i,M OF u(,.V> ( r"V 1 • '^ A P P E A L TO THE IMP A RTI AL PUBLIO B Y The Society of Chriftian INDEPE^iDEN'tS, CONGREGATING IN G L Ot E S T E K B O S T ON, Printed by Bj^njamin Edes & So^ No* 4«, CorbhilK M,DCC,LXXXy'i /j)X y^^ ^^^^ "" ^^"^ / A N appeal; &c. Friends and Countrymek^' IN our appeal to you, we feel a confidencc^^ which in an addrefs to the rulers of a tyV rannical government,we could never poffefsj While the people have the power of form- ing their own government, of enafting their own laws ; and while they hold in their own hands the fovereignty of their Common wealth, jaftly deeming their higheft officers their fer- vants, and are attentive to every meafure, whidi may in its confeqaences, affcd their liberty, they cannot fail to be free and happy . We (hould be far from giving our country- men the trouble of attending to an appeal froni a focicty, fo fmall and inconfiderable as ours, had we not been drawn before a civil tribunal, in defence of what we fuppofc to be our juft^ invaWuble ^qvaluaWeand conftitutional rights. A queftion lias been agitated refpeQing us; the decifion of uhich, ultimatety regards every citizen of the Cornrnonweakh/^nd'inftatitiy affe^ls the feveraf religious orders of E'pircopalians, Bapiills, Pref-' lr\ terians, Sandamanians, Quakers, and every ^ ther cenorhination of Chriftians^ who in this o'Mte ha^ve been called Seilarks. » ^ ^ H'Ai) we e^?er done any thing in oppofition to th^ freedom or independence of our Country,' nay> had we ever (hewa a backcvardnefs in the Ike war, to amll in the prefervation of thofc j^tiviie"j;es, for which we now are called to con- tend in courts of jufiice, we fhould feel a diffi- dence in laying our caufe before the impartial p-ubiic ; but teeUng bnrl>lv'es dftfe;vedly verted v^r.h the privileges and immunities of tree citi-' ztrfS.of this Commonwealth, and er^titied to *tliOfe iiberties with which Heaven has 'made us free^* and which we believe to be fecurcd to lis, *ty*a C'>nllitutjon of government happily efta- "blidied by the people, and which we never mean to part wish, vVhiie we can defend or retain them, we proceed to lay our caufe before you. •^ \Vh n Mr. John Murray, our prefcnt teacher IP religious matters, had been invited to preach in rhc Mcelin^^-Houfe of the firf* Pari(h in Glo- "Ceder, we heard him vvith an increafing pleafure, and a growing fati taLlion. * On the lettlement 'df Mr. P\>rbes, the prefent minifter there, we' ^being ob-igcd to with hold our alTent to the doc-^ trines he taught, difagreed to his lettlement. In the year ijyQ^ we affociated for the pui^- pofe of public worlhip, by a covenant, a copy whereof [ 5 1 whereof we havecanfed to be herewith fubmit<' ted to the public eye, "^ ''^* / Though weareunited in a mode of wor(hip, and a' form of difcipline, yet in our t^flbciation,' we have cafrefi'illy avoided the tftabli(hment of it, becaufc we are fully convinced that our bleffed Redeemer left no particular form to his' follow-' drs, but fubmitted all to their own wifdorti and prudence. ' We conceive that a voluntary agree- ' hicnf, in religious matters, ought to 'be departed from, the moment the individual Avho is party to it, conceives that he has done wrong ; and V^here ihofe religious forms have been ertablifh- ed by laws, wfe find by the bcft hiftory of Ec- clcfiaftical matters, that they have only tended to fettet- the * human underllanding, and have been the' unhappy means of lubftituting the form for tht lubftance' of religion. ' ' We^ did not in our^greement, aflbclatefor the belief of any "particular tenets, or peculiar doc- trines, becaufe we conceived that all convictioa mud rife frdm evidence ration'ally applied to the iinderft'andrng 5 and We could not fuppofe that the fame evidence would ftrike every mind in the fociety with the fame force; "Wc there- , fore "concluded that confeffions of faith with us, flight do what we believe they have done in o- thcr iocreties, where thofe of human invention have been introduced, oblige men, either to fubmit their faith to the coniroul of others, and believe without examining, or to profefs to be- lifeve that which they have never fully confidercd or underftood. With that humility which we £nd inculcated in every part of the Gofpel, wc humbly^ [ 6 ] fiumbly hoped, that it would be fufficjcnt for us to believe the Holy Scriptures, and to adopt the fyftem of morals therein contained, as the rule of our ConduB, and the man of our QounfeL We readily conceived, that when our mode of worfhip, or the dodlrines taught us by our teach- ing Brother, fhould become difagreeable to any one of our brethren, he would diffent from us and join himfelf to fome other (ociety. Upon examining the matter for ourielves,we are fully convinced, that by eftablilhlng articles of faith, we fhould only injure ^he caufe of religion, and poffibly might lay a foundation for perlecu- .tion in a future day. Very foon after the glori- ous doi?»rine of falvation by Jefus Chrift, was proclaimed to a finful world, contentions, anni- mofities, hatred, and envy, were introduced by uncharitable and incanded men, wlio, proudly feeling their own imaginary infallibility, could not bear that any one fliould diffent from their opinion. So bigotted are men generally to their own religious opinions, that they have rarely failed to procure, where it could be done, the civil authority, to compel others to profefsa be- lief of their tenets. Upon the converfion of Conftantine, the fjrft Roman Emperor who embraced Chriftianity,the civil arm v/as extended to ellablilh the faith which he fuppofed all muft hold, becaufe he be- lieved. One of his predeceflbrs, though an hea- then, had by the cdidt of Milan eftablifhed a liniverfal toleration to Chriftians, and to every denomination of religionifts i but this Chriftiati Emperor at once violated it. And to ufe the lan- ~ g^^S^ t 7 ] gliage of Mr. Gibbons, in his hiftory of that Prince, ** The grateful applaufc of the Clergy ** has confecrated the memory of a Prince who ** indulged their paffions, and promoted their ** interefl, Conftantine gave them fecurity^' ** wealth, honou'rs and revenge : and the fup- *' port of the Orthodox faith was confidered as <* the moft facred and important duty of the <* Civil Magiftrate. The^edid of Milan, the •* great charter of toleration, had confirmed to *'* ea<:h individual of the Roman world, the ** priviledgc of choofing and profeffing their ** own religion; But this ineftimabl^ priviledge ** was foon violated. With the knowledge of <« truth, ihe Emperor imbibed the maxims of ** perfecution ; and the feels which diflented «' from the Catholic church, 'were afflided and ** oppreffed by the triumph' of Chriftianity. " Cpnftantine eaffly believed that the Hereticks, ** who prefumed to difpute his opinions, or to' ** oppofe his commands, were guilty of the «* moft abfurd artd criminal obftinacy ; and that *' a feafonable application of moderate feveritics ** might fave thofe unhappy men from danger ** ot eVerlafting condemnation. Not a moment ** was loft in excluding minifters and teachers ** flihe feparated congregations from any Ihare ** of the rewards and immunities which the •* Emperor had fo liberally beftowcd on thd •* Orthodox clergy. But as the Sedariesmighc •* ftill exift under the cloud of royal difgrace, •' the conqueft of the Eaft was immediaiely •* followed by an edid: which announced their ll total dcftradion, After a preamble filled with CM ?* with paffiqn and reproach,. Conftantincabfo- .*^ lutely prohibiis the affemblies of ihe Here,- •• tics, and confifcates their public property to V the ufe cither of the revenue, or of the Ca- y, tholic phurch.'* , ^^ ,. .t|, ^ , ; ; The Jewifli Chritlians of Alexandria, applied the ideas taught in the (chool of PJato, refpedl- ipg the t^ogos^ to our bleffed Redeemer,; w^here- Upon the i^rian Chriftians exerted themfelvcs againft what they called a dangerous errpr, and accufed their opponents wi,th adopting th^ poly* theirm of the fagans. Hence upon a myftery above the comprehenfion of the human under* ilanding, arofe a contrpverfy which time itfelf ca|n never, fettle, Conftantius a Roman Empe* yol*, had by a decree ordainfcd, that " thofe who •* refufed to ^ communicate with the Ari^n Bi- **ffhops, and particularly with; Macedonjus^ V /hould be deprived of the immunities of Ec- ^* 'clc(5aftics, and the rights of Chriftians.; t^ey •* were compelled to relinquifti the pofTeflipns " of Churches j and were flri^Iy prohibited *' froni holding ^ theiif affemblies within thfe .•^ wails of the city. The execution of this un» •* juft law, i;i the provinces of Thrace^ and Affia •' Minor, was committed to the zeal of Macedo- <« nijs. — The civil and military power ||(krerd •J diredled to obey his commands, and the cru- «* cities exercifcd by this Semi-Arian tyrant, ia " the fupport of the Homoioufwn, exceeded the ^' commiirion, and dilgraced the reign of Con* ** flantius. The laciaments of the church wcra •* adminiftered to the reludant viflims, whode-^ ^' nkd the vocation, and abhorred the princi-«» '^ ^ ' ■' " ""' " "' pies *' pies of Macedoniusl The righfs o'f bapttriif ^' were conferred on wonien and children, who,* •* for that purpofe, hid been torn hdhi ihie ami^ *« of their friends and parents j the mouths of *' the Communicants wi^re held opert by a •* wooden engine; while the uniflmicnt,in the manner therein gracioiifly provided. Wb find that the Sedts of Chrifuans In New- EnglanJl, have ever been dlftinguiflied from each ether by their form of charcri-difcipline, and tlicir mode of adminiftering of the ordinances : ' ' "^ "'""■'■' the tbe dodnnes, or articles of faiih, held by all b<^* iiig as nearly fiinilar, as that oi individuals in the (ame church has generally been. We diftinguifh O'jrfelves from the church under the ihllrudtiqn of Mr. Faf^)cs,by our* not tjfing baptito as an ex- ternal rite. Though thi.s may appear to lometo be inconipaiiblc wi'h the religion- we prolefs, yet it beiii;> a ipartcr reitins: in opinion olIv, wo know not wii'y We iliouUi be' condemned, while the C^jakcis mtct the ffnilcSof government,and while- nuny others vybo o^ni^t the ordinance through inattention, or^-a total difregard to aill relii^ion, have the tayours of' the ftatc. We differ froni t1iat church alfo irt our mode of dif- cipline, being Independent s^ holding as the fird church in {^^^^Q'^ and n^any other churches in in the ftatc originally held, that " all ecclefiafti- ** cal jurifdidtipn is committed by Chrift to each ** organical church, from w hich; there is no ap- *' peal ; vilible iaintfliip being the matter, and ** cjiprefs covenanting the ^orm." -f- ** Ordination weaccount nothing clfebut ** the folen^n puiting ^ mart into his place and *' office in the church, whereunto he hath a " right before by eleftion, the effence and fu^- ** ftance of the outward calling of an ordinary " officer in the church, 4oth riot conlift in or- ' * dination, but in his voluntary and free eleiflioti " by the church, and his accepting of that elec- " tion ; whereupon is founded that relation be- *' tween paftorand flock, between fuch a mini- l[ fler and fuch a peopU. Ordination doth not " conllitutQ \ Governor B*llinoKim*< xn\\\ maH* ;. [Hi f< conftitute an officer, nor give him the eflen- ** tials of hi9 office ; the apoftles were elders ^* without impofition of hands by men/' Plat- form, chap. 9, ' ' ' ' This was the fenfe of the country at that time, and it was fo prevalent, that although the Platform was obtained, yet it could not be done without preferving thefe fentiments. *. But as the word Ordain, fignifies no more than to appoint,, we conceive that the eledion,and( not the laying on of hands, makes the Ordination compleat. See fixth and thirteenth chapters of Adls. Notwithstanding tliis, we have been, and yet are taxed to the fupport of Mr. Forbes, and our property is taken and expofed at auftion to raife money for the fupport of a form of worHiip in which we can never join, and for the fupport of teaching by which we can have no inftrudlion. Were we not thus oppreffed, we fhould have been very contented to have enjoyed in filence, that liberty which wc'feelourfeives intitled toas Free Citizens of this Commonwealth, always refolving to yield that obedience to government, which is due from good fubjcdls to a ftate, that proteds them in the enjoyment of their deareft; rights. • . Wis were advifed, that our fiiaatipn was fuch, as precluded all other relief from the oppreffion we complain of, otherwife than by an adion brought in the name of our teacher to recover the money taken from us for the fupport of a public teacher of religion, piety, and morality. He was very unwilling to have an adion brought in his name ; but upon our reprefenting the cruelty ^ f 15 ] cruelty of thofe who took this advantage of us i and the hardfhip of his not confenting to the only relief we could have, he gave his confent, . The action which wc inftitated was tried at the Supreme Judicial Court, held at Ipfwich iri June 1785, when a verdidt was given in our fa- vour, * Had we no other motive than the fav-*' ing of our money, we fhould have been more in our own interefl: by paying quietly to the fup- port of Mr. Foibes, than wc have been in build- ing a houfc for public worfhip, lupporting a teacher amongil ourfelves, and by engaging in st troublefome and expenffve lawfuit. But hold- ing the rights of confcience as fuperior to every other conftderation, we have perfevered, and ftill intend to perfevere, not doubting that our countrymen will do us the juftice of lecuring to us that freedom wherein we have reafon to re- joice under the prefent government, *' As the principles agitated \n the trial of tne caiifeaboVe- mentioned, and the obje^I^ions made againfl: us, apply themfelvcs equally to Epifco- palians, Baptifts, Quakers, Sandamanians, and Independents, and to every denomination o( Chriftians whofe fociety is not defcribed and known by town or parifh lines, or by a particu** lar adk of incorporation, we think it our duty to give the public our remarks and obfervation up- on them. In doing this, though we fiiould (hew a diffent from the opinion of fome gentlemen o£ great learning and ability, and perhaps from fomo gentlemen • The Couufcl? Mr. Sullivan, | Mr. Bradbury, C For ihe foiriJiie?UQtiff.>Mr. Tudor, {Mr. Farfoas, t^^ciead'to i 16 j gehticmen of high civil rank in the fta*c • and though we ihall Ipeak with the confidence be- coming men who realize their conllitutional freedom ; yet we (hall do it with all that defcr- tncCy and refpcfl, which wc owe to the charac- ters of great and good men, who may have been oppofed to our opinion. Whether they or wc ire right, wc fubmit to the public. ^ _- Th£ third article in the declaration of rights, provides, that *V all monies paid by the fubjedf to the fupport of public worihip, and of the public teachers aforcfaid, (hall, if he reqjuirc it, be uniformly applied to the fupport of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious fedl of denomlnatioh, provided there be any ** on whdfe inftruflions he attends • otherwife «* iC may be paid tovvards the fupport of the ** teacher Or tea:cher$ of th'cparifli in which the " money is raifed." For the rcafons before- foencioned, weconfidcrourfclves a Senalties or rewards; can force, or allure, a man o confent to the truth oi a f>ropofiLion, without fuffic?ent evidence received by a mind capable ot ixamiri?ng,' and applying of it. The idea, that it is neceflary to the good or- der of civil government, that the Teachers o( Religion fhould thunder out the dodrinc of c- i^erUfting puniihment, to deter men from atro- Cfous crimes, which they rhay otherwife commit ih fecret, has long been hackneyed in the hands of rtien in power ; but without auy warrant troni reafon, or revelation for doing of it : for rcafod ftfclf, without the aid of revelation, gave no in» e -- timafimi [ i8 ] tlmation of a ftatc of retribution ; it was the Golpcl which brought life, and immortality to light. God, k\ the civil conftituiion which he was plcafed to form for the Jews, ftrongly pro- hibited murder, perjury, adultery, and many other crimes which men might then commit ia fecret ; but never in any one inltance, gave aa intimation, that the ]^\^'S (hould be panifhed in anochcr world for iheir crime* in thi?. Had a threatning of that nature been neceffary to the fupport of civil government, V7e might with great propriety look for ii there. It was not till* the Chriftian Church was illegally weded to ftate-policy, that men in power dared to hurl the Thunders of the Moft High at thofe who offended againft government ; and even then, niodefty forbid it, only as they arrogantly pre- tended to do it for the honor of God, and the advantage of religion. But fliould the point be maintained, thai courts and ]uries,are auihorifed to determine whc^ ther the teacher of a religious led, is a teacher of inorality from his opinion, either of the caufc,- mode, or ftate of men's happinefs or mifery ia another world, or from his opinion of the nature, or proportion of the rewards for virtue, or the punifhmcnt for vice there, no fedl or denomina- tion could be fafe ; it being a matter refting in opinion only, wiihout any earthly tribunal hav- ing the ability or authority to fettle the queftion, Suppofc an Epifcopalian teacher fhould have an adtion in his name to recover the money paid by his hearers ; perhaps he might be one who fiad fubfcribed, and fworn to the thirty-nine articles, r 19 ] firticles, the truth of which is well fupported by a5i of parliament : an objection might be made from one of the articles, that leils us, God from all eternity clewed a certain number to happi- nefs, and prcdeftinated all the reft of the human race to evcrlafting i^iifery ; and this of his own (overeign will, without any regard to the merit of the one, or the demerit of the others, A jury might be found who would decide at once, that this dodtrine is fubverfive of all morality^ and good order ; for if the ftate of every m^n is unalterably fixed from all eternity, and nothing done by him can in any wile change the divine decree, he had better eat, drink, and be merry, and indulge himfelf in all that can give him fenfual pleafure. The argument is equally (Irong againft all Cajvinifts, and in ap- pearance ftrongcr againft Hopkintonians, Ed- wardians, and all other Fatalifts. But fhould a fober Arminian be in trial, and it appeared that he taught his people, that it was within their own power to procure future happpinefs by their virtue and gooJnefs, and that God would punifli thern in another world for thofe crimes which they were under no necefHty to commit in this j that this is a ftate of probation wherein it is in their power to lay the foundation of everlafting happinefs ; a jury might not be able to diftioguifli between the prefcicnce, and the fore- ordination of God J and it might be called impiety to al- ledge, that the infinitely wife Being did not from all eternity know the ultimate faie.and final end, of all his creatures : it would at Icaft be called derogatory to the honor ot the Moft High, to C a ' iuppofc (uppofc any thing to be contingent with 5;ilrn 5 arid therefore a Teacher of fuch principles rnignt' in the eye of fome pcrfons, be viewed as aTeachV cr of impiety and immorality. ' We neither undertake to fupport or condemj> any oi the tenets we have alluded to, for we iup- pole that every good man, let his involuntary er- rors be multiplied as they may, will be in the. favour of God. ^ But we reafon in this manner to fliew the i'mpradicability of deciding upon the tiiorality of a teacher from his opinion of thofe matters ; When all opinions muft depend lipoii nicn's conftrudion of the ' moft holy vvord of God, as revealed ia the fcripturcs.' Wie vvill only add here, that if the courts of law ia this State are to go into an inquiry of this kind^ the confcience of >he judges will be the ftandara of religious fentimcnt, and the only incjuiry up- on matters of faith will be^ Vyhat was the opi- nion of the court in the laft trial f It would moft certainly be better to have the articles ojf faiih fettled by an aft of the legiflatnrc at once, AroTHER objedion railed againft us in the abovementioncd trial was as unexpeded as it Was alarming to us. It was that no teacher of reli- gion, piety, and morality, could have a right to recover the money paid by his fed in the (up- port of public teaching, and to ' the "fupport ci public worfhip, unlefs the perfon demanding ct It is the teacher of a town, parifh, precind, or a focicty legally organized, and verted with civil and corporate powers. Or in other words ; that the people of no left of Proteftant chriftians can have the money paid by them ia fupport of pub^ lie tcaphing of piety, religion, and monVity^ applied to the fupport ot the teacher of their own ('eel, on whofe teachings and inftrudtions thejr attend,, unlefs ihcir teacher iii the lettled minift ihcreb^ t =? 1 ^hereby making an unfavory mixture of politic! ftnd religion, for the purpofe, as ihey afFedled ro believe, of keeping religion pure and undefited, ♦ there has been no denomination of religionifts, but who have had the honor ot receivin;^ their appellation from their enemies : havini; it at firft applied by way of reproach, but becoming honorable as their iciSi grew numerous and im- portant ; amongft thele arctheGallileans, Chril- tians, Lutherans, Calvinifts, Proieftants, Qua- kers, Baptifts, and Diflenters. And ve arc humbly contented that our enemies, if they do not like the name of hdcpenuenti, dial I call us what they pleafe, — But we proceed to confi- dcr the objedlion. If the objedtion above ftaied has a foundation which can fupport it againft a careful examina- tion, then all that fecurity to the rights of con- fcience, all that equality in the feveral fedls and denominations of Chriftians, and that ftrong bar- lier againft oppreflion in religious matters, u hich the people thought they had eftabliihed by their conllitution of civil government j has upon the very firft juridical examination, been found to be vifionaryand dclufive ; the language ufcd by the compilers of the Form ofGovernment,is not accompanied with thofe ideas which have been affociated with it in all other cafes : but the people have been amufed by the chicane of doubtful cxpreftion, and inftead of fomething permanent and fubftantial, have believed a dream % See the Plitfivrm, where the roagiftraic ii to fee tLc de*; creu of the coiaciJ carried lAto cxccuiioji. t n ] dream, and embraced a fhadow. But if the words ufed in the third article in the Declaration of Rights, have the {ame meaning there, as they have in other places, we have no difficulty arif« ing from the objcdion under confideration, Tne: conrtruction of thefe words will depend much upon the meaning of the word Se£i ; the money is to be applied, to the fupport of the teacher of his own .S>bie-t fliaJl be hurt, molefted^ or reftrairred, if\ his perfon, liberty, or eftate;for worfliippingGOD In the manner and fealon mod agreeable to th^e dictates of his own conlcience ; or for his religi- ous profeffion or fentiments 5 provided he doth not difturb the public peace, or obilruft others in their religious vvorfliip. Ikk As the happinefs of a people, and the good order and prelervation of civil government, eflentially depend upon piety, religion and mo- rality ; and as thefc cannot be generally diffufed through a community, but by the in ft i tut ion- of the public worfhip of GOD, and of public in- flrudtions in piety, religion and morality : There- fore, to promote their happinefs, and to fecure the good order and prefervation of their govern- ment, the people of this Commonw^ealth have a right to inveft their legillature v^^ith power to authorize and req'jire, and the lei;iflature (hall, from- tin^e- to time, authorize and require, the feveral towns, parishes, pr6cinds, and other bo- dies politic, or religious ibcietics, 10 make fuita- ble provilion, at their own expence, for the in- fiitution of the public worlhip of GOD, and lor the fupport and maintenance of public pro- teflaot r 35 ] Jeftant teachers of piety, religion and morality^ in all Cdies where lach provilion fhall not be pa.de voIunta:ily. -And the people of this Commonwealth have alfo a right to,and do,inveft their legiilattire ui:h authority to enjoin upon all the fubjedls, an at- tendance ijpon the inftrudions ot the public teachers aforefaid, at ftatcd tia^^es and feafons ; if there be any on whofe inftruciions they can confcientiouily and conveniently attend. Pkovided notwlthftanding, that the feveral town?, parifhes, precincls, and other bodies- po- litic, or religious locietics, (liall, at all times^ have the exclufive right ot cleoung their public teachers, and of contrading with theiivior their fupport and maintenance. And all monies paid by the fubjedl to the fup- port of public worfhip, and of the public teach- ers afore faid, fliall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the fuj^port of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious led or dcnominaii- on, provided there be any on wholje inflrudiona he attends ; otherwife it may be paid to^vards the fupport of the teacher or teachers of the pa- ri(h or precinfc in which the laid monies ar-e raifed. And everv denomination of Chriilians, de- meaning themielvts peaceably, and as good luh- jeds of the Con^monwealth, (hail be equally un- der the protection of the law : And. no lubordi- nation of any one itCX or denomination to ano- ther f]:iall ever be eilabliilied by law. h 2 ASSOCIATION LI - [ 36 3 ASSOCIATION of the la- dependent Church in Glcc-ster. INASMUCH as it hath plcaled God of his ereat mercy, in every ag;e of the world, to choofe a people for himfell ; giving them his iear, and revealing to them his kcret : and as this great L ord of heaven and earih, the Father ot our Lord JcIds Chriil, hath been picalcd to reveal to babes, what he hatb hid from the wife and prndent : We the (iibicrlbers, gratefully nffecled with a fenfe of the divine j^oodnefs, in thub Jillinguifhifig up, who had nothinj^ in us to merit his notice; think it our iniereit and bounden duty, to let our l^ght (bine before inen,that they may lee our good works, and glorify our Father "U'hich is in heaven. As therefore it hath pleafed God to make us acquainted wirh the voice of the good fliepherd, the Lord Jcfus Chrift, the great flicpherd and bifhop of louis; we cannot irom henceiorward follow the voice of a (Iran- ger ; nor ever give attention to iuch who are unacquainted with the Saviour of the Vvorld. i.iu though we cannot have fellowihip with tbeia whole fellow fliip is not v»'iih tlic Fatlier, •c.ivi with hisSon Jelus Ciuill 5 yet we are dcieimni- cd, bv the grace of God, "never ta jorlake the ancmbli'ig ot oui (elves together, as ibe iriunncr of fomc is ; but as a church ot Chi ill, meet to- gether in his name, benig perluaded, wiicrever, or whenever two or three are thus met together^ the iavifiblc God will be prefcnt with ihem. As [ 37 ] AsChrirtlans, we acknowledge no mafterb'ut Chnft Jcius and as cJilciples of this divine maf- ter, weproftfs co tollovv no guide in fpiritual matters, but his word, and his (pirit. As dwellers in this world, though not of it, we hold ourfelves bound to yield obedience to every ordinance of man, for God's fake ; and we will be peaceable and obedient iubjedls to the powers that are ordained of God, in all civil ' cafes : But as fubjedlsof that King, whofe king- a doni is not of this world — we cannot acknow- ledge the right ot any human authority to make laws for the regulating of our confcience in any fpiritual matters. Thus, as a true independent church of Chrift, looking unto Jefus the author and finiflier of our faith, we mutually a^ree to walk togeiher in chrillianfellowlbip, building up each other in our moil holy f^ith, rejoicing in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made us free, and deter- mining by his grace, no more to be entangled by any yoke of bonda^^e. As dilciplcs of the meek and lowly Jefus, we refolve as far as in us lieth,tolive peaceably with all men ; yet as believers living godly in Chrift Jclus, we expedt to (ufier as much perfecuiion as the laws of the country we live in, will admit of: Bat we relolve by the grace of God, none of thefe things ihall move us to adt inconfident; wi:h our chara'-^er as chridians. We will as much as polliblc avoid vain jangling, and unnecefTiry dilputation ; and ihculd we be reviled^endeavour in patience to poffcfs our louls. As C 38 } ^$ an independent church of Chrift thus bound together by the cords of his love, an4 jnceting together in his name ; we mutually a- gree to receive as our Minifter, that is our Set- yaht, fent to labour arnong us in the .work of die gofpel by the great Lord of the vineyard, our friend and chriltjan brother John Murray : This we do from a full convidlion that the lame Pod that fent the ftrft preachers of Jefus Chrif^, fent him ; and that the iarne gofpel they preach- ed, we have from time tq titne received from iiim : Thus, believing him a miniCter of iheNew TeftamentjConflantly qtckring the whole coun- fel of God 'y proclaiming the fame divine truth that all God's holy Propliets from the beginning of the world hath declared : WE cordially re- ceive him as a Meffenger from God,. — And as it hath pleafed God to open a great and an efTedual, door for the preaching of liis golpel by this his' fervant in fundry parts of this great continent/ whenever it (ball pieafp bis and our divine maf- ter to call him to preach the everlafting gofpel elfewhere, we wiih him God-fpeed ; and pray that the good-v/ill of him that dwelt in the bulli may accompany him, and mal<;e his way clear before him : But fliould lie at any time preach any other gofpel, than that we liave received, we wil/ not wiili him God-fpeed, but confider him as a flranger. — And as the great Lord of the har- veft has taught us to pray that he would fend la- bourers into his harveft ; and as he never taught us to pray in vain, but has afTured us, every one that aflccth receiveth, thoujh he has not told ys when, whenever he Ihall lee fit to fend us a mef- fenger [ 39 1 fengerof glad tidings, a publifher of peace, wc ' will with grateful hearts receive him. — And as the promife of the divine prefence is to any two or three that meet together in the Saviour's Dame ; we are refolved by God's grace, whether we arc bleffed with the publick pi caching of th^ word or not, as often as we find convenient, to liiect togeiher, to fupplicate the divine fatvour, to' f raife our redeeming God, to hear his nioft holy word; and freely to communicate whatever God fiiall plcafc to itianifeft to us for our mutual edi-* fication. And that v\^e may the more efedltially fliev^ /orth' his prai/e, who hath called us outof dark- nefs into his marvellous light ; we refolvc to pay a feiiou3^ regard to the exhortations, admonitions and inftradtions given to us by the fpirit of God, in the cpiftles di(ftated taour holy apoftles. W