not 
 his brother, the brother offended is totake with 
 him one or two more, that in the mouth of two or 
 three witnesses every word may be established, 
 whether the word of admonition, if the offender re- 
 ceive it; or the word of com j if he refuse it . 
 for if he refuse it, the offended brother is by the 
 mouth of the elders to tell the church, and if he hear 
 the church, and declare the same by penitent con- 
 
 - 
 
 51 
 
 fession, he is recovered and gained ; and if the 
 church discern him to be willing to hear, yet not 
 fully convinced of his offence, asin case of heresy, 
 pense to himin a public adntonition 
 
 which declaring the offender to lie under the 
 [eof of te chare dah hereby wild 
 
 suspend him from the holy fellowship of the 
 supper, till his offence be removed by penitent con- 
 
 further mortifying 
 soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. v. 4, 5, 11. 
 
 4. In dealing with an offender great care is to be 
 taken thes we be acithies overetrs$ SS 
 indulgent or remiss ; our proceeding Lercin ought 
 to be with a spirit of meekness, considering our- 
 selves, least we also be tempted ; and that the best 
 ates have need of smack forgivencee 
 
 et the winning ing of the *s soul, 
 being the end of these endeavors, we must not daub 
 with untempered er 4 oe the wounds of 
 our brethren y. some have 
 others save > ell Gal. vi. 1. ‘ior ii 94, 
 35. Ezek. xiii. 10. 
 
 5. While the offender remains excommunicate, 
 the church is to refrain from all member-like com- 
 munion with him in spiritual things, and also from 
 all familiar communion with him in civil things, fur- 
 ther than the necessity of natural, domestical or civil 
 relations do require, and are thercfore to forbear 
 
bel 
 
 52 
 
 to eat and drink with him, that he may be ashamed. 
 Mat. xviii. 17. 1Cor.y. 11. 2 $$. iii. 6, 14. 
 
 6. Excommunication being a spiritual punish- 
 ment, it doth not peeutice the excommunicate in 
 nor deprive him of his civil rights, and therefore 
 toucheth not princes or other magistrates in point 
 of their civil dignity or authority, and the excom- 
 municate being but asa publican and a heathen, 
 (heathens es Saga permitted to come to hear 
 the word in church assemblies) we acknowledge 
 therefore the like liberty of hearing the word may 
 be permitted to persons excommunicate, that is 
 permitted unto heathen. And because we are not 
 without hope of his recovery, we are not to account 
 him as an enemy but toadmonish him as a brother. 
 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25. 2 Thess. iii. 14. 
 
 7. If the Lord sanctify the censure to the offen- 
 der, so as by the grace of Christ he doth testify his 
 
 ne gee confession of his sins, and 
 judging of himself, givin unto God, the 
 Metis then to ais fin and to comfort him, 
 and to restore him to the wonted brotherly commu- 
 nion which formerly he enjoyed with them. 2 Cor. 
 il. 7, 8. 
 
 8. ‘The suffering of the profane or scandalous 
 livers to continue in fellowship and partake in the 
 sacraments is doubtless a great sin in those that 
 have power in their hands to redress it and do it 
 aot: Nevertheless, inasmuch as Christ and his 
 upostles in their times, and the prophets and other 
 godly in theirs, did lawfully partake of the Lord’s 
 commanded ordinances in the Jewish church, and 
 neither taught nor tised separation from the 
 same, though unworthy ones were permitted therein, 
 and inasmuch as the faithful in the church of Corinth, 
 wherein were many unworthy persons and practi- 
 
 53 
 
 ces,are never commanded to absent themselves from 
 the sacraments because of the same ; therefore the 
 godly in like cases are not presently to separate. 
 Rev. ii. 14, 15, 20. Mat. xxiii. 3. Acts ii. 1. 
 1 Cor, vi. and xv. 12. 
 
 9. As separation from such a church wherein 
 profane and scandaloys persons are tolerated is 
 not presently necessary ; so for the members there- 
 of, otherwise unworthy, hcreupon to abstain 
 communicating with such a church in the ci- 
 pation of the sacraments is unlawful. For as it were 
 unreasonable for an innocent person to be punished 
 for the faults of others, wherein he hath no hand, 
 and whereunto he gave no consent, so it is more 
 unreasonable that a godly man should neglect du- 
 ty and punish himself, in not coming for his por- 
 tion in the blessings of the seals as he ought, because 
 others are suffered to come that ought not; espe- 
 cially considering that himself doth neither consent 
 to their sins, nor to their approaching to the ordi- 
 nance in their sin, nor to the neglect of others who 
 should pat thew sway and do ct) Ee 
 trary ily mourn for these thi an 
 and stir up others to do thelr duty. ‘ 
 Ubcity as bs specie ches 1S, ott a 
 liberty as is specified chap. 13, sect. 4. But 
 all the godly are bound unto even every one to do 
 his endeavor, according to his power and place, 
 the unworthy may be duly proceeded against by 
 church to whom this matter doth Fig 2 
 Chron. xxx. 18. Gen. xviii. 25. Ezek. ix. 4. 
 
 E2 
 
> 
 
 , 
 
 ¥ 
 
 Be 
 
 D « 
 * 
 r 
 ae = 
 ¥, 
 ’ 
 4 
 3 
 ‘ 
 ‘ 
 
54 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 _Of the communion of churches one with another. 
 
 ALTHOUGH churches be distinct and there- 
 fore may not be confounded one with another, and 
 — and therefore have no dominion one over an- 
 ; yet all the churches ought to preserve church 
 communion one with another, because they are ail 
 united unto Christ, not only as a mystical but as a 
 political head, whence is derived a communion suit- 
 able thereunto. Rev. i. 4. Cant. viii. 8. Rom. xvi. 
 16. 1Cor. xvi. 19. Acts xv.23. Rev. ii. 1. 
 2. The communion of churches is exercised 
 su ways. 1. By way of mutual care, in taking 
 thought for one another’s welfare. 2. By way of 
 consultation one with another, when we that oc- 
 casion to require the judgment and counsel of other 
 churchcs, touching any person or cause wherewith 
 they may be better acquainted than ourselves. As 
 the church at Antioch consulted with apostles and 
 elders of the church at Jerusalem about the ques- 
 tion of circumcision of the Gentiles, and about the 
 false teachers that broached that doctrine. In 
 which case, when any church wanteth light or peace 
 am themselves, it is a way of communion of 
 chu , according to the word to meet together, 
 by their elders and other messengers in a synod, 
 to consider and argue the points in doubt or dif- 
 ference; and having found out the way of truth 
 and peace, to commend the same by their letter 
 and messengers to the churches whom the same 
 may concern. But if a church be rent with divi- 
 sions among themselves, or lie under any open scan- 
 da! and yet refuse to eonsult with other churches 
 
 55 
 
 for healing or removing of the same, it is matter of 
 just offence both to the Lord Jesus and to other 
 churches, as bewraying too much want of mercy 
 and faithfulness, not to seek to bind up the breach. 
 es and wounds of the church and brethren; and 
 therefore the state of such a church calleth aloud 
 
 erly commsiian, to wit ty Walia sean 3. 
 
 A third way of communion 
 
 foot he publickly rebuked him before the church, 
 Though churches have no more authority one 
 , over another, than one apostle had another, 
 yet as one apostle might admonish another, so may 
 one church admonish another and yet without 
 usurpation. In which case, if the church that] 
 under offence,-do not hearken to the church 
 doth admonish her, the church is 
 i churches wi 
 
 given them ; and if still the ing church con- 
 unue in obstinacy and impenitercy may for- 
 bear communion with them, and are to . 
 
 cannot conveni be had) for then conviction. 
 Ifthey hear not the synod,the synod having declared 
 them too obstinate, particular churches approving 
 and accepting the judgment of the synod, are tode- 
 
56 
 
 clare the sentence of non-communion respectively 
 concerning them , and thereupon, out of religious 
 care to keep their own communion pure, they must 
 justly withdraw themselves from hes wee with 
 them at the Lord’s table, and from such other acts 
 of holy communion as the communion of churches 
 doth otherwise allow and require. Nevertheless, 
 if any members of such a church as live under 
 public offence, do not consent to the offence of the 
 church, but do in due sort bear witness against it, 
 are still to be reccived to wonted communi- 
 cation ; for it is not equal that the innocent should 
 suffer with the offensive. Yea, furthermore, if 
 such innocent members, after due waiting in the 
 use of all good means for the healing of the offence 
 of their own church, shall at last with the allowance 
 of the council of neighbour churches withdraw from 
 the fellowship of their own church and offer them- 
 selves to the fellowship of another, we judge it law- 
 ful for the other church to receive them (bein 
 otherwise fit) as if they had been orderly pba. 
 tothemfrom theirownchurch. 4. A fourth way of 
 communion of churches is by way of participation. 
 The members of one church occasionally comin 
 to another we willingly admit them to partake wit 
 us at the Lord’s table, it being the seal of our com- 
 munion not only with Christ, nor only with the 
 members of our own churches, but also of all the 
 churches of the saints; in which regard we refuse 
 not to baptize their children presented to us, if 
 either their own minister be absent, or such a fruit 
 of holy fellowship be desired with us. _ In like case 
 such churches as are furnished with more ministers 
 than one, do willingly afford one of their own min- 
 isters to supply the place of an absent or sick min- 
 ister of another church fora needful season, 5. A 
 
 ~~ 
 
 a7 
 
 fifth way of church communion is by way of re 
 commendation, when the member of one church 
 hath occasion to reside in another church, if but 
 for a season, we commend him to their watch- 
 ful fellowship by letters of recommendation, but if 
 he be called to settle his abode there we commit 
 him according to his desire to the fellowship of 
 their covenant by lettersofdismission. 6, A sixth 
 way of church communion is in case of need, to 
 minister relief and succeur one unto another, either of 
 able members tofurnish them with officers,or of out- 
 ward support to the necessities of poorer churches, 
 as did the churches of the Gentiles contribute lib- 
 erally to the poor saints at Jerusalem. Cant. viii. 
 8. Acts xv. 2, 6, 22,23. Ezek. xxxiv. 4. Gal. 
 ii. 11 to 14. Mat. xviii. 15, 16, 17. by propor- 
 
 tion. Gen. xviii. 25. 1 Cor. xit. 13. Rom. xvi. 1. 
 
 Acts 2. and xi. 22, be ne xiii. 26, 27. 
 3. a company levers purpose 
 gather into a church Seal iy is requisite 
 their safer proceeding and maintaining 
 communion of churches, that they signify their in- 
 tent unto the neighbour churches, j <r 
 ing unto the order of the gospel, and desire 
 , and help, and right hand of 
 which they ought readily to give unto them 
 there is no just cause to except against their pro- 
 ceedi Gal. ii. 1, 2, and 9, by proportion. 
 4. ides the several ways of communion, 
 there is alsoa way of propagation of churches when 
 a church shall grow too numerous, it isa way and 
 fit season to propagate one church out of another, 
 by sending forth such of their members as are wil- 
 ling to remove, and tu procure some officers tothem 
 as May 
 
 enter with them into church estate 
 themseives. As bees, when the hive is too 
 
58 
 
 issue forth by swarms and are gathered into other 
 hives, so the churches of Christ. may do the same 
 — like necessity ; and therein hold forth to them 
 
 right hand of fellowship, both in their gather- 
 ing into a church and in the ordination of their o.u- 
 cers. Isa, xl. 20. Cant. viii. 8, 9. 
 
 a - 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 Of Synods. 
 
 Epler eal 
 to , Acts xv. we ac- 
 ae as the ordinance of Christ ; and though 
 not utely necessary to the being, yet many 
 times, through the iniquity of men and perverse- 
 ness of rey © te well ing of 
 churches, for the i t of truth and peace 
 therein. Acts xv. 2 to 15. 
 
 2. Synods being spiritual and ecclesiastical as- 
 semblies, are therefore made up of spiritual and 
 ecclesiastical causes. The next sufficient cause of 
 them under Christ, is the power of the churches, 
 sending forth their elders and other messengers, 
 who being met together in the name of Christ, are 
 the matter of a synod: and they in arguing, de- 
 bating, and determining matters of religion accord- 
 ing to the word, and publishing the same to the 
 churches it concerneth, do put forth the proper and 
 formal acts of a synod, to the conviction of errors 
 and heresies, and the establishment of truth and 
 peace in the churches, which is the end of a synod. 
 Acts xv. 2, 3, 6, 7 to 23, 31. and xvi. 4, 15. 
 
 3. Magistrates have power to call a synod, by 
 falling to the churches to send forth their elders 
 
 oF 
 
 and other messengers, to counsel and assist them am 
 matters of religion; but yet the consutuling of a 
 synod is a church act, and may be 
 the churches even when civil magistrates may be 
 enemies to churches and —_ assemblies. 2 
 Chron. xxix. 4, 5 to 11. ts XV. ; 
 
 4. It belongeth unto synods and councils to de- 
 bate and determine controversies of faith and cases 
 of conscience; to clear from the word holy direc- 
 tions for the holy worship of God, and good gov- 
 ernment of the church; to bear witness against mal- 
 administration and corruptien in doctrine or man- 
 ners in any particular church ; and to give directions 
 for the reformation thereof; not to exercise church 
 censures in way of discipline, nor any act of church 
 authority or jurisdiction, which that presidential 
 synod did forbear. Acts xv. 1, 2, 6,7. 1 Chron. 
 xv. 13. 2 Chron. xxix. 6, 7. Acts. xv. 24 28, 29. 
 
 5. The synod’s directions and determinations so 
 far as consonant to the word of God, are to be 
 received with reverence and submission, not only 
 for their nt therewith (which is the princi- 
 pal thereof, and without which bind 
 not all) but also secondarily for the power 
 they are made, as being an ordinance of God ap- 
 pointed thereunto in his word. Acts xv. 
 
 6. Because it is difficult if not impossible for 
 many churches to come togethes in.c08 aay in 
 all their members universally ; therefore they may 
 assemble by their delegates or messengers as the 
 church at Antioch went not all to Jerusalem, but 
 some select men for that purpose. Because none 
 are or should be more fit to know the state of the 
 churches, nor to advise of ways for the good there- 
 of, than elders ; therefore it is fit that in the choice 
 
 nf the messengers for such assemblies they have 
 
Fe sic 
 
60 
 
 jal respect unto such; yet inasmuch as not 
 only’ Paul and | , but certain others also 
 
 were sent to J » from Antioch, and when 
 they were come to Jerusalem not only the apostles 
 and elders, but other brethren also do assemble 
 and meet about the matter; therefore synods are 
 to consist both of elders and other church members 
 endued with gifts and sent by the churches, not 
 excluding the presence of any brethren in the 
 churches. Acts xy. 2, 22, 23. ' 
 
 ili. 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Of the civil magistrate’s power in matters eccle- 
 stastical, . 
 
 IT is lawful, profitable, and necessary for christians 
 
 to gather themselves together into church estate, 
 therein to exercise all the ordinances of Christ, 
 according unto the word, although the consent of 
 the pp could not be had thereunto; be- 
 cause — and christians in their time did 
 tly thus practise, when the magistrates being 
 all of them Jewish or Pagan and most persecuting 
 enemies would give no countenance or consent to 
 such matters. cts ii. 41, 47. and iv. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 2. Church government stands in no opposition 
 to civil government of commonwealths, nor any 
 way intrencheth upon the authority of civil magis- 
 trates in their jurisdiction ; nor any whit weaken- 
 eth their hands in governing, but rather strength- 
 eneth them, furthereth the people in yielding more 
 hearty and conscionable obedience unto them, 
 whatsoever some ill affected persons to the ways of 
 Christ have suggested, to alienate the affection of 
 
 a 
 
 61 
 
 kings and princes from the ordinances’ of Christ; 
 as if the kingdom of Christ in his churcheould not 
 rise and stand without the falling and wez = 3 
 their government, which is also of Christ; whe b 
 the contrary is most true, that they bahia 
 
 together and flourish, the one being hell uot 
 the other in their distinct and due admin’ ns. 
 
 John _ 36. Acts xxv: 8. Isa. xlix. my 
 
 3. ‘The power and authority of magistrates is not 
 for the restraining of ohare or any other good 
 works, but for helping in and furthering ¥ 
 and therefore the consent and countenance of mag- 
 istrates, when it may be had, isnot to be slighted 
 or lightly esteemed ; but on the contrary it is part 
 of that honour due to christian magistrates to de- 
 sire and crave their consent and approbation . 
 in, which oe obtained, the churches may 1 
 proceed in their way with more encouragement 
 and comfort. Rom. "ci 4. 1Tim. ii, 20° 
 
 4. It is not in the power of i to com. 
 pel their subjects to become church members, and 
 to partake at the Lord’s table; for the port d= 
 reproved that brought unworthy ones into the 
 sanctuary: Then as it was uilawful for the priest, 
 So it is as unlawful tobe done by civil magistrates, 
 those whom the church is to cast out if they were 
 in; the magistrate ought not to thrust them irito 
 the church, nor tohold them therein. Ezek. xliy, 
 7,9. 1 Cor.-v. IL. 
 
 5. As it is unlawful for church officers to med. 
 dle with the sword of the magistrates, so it is un- 
 lawful for the magistrate to meddle with the work 
 proper to church officers. The acts of Moses and 
 
 id, who were not only princes but 
 were extraordinary, therefore not imitable. “A- 
 gainst wate: usurpation, the Lord witnessed By 
 
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 hae 
 
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 agian 
 ce 
 
 “Bs = 2 3 : 
 
 Begads i ee PSSST Sae 
 baat eretert call 
 j ip iH ec 
 : e AL! Te 
 ’ oF fit geglth a bazs. Sei has 8 1 u 
 Nie | Saal ariel 
 HE iH 4 tf], aiacl ; an 
 ne H are rie iat ik 
 HURL dake RT HL 
 
“_F 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Being some collections for the information of those that are not ac- 
 quainted with the principles and practices of the first and most emi- 
 nent leaders in the churches of Cunist in New England. 
 
 TH pistform of church discipline was on and consented 
 unto by many great, learned and pious persons, from the four famous 
 colonies in New-England, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge, 
 1648. Something of which may be read im a late print, entitled, 
 ee of the gospel in the churehes of New- 
 
 n J 
 
 The deservedly famous and reverend Mr ohn Wilson, pastor, 
 and Yohn Cotton,teacher of the first church of Christ in Boston, were 
 = of those werthies that composed the platform of church disci- 
 pline. 
 
 The reverend Mr ohn Norton, teacher of the said church in 
 Boston, in his election sermon, May 22, 1661, page 12, gives this 
 advice, “‘ take care that the order of the gospel may have a free pas- 
 sage in the churches ; I mean that our practice may effectually an- 
 swer our doctrine, in that book entitled, the platform of church: 
 discipline.” ; 
 
 And in his last sermon, preached on his weekly lecture, April 2, 
 1663, a little before his death, page 37. ‘“*‘ Remember that we have 
 the pattern in the mount, I mean we have the scripture as a 
 and you have the platform of church discipline given to you in way 
 counsel, es the confession of our faith to this way of church em. 
 ment: you ki.ow in what manner it was that which, for sub- 
 stance of it, owns the cause congregational: If any are departed 
 from it let them look to it.” 
 
 The reverend Mr ohn Davenport, in his catechism printed anno 
 166), for the use of the first church in Boston, of waich he was then 
 pastor, shows his coucurrence with the platform of church discipline 
 in matters relating to church government. 
 
 The reverend Mr. ohn Oxenbridge, pastor of said church by his 
 practice, manifested his consent to the way of church government, 
 asit is stated inthe platform of church discipline: and in his 
 election sermon, in May, 1671, declared his agreement with the 
 principles of purity and power of the churches. 
 
 The reverend Mr. $ames Alien, teacher of said church, in his 
 election sermon, May 28, 1679, page 10, 11, having taken notice 
 of the platform of church discipline, as manifesting the judgment of 
 the ministers of New-England, asserting the authoritative rule of 
 the elders, with the liberty of brethren, expresseth himself thus, 
 ‘though the judgment of the best should not be looked upon ag 
 scripture canons, nor bind any further than it is found agreeing 
 with the word of God, by which: t ought to be tried ; yet I think I 
 may safely say that is aclearer judgment of the mind of God in the 
 
 creased by industry, and those that stand 
 oor 
 “on recon apt 
 
 ae 
 
 the said Platform, for the substance of it, desiring that the chureb 
 Grids devtned fren the sandeen "Gs cue ; 
 therein declared from the word of Gop. & print, a 
 
 |, &e. 
 
 Col ii 6. 4s ye have therefore receiwed Christ Lord, 
 walk in him. - ~s ‘9 
 
 Eph iv. Part of the 14th verse. Be no more children toserd to 
 and fro, and carried about with ewery wind of doctrine. 
 
 Gal v.1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 
 made x2 free. 
 
 F 2 
 
a 
 
66 
 
 A TESTIMONY 
 
 To the order of the gospel, in the churches of New-England : 
 ‘ff in the hands of the churches, by the two most aged min- 
 tsters of the gosftel yet surviving in the country. 
 
 ABove seventy years have passed away, since one of us and 
 above sixty, since the other of us came into New-England, and having 
 obtained help from God we continue to thia day. 
 
 We are therefore capable to make some comparison, between the 
 condition of the churches, when they were first erected in this 
 country, and the condition into which they are now /adlen, and 
 more falling every day. 
 
 But we wish, that in making this comparison, we had not cause 
 to take the place and the part of those o/d men, that saw the young 
 men shouting aloud for joy, at the new temple, K.zra iii. 12 Ancient 
 men that had seen the first house sewhen the foundation of this house was 
 laid before their eves, wept with a loud voice 
 
 2. We are under a daily expectation of our call to appear before 
 aur Lord Jesus Christ ; and we have reason to be above all things 
 concerned, that we may give ? our account with joy unto him. That 
 we may be the better able to do so, we judge it necessary for us to 
 leave in the hands of the churches a brief testimony to the cause of 
 God and hie people in this land. And this the rather, because we 
 are sensible that there is risen and rising among us, a number who 
 not only forsake the rigit ways of the Lord, wherein these holy 
 churches have walked, but also labour to carry away as many oth- 
 ers with them as they can. 
 
 We are also informed that many younger men of great worth, and 
 and hearty friends unto the church-state of the country, scarce know 
 what interpretation to put upon it; but find it a sensible disadvan- 
 tage unto them that the edder men are so silent and remiss upon 
 the manifest occasions, that call aloud for us toopen our mouth in 
 the cause of churches that we should be loth to see lead unto de- 
 2truction. 
 
 3. We that saw the persons who from four famous colonies, as- 
 sembled in the s;nod that agree on our Platform of Church Discipline 
 cannot forget their excellent character. They were men of great 
 renown in the nation, from whence the Laudian Persecution exiled 
 them ; their learning, their holiness, their gravity struck all men 
 that knew them with admiration. They were Timothies in their 
 houses, Chrysostomes in their pulpits, Augustines in their disputa- 
 tions. The prayers, the studies, the humble enquiries with which 
 they sought after the mind of God were as likely to prosper as any 
 men's uponearth. And the sufferings wherein they were confessors 
 fur the name and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, add unto the 
 arguments which would persuade us that our gracious Lord would 
 reward and honour them, with communicating much of his truth un- 
 
 67 
 
 tothem. The famous Brightman had foretold, Clariorem 
 adhac Solitudo dabit, &%'c. God would yet reveal more of the 
 church-state ante come af tie GMA o whom he 
 
 servants, 
 send into a wilderness that he might there have 
 
 ai 
 
 them. And it was-eminently accomplished in what was done for 
 and by the men of God, that first erected churebes for him in this 
 's do halen the first place earnestly fy that if 
 We in rst testi any 
 who are given to change do rise up to unhinge the well established 
 churches in this land, it willbe the duty and interest ofthe churches 
 to examine w men ja trespass are more prayerful, 
 more watchful, more souls, Sore patton, ume Sn 
 
 universally conscientious, and harder students, and 
 and more willing to be informed and advised than those 
 ~~ men who left unto the churches what they now enjoy 
 not so it will be wisdom for the children to forbear pulling 
 
 with their own hands the houses of God, which were built by their 
 wiser fathers, until they have better satisfaction. 
 
 It is not yet forgot by some surviving ecar-witnesses of it, that 
 when the Synod had finished the Plarform of Church Discipline, 
 did with an extraortinary elevation of soul and voice then sing to- 
 gether the song of Moses the servant of God, and the the Lamb, 
 in the fifteenth chapter of the Revelation : God fi , that in the 
 loss of that holy discipline, there should be hereafter occasion to 
 sing about breaking down the carved work of the houses of God 
 with axes and hammers ; or take up the eightieth psalm for our 
 lamentations. 
 
 j 
 
 ri 
 
 “ The order of the gospel, professed and practised by the churches 
 of Christ in New-England:” a book most highly needful, and 
 useful and seasonable, a most claborate and well com work, 
 and well suited unto those two worthy designs ; Ist. the maintain- 
 ing the congregational church discipline ; and 2dly, the maintain. 
 ing the sweet spirit of charity and communion towards the reform. 
 ing presbyterians, who are ourunited brethren. But we must here 
 withal testify, that in that worthy book there is nothing obtraded 
 upon the churches but what they who were here capable of ob- 
 serving what wasdone sixty years ago, do know to have been 
 fessed and practised in the churches of New-England; (except in 
 one or two) then and ever since until of late. some who were not 
 then born have suggeste! otherwise. Yea, ‘tis well known, that the 
 churches then publickly maintained those principles in several judi- 
 cious discourses, which were never confuted by any men whatever 
 unte this present time. And we do therefore most heartily com. 
 mend that book of the order of the gospel, unto the perusal and 
 acceptance of the churches of the Lor. 
 
 5. It was one of the songs (4s tie Jewish masters tell us) in the 
 feast of tabernacles, Blessed be our youth, which have not made 
 our afd men ashamed. But alas, we that are old men must confess 
 ourscly¢s ashamed whea we sce after what manner some of our 
 
” 
 
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 Fete 
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 may 
 e. 
 . We do therefore eet ce tities aaetioen, 20 
 
 a 8 SS of our church state, that 
 — even whele days of prayer ro apart for that end, 
 wi 
 
 r inted means, be used in churches to obtain 
 from the Lord the out- ingen of the apisit off on the ris 
 generation. Jf so richa were sbtaiands (und ane hes 
 
 Father will give his 
 rising might 
 erate 
 
 gospe . 
 & N aged 
 even oa we Oe oo 
 
 much of bis gracious presence and spirit in midst of them ; 
 
 raise up from time to time those who may be happy instruments of | 
 bringing down the hearts of the parents into the children, The , 
 Lord bless these hig churches, and keep them stedfast, both in the | 
 faith and in the order of the gospel, and be with them, as he was 
 with their fathers, and never leave them nor forsake them, : 
 
 ; JOHN HIGGINSON, 
 WILLIAM HUBBARD. 
 
 i 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Tu AT our testimony to the old principles of New England may 
 be the more distinctly apprehended, we recommend unto consider- 
 ation three pages in the life of Mr Juhn Cotton, written by his” 
 grandson, Mr. Cotton Mather, p, 33, 34.55. 
 
 “Now that the world may know the first principles of New-Enge” 
 land, it mast be known that until the Platform of church disci ° 
 published by a Synod in the year 1648, next unto the Bible, © . 
 wis the professed, perpetual, and only directory of these churches, ” 
 they had no platform of their church government, more exaet than” 
 their famous Fohkn Cotton's well known book of the keys; which” 
 book endeavours to lay out the just lines and bounds of all chureh” 
 power, and so defines the matter, that as in the state there is &” 
 dispersion of p:wers into several hands which are to concur inte 
 all acts of common concernment, from whence arises the 
 constitution of a commonwealth: in like sort, he assi 
 powers in the church, unto several subjects, wherein the 
 light of scripture and of nature, have placed them with a very sat-" 
 isfactory distribation 
 
 “He asserts, that a presbyterated society of the faithful, hath 
 within itself a complete power of self-reformation, or if you 
 ofs W preservation; and may within itself, manage its own choices of 
 officers, and censures of delinquents. Now a special statute law of 
 our Lord having excepted women and c)ildren from enjoying any 
 part of this power,he finds only elders and brethren to be the congti 
 
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 ita 3 AHL ite tee HT 
 
 JOHN HIGGINSON. 
 WILLIAM HUBBARD. 
 
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