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A86140 Heads of agreement assented to by the united ministers in and about London, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational Howe, John, 1630-1705. 1691 (1691) Wing H1282B; ESTC R42739 5,382 11

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HEADS of AGREEMENT Assented to by the United Ministers In and about LONDON Formerly called PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL Licensed and Entered according to Order Edinburgh Re-printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to Their Most Excellent Majesties Anno DOM. 1691. THE PREFACE to the READER ENdeavours for an Agreement among Christians will be grievous to none who desire the flourishing State of Christianity it self The Success of these Attempts amongst us must be ascribed to a Presence of God so signal as not t● be concealed and seems a hopeful Pledge of further Blessings The favour of our Rulers in the present established Liberty we most thankfully acknowledge and to Them we are studious to approve our selves in the whole of this Affair Therefore we Declare against intermedling with the National Church-Form Imposing these Terms of Agreement on others is disclaimed All pretence to Coercive Power is as unsuitable to our Principles as to our Circumstances Excommunication it self in our respective Churches being no other than a declaring such scandalous Members as are irreclaimable to be incapable of Communion with us in things peculiar to Visible Believers And in all we expresly determine our purpose to the maintaining of Harmony and Love among our selves and preventing the inconveniencies which humane weakness maay expose to in our use of this Liberty The general concurrence of Minister and People in this City and the great disposition thereto in other places perswade us this happy Work is undertaken in a season designed for such Divine influences as will overcome all impediments to Peace and convince of that Agreement which has been always among us in a good degree tho neither to our selves nor others so evident as hereby it is now acknowledged Need there any Arguments to recommend this Vnion Is not this what we all have prayed for and Providence by the directest indications hath been long calling and disposing us to can either Zeal for God or prudent regards to our selves remissly suggest it seing the Blessings thereof are so important and when it 's become in so many respects even absolutely necessary especially as it may conduce to the preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Kingdoms Weal a subserviency whereto shall always govern our United Abilities with the same disposition to a concurrence with all others who are duly concerned for those National Blessings As these considerations render this Agreement desirable so they equally urge a watchful care against all attempts of Satan to dissolve it or frustrate the good effects thereof so manifestly destructive to his Kingdom Therefore it's incumbent on us to forbear condemning and disputing those different sentiments and practices we have expresly allowed for To reduce all distinguishing Names to that of United Brethren To admit no uncharitable jealousies or consorious speeches much less any debates whether Party seems most favoured by this Agreement Such carnal regards are of small moment with us who herein have used words less accurate that neither side might in their various conceptions about lesser matters be contradicted when in all substantials we are fully of one mind and from this time hope more perfectly to rejoyce in the Honour Gifts and Success of each other as our common good That we as United may contribute our utmost to the great concernments of our Redeemer it 's mutually resolved we will assist each other with our Labours and meet and consult without the least shadow of separate or distinct Parties Whence we joyfully expect great Improvements in Light and Love through the more abundant supplies of the Spirit being well assured we herein serve that Prince of Peace of the increase of whose Government and Peace there shall be no end This Agreement is already assented to by above Fourscore Ministers and the Preface approved of HEADS of AGREEMENT Assented to by the United Ministers c. The following Heads of Agreement have been Resolved upon by the United Ministers in and about London formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational not as a Measure for any National Constitution but for the Preservation of Order in our Congregations that cannot come up to the Common Rule by Law Established I. Of Churches and Church-Members 1. WE Acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have one Catholick Church or Kingdom comprehending all that are united to him whether in Heaven or Earth And do conceive the whole multitude of visible Believers and their Infant-Seed commonly called the Catholick Church to belong to Christ's Spiritual Kingdom in this world But for the notion of a Catholick Visible Church here as it signifies its having been collected into any formed Society under a visible humane Head on Earth whether one Person singly or many collectively We with the rest of the Protestants unanimously disclaim it 2. We agree That particular Societies of visible Saints who under Christ their Head are statedly joyned together for ordinary Communion with one another in all the Ordinances of Christ are particular Churches and are to be owned by each other as Instituted Churches of Christ tho differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things 3. That none shall be admitted as Members in order to Communion in all the special Ordinances of the Gospel but such persons as are knowing and sound in the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion without Scandal in their Lives and to a Judgment regulated by the VVord of God are persons of visible Godliness and Honesty crediby professing cordial subjection to Jesus Christ 4. A competent Number of such visible Saints as before described do become the capable Subjects of stated Communion in all the special Ordinances of Christ upon their mutual declared consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel-Rule In which declaration differerent degrees of Expliciteness shall no no way hinder such Churches from owning each other as Instituted Churches 5. Tho Parochial Bounds be not of Divine Right yet for common Edification the Members of a particular Church ought as much as conveniently may be to live near one another 6. That each particular Church hath Right to chuse their own Officers and being furnished with such as are duly qualified and ordained according to the Gospel-Rule hath Authority from Christ for exercising Government and of enjoying all the Ordinances of Worship within it self 7. In the Administration of Church Power it belongs to the Pastors and other Elders of every particular Church if such there be to Rule Govern and to the Brotherhood to Consent according to the Rule of the Gospel 8. That all Professors as before described are bound in duty as they have opportunity to join themselves as fixed Members of some particular Church their thus joining being part of their professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ and an instituted means of their Establishment and Edification whereby they are under the Pastoral Care and in case of scandalous or offensive walking may be Authoritatively Admonished or Censured for their recovery and for vindication