to the other Question about Communion and Consociation of Churches Now concerning that it is less needful to produce many Testimonies that there in the Synod Introduceth not any Innovation For some that dissented from the Answer to the first Question about Baptisme yet in this last concurred yea there was an unanimous and universal Assent to the Answer given to this second Question as the Author of the Antisynodalia Americanâ— does acknowledge where pag. 12. it is said in the second Question we do fully agree with the rest af the Synod in all the Propositions laid down about it together with the Proofs thereof we shall therefore amongst our New English Worthies only mention the Judgement of Mr. Cotton concerning this Question which what it is may be seen largly expressed in his Book of the Keyes pag. 54 c. And there are those that will remember that when that eminent Minister of Christ Mr. Mitchel was ordained Pastor of the Church in Cambridg Mr. Cotton giving in the Name of the Messengers of Churches the right hand of Fellowship seriously advised him to endeavour And that faithful man was ever mindful of that solemn Advice that that Ordinance of Consociation of Churches might be duly practised greatly bewailing the defect of these Churches as to that particular yea Mr. Cottons heart was much upon this thing in his latter time foreseeing that without it these Churches and the Congregational way could not stand He did therefore not long before his decease draw up some Propositions which are expressive of the way and manner of this Consociation pleaded for which because they are as being written by his hand they cannot but be of great weight and worth we shall therefore here insert and publish them Propositions Concerning Consociation and Communion of Churches tendred to the Elders and Brethren of the Church for their Consideration and acceptance according to God Proposition I. Every true Church of Christ viz. a particular Congregation furnished with a Presly ery and walking in the truth and peace of the Gospel hath received from the Lord Jesus full Power Ecclesiastical within it self both of Liberty to receive her own members to choose her own Officers and the like And also of Authority to Administer Sacraments Censure her own offenders and restore penitents Mat. 18 18 1 Cor 5. Acts 6.2 c. and 14 23. so as this Consociation and Communion of Churches ought not to hinder the exercise of this power but only by Counsel from the word to direct and strengthen their hands in the right Administration thereof upon all just occasions Proposition II. Althought the Apostles of Christ were Independent on each other and had equally the highest Power Ecclesiastical under Christ and were led with Infallible Assistance of the Spirit in the exercise thereof yet Paul with Barnabas and Titus went up to Jerusalem and that by Revelation not only to Confer and Consult with the Apostles about his doctrine left he had or should run in vain Gal 2.1 2. but also Consociated or made Agreement with them by mutual giving the right hand of Fellowship to dispose the Course of their Ministry and Provision for the poor that so they might procure the more free and effectual passage of the fruit of the Gospel and the work of their Ministry and therefore it may seem much rather not only lawful but also very profitable and needful for ordinary Elders and Churches though equal in Power wanting that Infallible Assistance of the Spirit to Comer and Consult and Consociate or agree together about all such weighty matters in which Counsel and Concurrences to avoid Suspition of prejudice and partiality and so to expedite the free passage of the Gospel in the hands of them all Proposition III. If when Peter gave offence at Antioch the Apostle Paul took Liberty to rebuke him before them all though he was his equal in place and power and that no doubt out of that duty of love and faithfulness which he owed unto him and to the truth Peter also submitting thereunto then it may well stand with the equality of Churches out of their duty of Love and Faithfulness to admonish each other in case of publick offence and submit to such admonition from the word in meckness of wisdom as to the will and Authority of Christ and to give such Satisfaction as the Rule doth require Proposition IV. Out of Question the Lord Iesus the boad King and Compassionate high Pâ—â—â—st and Saviour of his body the Church hath as great a Love and care of the purity Peace and Edisocation of whole Churches as of particular Saints as is evident by those Epistles sent to the Churches of Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia to heal the publick Errors diffentions and other Corruptions found in them and therefore câ—â—tainly he hath appointed and sanctified some sufficient meane to preserve their purity and peace to heal and help the evils and distempers of whole Churches as well as of particular Believers Now then since Apostles and other extraordinary Officers are ceased that had power in all Churches and only Love remaineth what other Ecclesiastical help is there left without infringing the power of particular Churches but the Exercise of brotherly Love mutual watchfulness Brotherly Care and Counsel which Elders and Churches ought therefore to practice towards each other in this way of Brotherly Communion and Assistance on all just occasions Proposition V. Upon these and other Scripture grounds and Examples and for the ends above said it is very meet and requisite according to our present practice that when any Company of Christians intend to unite themselves into the Fellowship of a Church or being in a Church state to elect and ordain any Elders over them that in due time they signify their intentions to the Neighbouring Churches walking in the order of the Gospel if such may be had desiring their presence Assistance and right hand of Fellowship that as a Church is a City set upon a Hill so the Acts thereof may not be as a Light put under a Bushel but may so shine forth to all other Churches beholding and approving their orderâ—y proceedings as they may the more readily give them the right hand of Fellowship and walk with more freedom of Spirit in Brotherly Love and Communion with them in the Lord. Proposition VI. In such matters of publick Censure wherein through the obscenity and difficulty thereof or otherwise there doth arise differences tending to dangerous Divisions and distractions in the Church or offence to other Churches In all such Caâ—es it is meet and requisite that the Church proceed advisâ—dâ—y with the Counsel and Concurrence of the Elder or Elders with other Judicious and impartial Brethâ—â—â— of other Churches clearing up from the Word what is the mind and will of Christ to be done Proposition VII Not only in matters of Censure but also in other Cases of Doctrine or practice wherein for want of Light or of the
positively reject the Gospel and that the membership of Children hath no tendency in it to pollute the Church any more now then under the Old Testament and that children are under Church discipline and that some persons Adult may be admitted to Baptisme and yet not to the Lords Supper c. The whole Letter being already published we shall not here insert it or any thing further concerning it only assure the Reader that the Letter it self even the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is still to be seen as it was written by Mr. Shepards own hand Also the same Author in his printed defence of the nine positions pag. 143. does maintain the Church membership of childâ—en and their Subjection to Discipline In the year after these mentioned viz. Anno 1636. here arrived two other of New-Englands Worthies Mr. Partriches and Mr. Rogers Concerning the Subject of Baptisme Namely Mr. Ralph Partrich and Mr. Nathaâ—â—el Rogers As for Mr. Partrich sometimes faithful Pastor of the Church in Duxberry in Plimouth Colony what his Judgement was touching the present controversy is to be seen from that Model of Church Discipline when was by him composed and presented to the Synod at Cambridg Anno 1648. and which is still extant under the hand writing of the Reverend Author in which Manuscript are these words The persons unto whom the Sacrament of Baptisme is dispensed and as we conceive ought to be are such as being of years and converted from their Sins to the Faith of Jesus Christ do joyn in Communion and Fellowship with a particular visible Church as also the children of such Parents or Parent as having laid hold of the Covenant of grace in the judgement of Charity are in a visible Covenant with his Church and all their Seed after them that cast not off the Covenant of God by some Scandalous and obstinate going on in Sin as may appear by Math. 28.19 and 1 Cor. 7.14 with Gen. 17 c. compared Thus for Mr. Partrich his Judgement Concerning Mr. Nathaniel Rogers late eminent Pastor of the Church of Ipswich in New-England that his Judgement did concur with the Doctrine of the late Synod touching Baptisme is certain from what himself did publickly teach some years before his Decease Also from a Letter of his written to the Reverend Mr. Richard Mather some years before Mr. Rogers went to his Rest which Letter still remains under the Authors own hand writing we shall therefore insert the substance of it which followeth Reverend and dear Sir I Received a Letter with a Book from you and do return you this Testimony of my most thankful acceptance of your kindness and good will both in your Letter and worthy Treatise of Justification which as yours are wont to be is nervous and this is compendious in a special manner and yet perspicuous I see my defect in Hen. Den's matters supplyed by your Diligence To the Question concerning the Children of Chuch members I have nothing to oppose and I wonder any should deny them to be members They are members in Censa Ecclesiastico God so calls them the Church is so to account thew and when they are Adulia aâ—atis though having done no personal act yet are to be judged members still until after due Calling upon they shall refuse or neglect to acknowledge and own the Covenant of their Parents and profess their belief of and Subjection to the Contents thereof which if they shall deny the Church may Cashier or disown them Now for practice I confess I account it a great default that we have made no more real distinction between these and others that they have been no more attended as the Lambs of the flock of Christ and whether it be not the cause of the corruption and woful defection of our youth disquiri permittimus We are this week to meet in the Church about it and I know nothing but we must speedily fall to practice If we in this shall be Leaders I pray beg wisdom from the Father of Lights and him who is our Wisdom as well as our Righ cousness I commit you to the blessed Communion of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus and rest Yours in him Cordially N. Rogers XI 18. 1652. These Testimonies are more then abundantly sufficient to evince that the first Fa hers of this Country were for that Enlargement of Baptisme which the late Synod Book pleads for And that therefore such a practice is no â—postacy from our Primitive Principles yet further Testimonies might be superadded unto these for Mr Hâ—nr Sm â—h sometimes Minister of the Word at Wethersfield on Connecticot In a Letter of his dated August 23. Anno 1647. which Letter was also written to Mr. Mather thus expresses himself we are at a Loss in our parts about members Children being received into Communion because it is undetermined in the extent of it at the Synod our thoughts here are that the promise made to the Seed of Confederates Gen. 17. takes in all Children of Confederating Parents whether baptized here or else where whether younger or Elder if they do either expressly or otherwayes may be Conceived in the Judgement of Charity to Consent thereunto Now because many have Children grown up which were born in England who would gladly express their Consent and desire to their Parents Covenant only we are loth to walk alone in the thing we could heartily wish we had the Concurrence of your Judgement c. Thus Mr. Smith Likewise Mr. Prudden late faithful Pastor of the Church in Milford in New-Haven Colon in New-England in a Letter to the same Reverend person which the last mentioned was sent unto does not only express his own thoughts but gives Reason for his belief concerning the Question under Agitation with whose Testimony we shall conclude And because his Letter is of Weighty and worthy Consideration Consideration albeit part of it as of that of Mr. Rogers is already published in the Preface to the Synod Book yet we shall here insert the substance of it which now follows Dear Brother I was glad at the receipt of your Letters but I am sorry to hear of such breaches in Churches and no way nor means found out and applyed for healing which I fear with you does strengthen the Presbyterian Objection against our Congregational way when the writings of some for our defence and our practice agree not in that particular I think with you that man to be much blessed whom God should make helpful in those things though as he ha's but little encouragement to attempt it so can he expect less thanks from man who possibly may have erred but loth to be judged so to have done Touching your own Exercises you are not alone in them the power of the Elders in preparing matters of offence and other things for the Church has been much questioned by some But me-thinks hat which Mr Hooker ha's written in the Case Survey pt 3d. pag. 33. should satisfy those who are not of a
Spirit of meckness and Love there doth grow dissention in any Church as did in the Church of Antioch about Circumsision The Church so divided shall do wisely and safely not to proceed to determine the Case by a Major Vâ—te to the unsatisfaction and offence of a Considerable part among themselves or the offence of other Churches But ought rather to bring the matter to the hearing and Judgement of other Elders and Brethren of other Churches who being desired ought readily to meet together and seriously as in the fear of God to enquire into the Case search out by the word what is the mind of Christ therein by themselves if present or otherwise by Letters and Messengers to declare to the Church what they judge to be the Rule of Christ which they should walk by which Judgement ought to be received with all due respect according to God Acts 15. Proposition VIII As there is a Brotherhood of members in the same Church so there is a Brotherhood of Churches being all Fellow members of Christ Jesus and so bound to have a mâ—utal Care one of another Cant. 8 8. It is therefore meet and requiste that in Case any Church shall fall into any scandalous error or offence in doctrine or practice then the Neighbour Church or Churches should Advertize Convince and admonish such a Church thereof according to the Rule of the Gospel And if after due Conviction by a Neighbour Church and again by more Churches the offending Church as the nature of the offence and the respect due to a Church of Christ may require may at length withdraw the Church with sufficient partience will not yet hearken to their Brethren then withdraw from that Church or at least that part of it which refuse to be healed such Brotherly Communion and the fruits thereof as otherwise Churches usually do afford to each other Proposition IX In Case any member shall be laid under Censure in a Church by the Major part with the offence of a Considerable part thereof or when any whole Church shall seem to have Consented corruptly to such a Censure upon Complaint of the grieved part attested by the dusenting Brethren or in the other Case by other credible persons it is free yea requisite that other Church or Churches in the Spirit of meckness desire to know the Reason or their Censure which if the Church shall clear up to be just then the other Church or Churches ought to bear witness to their proceedings and to perswade the Censured and dissenting part of the submit and give satisfaction But if the Church shall refuse to give an account of the Reasons of their procceedings or not finally clear up the Justice thereof nor ease the grieved party it will then be equal for any other Church to receive the Censured part to their Covenant or Communion For so Christ received the blind man after he was unjustly Cast out of the Synogogue Iobâ— 9. The unjust acts of any Church cannot appear to be done in the name of Christ out rather in the abuse of his name and power and therefore do not bind in Heaven Clavis errans uon Ligat Proposition X. As it is the practise of Godly Christians in the Churches without any Scruple and with much Edification and increase of Love to meet together in Covenient numbers or Families at Set times house by house to exercise that Christian Communion which the moral Rules of the Gospel call for 1 Thes 5.11 Col. 3.16 Heb. 3 13. and so 24. so also upon the same grounds besides others it would by the blessing of God conduce much to the increase of brotherly Love and Unity the spiritual Edification of many by mutual Faith of each other to the strengthening of the hearts and hands of one another in the work of the Lord If the Elders and brethren of the Churches did meet together Church by Church in Convenient numbers at set times not to exercise any Jurisdiction over any but to enjoy and practice Church Communion by prayer together hearing the word preached and Conference about such Gases and Questions of Conscience as shall be found useful or needful for the edification and Comfort and peace of every Church or any of the Brethren thereof and this Course might tend much to satisfy the Spirits of divers godly Brethren who have thought that we so much mind the distinction of particular Churches and the duties of fellow members in the same that we loose much of the Comfort of Love and the Fellowship of the Spirit which we might enjoy and that we fall short in some brotherly Love which we owe mutually to our dear Brethren of several Churches For the better Improvement of such a Conference 1. It is fit that the Number of Churches so to meet be regulated according to the nearness or distance of Churches and as other Conveniences or Inconveniences shall require 2. For the times of meeting it may seem best to leave it to the wisdome of each Society of Churches to meet more frequently or seldom as they shall see Cause 3. Concerning their Exercises it is meet that the Elders of each Church where the Conference is to be held should choose with Consent of the Church some other Elder as they see best whom they may intreat to preach at their meeting and also to desire some to moderate in the Conference and agree upon such Questions as they see fit three or four and send them to the Elders of other Churches at least fourteen dayes before the time of their Assembly 4. For the ordering of the Time it may be fit that the Sermon should end at Eleven a Clock and after it the Conference follow and continue so long as shall be found meet and seasonable Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself who is the Counsellour the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace grant unto all his Churches truth and Peace alwayes and â—y all means and He counsel and guide the hearts of his people to discern and embrace all such wayes as himself hath sanctified to those holy Ends. Amen Thus farr Mr. Cotton And that this is according to Congregational Principles is evident from other Testimonies For the Messengers of an hundred and twenty Congregational Churches who met at the Savoy in London Anno 1658. do in their declaration of the order appointed in the Churches of Christ Thesis 26. thus declare In Case of difficulties or differences either in point of doctrine or in Administrations wherein either the Churches in general are concerned or any one Church in their Peace Vnion and Edification or any member or members of any Church are injured in or by any proceeding in Censures not agreeable to Truth and Order It is according to the mind of Christ that many Churches holding Communion together do by their Messengers meet in a Synod or Council to Consider and give their Advice in or about the matter in difference c. And Doctor Owen who was a great part of
and preserve Churches and their Elders in their duties As that other of Claim to an Authoritative Power Ecclesiastical to Excommunicate other Churches or their Elders offending for if the one be compared with the other in a mier Ecclesiastical Notion that of Excommunication pretended hath but this more in it that it is a Delivery of whole Churches and their Elders offending unto Satan for which we know no warrant in the Scriptures that Churches should have such a power over other Churches And then as for the binding Obligation both of the one way and the other it can be supposed to lye but in these two things 1. In a warrant and Injunction given by Christ to his Churches to put either the one or the other into Execution And 2. That mens Consciences be accordingly taken therewith so as to Subject themselves whether unto the one way or the other For suppose that other Principle of Authoritative Power in the greater part of the Churches combined to Excommunicate other Churches c. To be the Ordinance of God yet unless it do take hold of mens Consciences and be received amongst all Churches the offending Churches will slight all such Excommunications as much as they may be supposed to do our way of protestation and Sentence of non Communion On the other side Let this way of ours be but as strongly entertained as that which is the way and Command of Christ and upon all occasions be heedfully put in Execution it will awe mens Consciences as much and produce the same Effects And if the Magistrates Power to whicâ— we give as much and as we think more then the Principles of the Presbyterial Government will suffer them to yield do buâ— assiâ—t and back the Sentence of other Churches denouncing this Non Commâ—nion against Churches miscarrying according to the nature of the Crime as they judge meet and as they would the Sentence of Chu ches Eâ—â—omâ—â—nicating other Churches in such Cases upon their own particular Judgemenâ— of the Cause then without all Controveâ—sy this our way of Church proceeding will be every way as effectual as their other can be supposed to be and we are sure more brotherly and more suited to that Liberty and equality Christ hath endowed his Church with But without the Magistrates interposing their Authority their way of proceeding will be as ineffectual as ours and more liable to Contempt by how much it is pretendâ—d to be more Authorita ive and to inflict more dreadful punishment which carnal Spirits are seldom sensible of This for our Judgements And for a eâ—l evidence and demonstration both that this was then our Judgements as likewise for an instance of the effectual Success of such a Course held by Churches in such Cases our own practice and the blessing of God thereon may plead and testify for us to all the world The manage of this Transaction in brief was this That Church which with others was most Scandalized did by Letters declare their offence requiring of the Church suposed to be offending in the Name and for the vindication of the honour of Christ and the relieving the party wronged to yield a full and publick hearing before all the Churches of our Nation or any other whomsoever offended of what they could give in Charge against their proceedings in that deposition of their Minister and to submit themselves to an open Tryal and review of all those forepassed Carriages that concerned that particular which they most chearfully and readily according to the forementioned Principles submitted unto in a place and state where no outward violence or any other external Authority either Civil or Ecclesiastical would have enforced them thereunto And accordingly the Ministers of the Church offended with other two Gentlemen of much worth wisdom and Piety members thereof were sent as Messengers from that Church and at the Introduction and enterance into that Solemn Assembly the Solemnity of which ha's left as deep an Impression upon our hearts of Christâ— dreadful presence as ever any we have been present at It was openly and publickly professed in a Speech that was the Preface to that discussion to this Effect that it was the most to be abhorred maxime that any Religion ha's ever made profession of and thâ—refore of all other the most contradictory and dishonourabâ—e unto that of Christianity that a single and particular Society of mâ—n professing the Name of Christ and pretending to be endowed with a power from Christ to judge them that are of the saâ—e body and Society within themselves should further arrogate to themselves an exemption from giving account or being Censurable of any other either Christian Magistrate above them or Neighbâ—ur Churches about them So farr were our Iudgements from that Independent Liberty that is imputed to us then when we had least dependency on this Kingdome or so much as hopes ever to abide therein in peace And for the Issue and Success of this agitation after there had been for many dayes as Judiciary and full a Charge tryal and deposition of witnesses openly before all Commers of all Sorts as can be expected in any Court where Authority enjoyns it that Church which had offended did as publickly acknowledge their sinful aberration in it restored their Minister to his place again And ordered a Solemn day for fasting to humble themselves before God and men for their sinful Carriage in it and the party also which had been deposed did acknowledge to that Church wherein he had likewise sinned So that these Godly Learned Writers were so far from making a Popedome of a particular Church that they deemed it an abhorred maxime to affirme that a particular Church is unaccountable to or not Censurable by Neighbour Churches about them They therefore that do reject the Coâ—nsociation or Communion pleaded for want that which is one Specifical Character of a true Congregatiâ—nal man whereby such are distinguished from Brownists and Morellians whose Principles have ever been disowned and disavowed by Congregationals who have also thought themselves not a little inâ—ured when they have been represented as the same else how have Hornebecks Summa Controversiaruâ— de Brownishis and Bailies disswasive and other writings ej â—fde in commatis been so distastful and dissatisfactory to all of that way who understand what Principles they go upon Moreover that our Congregational Brethren are for such Communion of Churches as is by the late Synod asserted is yet farr more evident from the Testimony of blessed Burroughs in his Excellent Treatise about heart Dâ—visions see pag. 84. and 163. And in pag. 43 44. There are these words 1. Those in the Congregational way acknowledge that they are bound in Conscience to give account of their wayes to Churches about them or to any other who shall require it this not in an Arbitrary way but as a duty that they owe to God and man 2dly They acknowledge that Synods of other Ministers and Elders about them are an Ordinance of Jesus Christ