until he have openly declared himself to have truly repented and reformed his former life that the Congregation may thereby be satisfied which afore were offended and that he have recompenced the parties whom he hath done wrong unto or at the least declare himself to be in full purpose so to do so soon as conveniently he may The same Order shall the Curate use with those betwixt whom he perceiveth malice and hatred to reign not suffering them to partake of the Lords Table until he knows them to be reconciled And if one of the parties at variance be content to forgive from the bottom of his heart all that the other hath trespassed against him and to make amends for that himselfe hath offended and that the other party will not be perswaded to godly Vnity but remain still in his frowardness the Minister in that case ought to admit the penitent and not him that is obstinate Thus the Primate of Armagh Doctor Usher in his Reduction of Episcopacy lately set out by Doctor Barnard Prop. 1. in every Parish the Rector or Incumbent Pastor with the Church-Wardens and Sides-men may every week take notice of such as live scandalously in the Congregation and if by such admonitions and reproofs as their offence deserves they cannot be reclaimed they may be presented to the monethly Synod and in the mean time debarred by the Pastor from access to the Lords Table 6. We likewise agree that there are scandalous Omissions as well as Commissions for which such as are guilty of them till their Repentance testified and satisfaction given to the Church they ought to be debarred from the Sacrament 1. Of this sort we judge all voluntary customary Omissions open and manifest to the Church of that worship injoyned Christians as their homage to their Lord Christ for honouring him in the eyes of others and conducing to their Union and Communion with God in Christ in effectual Calling Conversion and Edification to perfection 2. Such we judge also scandalous Omissions which are ordinary and open neglects of such duties whereof we have particular patterns and practises of the Saints recorded in the Word grounded on general precepts and having a moral and general equity in them and so carrying a force and vertue of a Command though not expresly enjoyned in Scripture 3. We agree also there are scandals of Omission respecting duties of the second Table such as manifest and voluntary neglects of performing those duties to our Neighbours touching the saving of life estate liberty and such high concernments in present danger and hazard yet are wilfully neglected when there is ability and opportunity of their being performed 7. But for the more full enumeration of scandals we agree to refer it to determination in our Meetings of Association 8. We agree not to admit to the Ordinance any such who are not only guilty of the fore-mentioned scandals but of any other evil of like nature and quality until they have given sufficient evidence of their repentance which must not be slight and meerly verbal but serious so far as may be judged by us 9. We resolve to use great caution concerning sins that make men lyable to the Law as to their lives liberties estates or any other case not provided for in this Agreement 10. We resolve not to admit any to the Sacrament but such a one that hath been first declared to those with whom he is to communicate that if any of them can object and prove duly any thing against him whereby he appears unfit to receive that party may be kept from the Ordinance till the Church or Congregation receive satisfaction 11. We agree to require of all Governours of Families that come to this Ordinance to bring and keep their families under Catechizing and to see they learn and understand the Principles of Christianity and if they cannot instruct them themselves to bring them to us to be instructed 12. If any person that hath been admitted to the Lords Supper shall at any time hereafter prove scandalous in Concersation we will not receive such a one to the Sacrament till he testifie Repentance and satisfie the Church 13. We resolve to take notice of such who formerly have been admitted to the Lords Supper and absent themselves from it and to enquire into the reasons of their absence and accord ingly we will deal with them as we find just cause that neither Christs Ordinances may seem to be despised nor opportunity of doing good to their own souls neglected 14. We agree to be very cautious of admitting such of other Congregations that occasionally offer themselves to receive the Lords Supper with any of us that so no just offence may be given thereby either to godly Ministers or Congregations from which they come neither to our own people that joyn with us in that Ordinance 15. We agree not to admit any to this Sacrament that are members of other Congregations without either a Testimonial from their Minister of their orderly walking or that we can be assured both of their fitness for the Ordinance and their not rejecting the fellowship of that Congregation whereof they be Members 16. We agree when in any of our Congregations such as are rightly qualified for receiving the Lords Supper shall be so few as not to make up any competent number to joyn together in that Ordinance we will then advise with the Association concerning the best expediency as to uniting with some other Congregation for that present necessity yet only until that impediment shall be removed Government in particular 1. WHereas we all agree that every Minister of Christ is made by him a Ruler in that Congregation or Church to which he is called And many of us think according to Scripture and the way of divers Reformed Churches there should be some adjoyned to assist him in Government called Ruling Elders Yet divers of us also are dissatisfied as touching such Elders but all of us also conceive it meet and a Ministers Wisdome to see with more eyes than his own and have the best help he can both to acquaint him with the Conversation of his people and to assist him in matters of concernment that cannot so safely or conveniently be done by himself alone Therefore we agree as we shall see it feisable and fit in respect of our people to desire the assistance of some godly and discreet persons of our respective Congregations both for the acquainting us with the Conversations of our people and to be present sometimes at least with us as witnesses of our due and equal proceeding both in dealing with such as offer themselves to the Lords Supper And likewise in case of some admonitions to be given to offensive walkers yet it shall be no hindrance to the work of Union for any of us to do as he is best perswaded in his own judgement and may more conduce to peace and Edification 2. We agree that for the Exercise of Government in our
duties we owe to fellow-Christians and preserve us therein Get we but that sincere and ardent Love the Gospel calls for and unity will be both easily brought about and kept a firm and full unity that may answer the Churches present necessity If there be any defect in Union 't is from a deficience in this Bond this affection of Love Were there among other Gospel requisites this publick Spirit were this Gospel Brotherly Love put on this would recover and reduce us to happy unity without which the breaches and distempers are not likely to be healed For to provoke us those especially that are the backward and unactive oh that we could consider things together and once more in Christs name be entreated to endeavour it For is Brotherly Union meerly arbitrary and left to our liberty and not of a Scripture and Gospel necessity Are not divisions among Christians carnall Are not sowers of discord among Brethren abominable to the Lord 1 Cor. 3.3 Prov. 6.12 Rom. 16.17 Must not those that make divisions be marked and also avoided Hath not God in Scripture straitly Commanded Unity Christ most signally and peculiarly enjoyned it Do not his Apostles very frequently in the New Testament Eph. 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. both require and perswade to it yea must we not look to keep it studiously solicitously and zealously endeavour it And that as in other Scriptures is there urged upon very General and equitable reasons that extend to all Christians There are seven ones and all respecting all the People of God as those Ephesians It is not to be endeavoured only with some single persons whom we shall please to pick out to our selves Or with those particular Congregations we are fixed in but with all Christians in General as their condition requires and opportunity is afforded to us And accordingly have not good Christians in all Ages both assented to the Doctrine and earnestly endeavoured the practice of it Doth not all experience of the Churches Evidence the Necessity of it Did not those Churches so excellently constituted by the Apostles themselves soon discover the use and Necessity of it as we see in the case of the Church of Antioch Acts 15. which occasioned that Application to the Church of Jerusalem and thereupon the first and exemplary Christian Synod Whereby that and likewise other Churches were established in the Faith Let matters be never so well Constituted in Churches yet there ever will be New Emergencies and after cases which will call for and still Necessitate union and correspondencie and that cannot be relieved otherwise At this day those Divisions among the Reformed are not they acknowledged and bewailed as sinfull and greatly desired by the Godly of any moderate spirits of all parties to be healed Yea among our selves is it not so acknowledged and bewailed and accordingly are not our desires and Prayers still a going after it Do we not Evidently see the evils and mischief that will unavoidably every day encrease and Grow upon us without Union Ah! What will become of Truth of all Gospel-Truths and the purity of Doctrine which is preserved by Union When the house is burnt and the Gold and Treasure in it melted is it not hard finding it among the Rubbish Pearles if they should be buried in great heaps of sand will they not hardly be recovered How hard will it be for people to find the Treasure the Pearles of Gospel-Truth in the Rubbish and sands of multiplicities of errours And what will become of the life and power of Godliness when mens zeale and fervour still evaporate and breathe forth in contentions and Christians become engaged to maintain Parties rather then Godliness it self Yea how must Ignorance and Prophaness encrease And how will Popery gaine upon us Yea and how will that be kept out at last look seriously to the close What can Magistrates and Ministers do if unity be not recovered At the best must not the Doctrine be highly hazzarded and hardly be saved Must not the Power of Godliness needs sink and be swallowed up in these Quick-sands of Division yea and withall the civil state When hearts are divided and mens wayes and Conscience so continually clash and run cross must not that needs be but in a crazie condition in comparison of that which General union would produce which also would in time work out a happy settlement in the Civil State What though some are of the opinion that disunion is best that makes it not so in it self But why should union the entirest fullest and largest union in States and Kingdoms be best and not in the Church of Christ and among Christians If single persons or small Townes and particular places cannot carry on the Civil Interest without Civil Union nor never sufficiently provide for the security of the Civil State then why must it or how can it be that single Christians or particular Congregations without Consociation can carry on and preserve Religion in a Nation As all former so late Experience proves and after Experience will ever prove the contrary Thus New England it self also acknowledges and practices the contrary and that upon Experience And they accordingly even the strictest of them do not only wish but encourage and provoke the Godly of different Judgements in this Nation to endeavour Unity And certainly this must be very considerable that they of New England who left this Country for liberty of Conscience and went into a desolate wilderness They that had such excellent Christians and Eminent Ministers to form and make up their Congregations They that had so full a Liberty to choose their own way of Church Government and withall had so great countenance and assistance from the Civil Magistrate as ever Churches in the world had yet these these so accommodated and assisted after almost thirty yeares experience find a Necessity of union of Churches and of godly Christians of different Judgement are in expectation daily of it here blame those that are opposite to it or slothfull in it And certainly this fresh experiment brings a cogent and conclusive Argument that out-weighs all colours and pretences made by any for refusal or neglect of unity But to adde no more we our selves Generally see a Necessity of unity we wish it pray for it and expect it also but this layes great blame and sin to our charge that we do so little for it That our Judgements and Prayers concurre in it but our hands stir not and we do not to any purpose endeavour after it What then is and must be the Obstacle to this so Necessary Unity Is it private advantage like men that having a private Trade are enemies to joynt Stocks and Trading in Companies Is it listlesness and a spirit of slothfulness like the sluggard that will not pull his hands out of his bosom A lothness to be unhinged and taken off our old wonts of unactiveness and doing nothing but for our own particulars and so being
Churches and among the people of Jesus Christ They are by Office Guides and Leaders First To lead by preaching Christians into union shewing the Gospel-duty the Necessity Excellency and Utility To set home all Gospel Directions and Inducements upon the Consciences and Hearts of Christians and do all they can to light warm and winne them to it And they are likewise to guide and leade by example Give the fairest Copie Set the most excellent president of endeavours Industry and Zeal for godly unity If Ministers leade not will their people begin alone If they are listless will people be lively and active If they are of a low narrow cold cowardly spirit will people in probability be of an high heroical zealous temper No the Ministers Light must help to direct their Heat to warm their Resolution and Zeal to help others to be resolute and zealous And people also should design and endeavour union to cooperate and go along with their godly Ministers in good and necessary wayes Not neglect their Ministers herein to let them go and act alone but honour them with yieldings to and followings of them in what they follow Chirst Formerly what a spirit of willingness was there to hear learn believe and do as their godly Ministers guided and perswaded What a Gospel yieldingness and great sequaciousness was seen among people that turned greatly to their own Edification and the great Comfort and high encouragement of their godly Ministers Christs Ministers they have ever been Satans great eye-soar and speciall envy and Satan hath ever endeavoured to make their credit run as low as he could that the Gospel might run the lower and be glorified the less in peoples hearts A man is so far passable with others as he hath esteem and credit in their hearts and will accordingly prevail with them It is Satans grand design to make the Reputation of the Ministers of Christ run low that thereby the Doctrine they bring might be little regarded Gods design in Scripture and Christs great drift in the Gospel is to set up the Ministers very high in peoples hearts that they should have them in singular Honour for their work sake knowing this would exalt both his Word and himself also But this hath been Satans design and effected more of late then ever since the Reformation yea other Ages scarce any have exceeded ours But the loss is least to Ministers and most to the Hearts that suffer themselves to be prejudiced against them The Word loses its efficacy but the people the profit and their souls into the bargain also if they look not to it But as Ministers of Christ must leade and let their Light shine before their people so people must let in their light and suffer themselves to be guided and perswaded as for their own Edification so Ministers great encouragement and comfort Thus in this great work of Union both should help and encourage each other and then the Adversaries may be disappointed and in time our Divisions healed up Some looking into the obstacles likely to hinder Union among those of different judgements gave some years since among others a matter of ten Reasons which though not in the same method nor in all the words at length yet is thought not amiss to mention here As 1. Some place too much of their Religion in standing off from others as if the height of a Christian lay in rigid Separation from those that are of a lower size and will be hardly drawn to remit any thing of their supposed necessary strictness rather desiring to please themselves than bear with the weak suspecting even necessary provisions for admission of the weak as savouring too much of loosnesse and that which may bring on their partaking in other mens sins 2. Some have drunk in such prejudice against their Brethren that fancying the difference greater then it is and supposing a Closure unlawful or scarce possible are the more backward to any thing tending to a composure 3. Ignorance may prove a great hinderance many understand only the practick part of their own way not fully knowing the extent necessity indifferency of their severall principles these out of a zeal to truth will stand off as not knowing how far they may yield 4. Some delight in contentions 5. Some once embittered their blood is not easily cooled 6. Some are pleased with nothing that themselves propound not 7. Many are engaged and will find it a hard task to deny themselves in point of honour and credit which they think will be lost if they alter their course 8. Many are so overdriven by their friends and members of their Congregations that they dare do little for fear of displeassing them 9. Some want publick principles having but one thing in their eye as suppose purity or peace prosecute that to ruine or neglect of other necessary things 10. Some want publick Spirits not caring what become of other Christian so long as they have the Ball at their own foot or things go with them as they would have it Now as the proper cure and relief of Divisions and dangers thence arising must necessarily be from Union a suitable and speedy Union answerable to the nature and extent of the Malady so that must first be removed that is the impediment to it that though many things else concur is chiefly a great defect of publicknesse of Spirit a Spirit carried out to the publick good of the Church of Christ and his Cause together with a grand failing in Brotherly Love 1. That defect and great want of a publick spirit a spirit that hath made so many Prophets Apostles Martyrs Ministers and Saints in all ages to shine so gloriously All Christians whatsoever should endeavour great publicknesse of Spirit should put on and wear this rare Jewel with the rich Pendants of it of purest and greatest aims best contrivances warmest affections strongest highest resolutions for the Churches good against all things whatsoever that interpose But publick Persons Ministers principally they should be of a very eminent and exemplary publicknesse of Spirit as they are lights and leaders so in this in a more observeable manner But now there 's none should be of a meer private and impublick but of the most publick Spirit We should not be like the Snail that houses her self in her shell commonly cleaves to a block or stone and seldome moves and then but for a little food But like the Springs of Water that rise up run over and make a river for general use Not like a Light in a dark Lanthorn which shineth only inward but like the Heavenly bodies that mounted up are still running round the Heaven to carry and convey their light and influence to all It is too evident that great want of publicknesse of Spirit that like an Epidemical common disease hath spread it self about This this is the reason of that want of endeavours for generall Union The School Maxime is Omne negativum fundatur in affirmative
habited and accustomed to move or go no further we will not disease our selves and be further engaged They say as speech discovereth wisdom or weakness so Actions or not actings oft discovers custom and habit If we have contracted an ill custom of doing nothing or little except for our selves we had need do the more for after time 'T is too true that meer sloth and love of ease and lothness to do more then that is ordinary especially that which seems New though never so Necessary is one great cause of the backwardness and unactiveness of many or is it cowardize and a timourous temper an over-cautiousness and aptitude to suspect every thing and every man like the Beggar that is still shrugging the shoulder or like a shy Horse that eats hay in the stable and will startle at a little of it lying in the roade Shall we alway cry a Lion's in the way when we should be doing and set up our own apprehensions and then startle at them If these be the hinderances carry we our eye to Primitive Christians go warm our selves into resolution and activeness at that fire and flame of Heavenly Zeal How did they adventure to hold toḡether in Christian unity and continuing correspondency for the first three hundred yeares when the Magistrate was not for but against them yet held Christian union with the hazzard and oft to the loss of liberties Estates and lives so warm was their Love that it cast out fear and kept up constantly desire of some good unity And what had become of Religion and Christianity if they had been no warmer and more resolute and active then many that go for good are in our times What did the Waldenses and Albigences for divers hundred years in matter of correspondency and union notwithstanding the fury and rage of Persecution What was it under Christ that kept up Religion in those so extreamly corrupt times but their Conjunctions and Constancy What did the Blessed Reformers against the Pope Emperour and others the great difficulties and dangers that presently arose did they not endeavour Unity and Agreement notwithstanding the hazzards and extremities of those times If the Spirit and way of Christians in Primitive and succeeding ages was to labour and adventure for unity when Laws and the Civil Authority were against them and it was so exceeding dangerous Shall we not adventure and endeavour it when the Lawes and Civil Power do not hinder us yea and when of the chief Magistrate to whom this Agreement being presented it was not only well accepted but with such expressions also of Great Readiness to countenance and farther us in these our endeavours after a just and moderate union Ah then will any of the fore-named private respects any lothness and listlessness fears and jealousies will these in the Ballance of the Sanctuary weigh any thing O will they weigh against Scripture Commands Christs peculiar New Command the Judgement and endeavours of the Church old and new experience our own as well as others Approbations of Endeavoured for unity and Prayers for it Shall we approve it and pray for it and then confute our own Consciences and ravel out our Prayers by a sitting still and looking for an opportunity as a ripe fruit to fall into our mouthes and be made to our hands and not take it when there is such need of it and likewise the way so free for it It is a good saying Iter ad pietatem est intra ipsam pietatem It is true of Godly and brotherly unity the cure of Division and the way of Union is not so much without it not wishing and desiring of it but resolving trying acting vigorously and carrying it on with constancy Practice will bring that experience that will ease and sweeten the way and work and Evidence that very feisable that was lookt on as improbable if not impossible And that union is practicable and feisable this we see by what others in other parts of the Nation have happily begun and held on Therefore shall we busie our selves in drawing circles in the dust as he did when the City was storming whereby he lost his life by a common Souldier Shall we sit still when Necessity calls aloud for it the way is so open to it and others have so fairly led the way before us If we should do nothing Union and the work of Christ may arise and go on another way But if we be doing we among others shall be called the Repairers of the breach and our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord For the Lord will be with them that are with him FINIS Books printed for and sold by Edward Brewster at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard MOtives to a good Life in ten Sermons by Barten Holliday 4º A Treatise of Faith wherein is handled the nature of true saving Justifying Faith in opposition unto counterfeit also helps thereunto prescribed hinderances thereunto removed and severall other Gospel-truths clearly discussed by W. N. Mr. Birckbecks Protestants Evidence taken out of good record shewing that for 1500 yeares worthy Guides of Gods Church have in sundry weighty points taught as the Church of England now doth a very Learned and Judicions Work in soll His Treatise of the four last things Death Judgement Hell and Heaven in 8o. Mr. Cawdry's Inconsistency of the Independent way with Scripture and it selfe in 4o. Mr. Calamy's Sermons preached upon severall select occasions gathered into one Volume in 4o. An excellent Treatise of Mortification called The crucifying of the world by the Crosse of Christ with a Preface to all Rich men and Noblemen directing them how they may be richer by Richard Baxter in 4o. Mr. Palmers Gospel New Creature wherein the work of the Spirit is opened in awakning the soul to the getting of pardon of sin and an interest in Christ Conviction of sin Gospel Justification and creating into Christ discovering the false Refuges and hopes of heaven of ignorant formall and carnall professours Whereunto is added by way of comfort the tempestuous soul calmed by Jesus Christ in 8o. Mr. Angiers Helps to better hearts for better times in 12o. Mr. Belkes Scripture enquiry or helps for memory in duties of piety in 8o. Mr. Paul Baines Christian Letters replenished with divers Consolations Exhortations and Directions tending to promote the honour of Godlinesse in 12o. his directions to a godly Life wherein every Christian is furnished with most necessary helps for the furthering of him in a godly course here upon earth that so he may attain eternall happinesse in heaven in 12o. Mr. Benthams Christians Conflict a Treatise shewing the Difficulties and Duties of this Conflict with the Armour and speciall Graces to be exercised by Christian Souldiers particularly applyed to Magistrates Ministers Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters and Servants Mr Elton his Excellent Commentary on the 7 8 9 Romans in foll There is also in the Presse A practicall Commentary with observations on the whole 17 of John in foll by Mr. George Newton of Taunton Christs Commission Officer or the Preachers Pattent cleared and the peoples plea considered in a Sermon preached before the associated Ministers of Christ in the County of Sommerset at a Late solemne Ordination of 13 Ministers at Somerton in the said County by John Norman Minister of Bridg water Also a Sermon preached at the funerall of the Right Honourable Robert Earle of Warwick by Edmund Calamy in 4o.