Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n
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A75971
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The agreement of the associated ministers of the county of Essex: proposed to their particular congregations, and to all such of the county that love the churches peace; with a word of exhortation to brotherly union.
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1658
(1658)
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Wing A776; Thomason E955_2; ESTC R207612
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42,278
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62
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more fully it puts us in mind of our mutual relation and stirs us up the more to the performance of our respective duties to each other therefore we have hereunto annexed a profession of Assent to the Fundamentals of Faith by way of Explication of the Creed called the Apostles which we all own and will maintain Likewise a profession of Consent to the tearms of the Covenant of Grace which also we all freely agree unto and both these we conceive may not unfitly be used if not in the express words yet at least as to the substance of them either at the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper or on other occasions as prudence shall direct And we also engage for our selves to endeavour the settlement and practise of that Church-Order and Government the Scriptures warrant for admonition reproof and other Church-censures hoping that our people also will agree with us in the things fore-expressed as being not only lawful in themselves but so conducing to the Churches Union and Reformation Ministers encouragement and mutual edification Baptisme 1. VVE agree that not only those who do actually profess Faith in Christ and obedience to him but also the Infants of one or both Believing Parents or Parents that are Church-members are to be Baptized But we shall not Baptize the Children of such as are strangers to us until we have had personal conference with them and the like conference we will endeavour with such Parents who offering to us their Children to be Baptized are either ignorant of the grounds of Religion or scandalous in Conversation 2. Because some Brethren of the Association judge it meet when a Parent ignorant of the grounds of Religion or scandalous in Conversation offers his Child to be Baptized that the Ordinance may be forborn till that ignorant Parent get competent Knowledge or the scandalous do testifie serious Repentance Therefore for preserving Unity amongst us we agree that none of us of different judgements from such Ministers will over-hastily Baptize the Child of such a Parent till first we understand the case from any such Ministers that so defer Baptizing and if then we think fit to Baptize yet first we will render our Reasons to them for so doing which also we shall not be unwilling to submit to the censure of the Association 3. We also agree to administer Baptisme publikely and in the most solemn manner and therefore to perform it ordinarily on the Lords Day or upon some other day of Preaching the Word or at least when the Word by some Exposition or Exhortation may accompany the Ordinance and likewise so far as may be to avoid private Baptisme The Lords Supper 1. VVE agree according to Scripture Warrant the general Judgement and Practice both of the antient succeeding and present Churches of Christ with which the Rubrick before the Communion in divers passages of it and the Confession of Faith the larger Catechisme and form of Church-Government made by the Assembly concur that the Church-Guides should still put a difference in their Admissions to the Lords Supper between the evidently worthy and unworthy encouraging and furthering the one to and in a frequent partaking thereof but warning and not suffering the other to profane the Ordinance endanger their own Souls and give scandal to other Christians And seeing Church-Rulers are apt to fail in their duty either from too great severity rigidly excluding the competently fit or by inadvertency over-facility or fear promiscuously admitting such who on prudent and moderate Tryal would appear unworthy Therefore we resolve as to encourage good Christians to an often coming to the Lords Supper so not to admit such to it who appear unfit Namely 1. Those that have not a competent Knowledge in the principles of Religion 2. That are not of an unblameable Conversation And if some of us require more positive signs of Grace in persons that come to the Ordinance it shall be no breach of Union among our selves Competent Knowledge BEcause a total or gross ignorance in the principles of Christianity cannot consist with saving Faith sound Repentance coming up to the terms of the Covenant of Grace of which this Sacrament is a Seal neither with that discerning the Lords Body and such self-examination as is necessary to worthy partaking But that persons thus ignorant must needs miss of benefit by this Ordinance and meet with a Curse instead of a Blessing Therefore we shall not admit any that on Tryal are found such till Competent Knowledge be attained That we may therefore proceed more clearly and with less inconveniency to any we will not give the Rule our selves for this Tryal but express our concurrent sense and approbation of that direction being very full and plain which the Assembly in their form of Church-Government offers yet not limiting any strictly or solely to it Their words are these The Rubrick at the end of the Confirmation formerly mentioning the Curats Duty of taking account what Children could say the fore-mentioned Catechisme Add these words And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion until such time as he can say the Catechisme and be confirmed where the Catechisme is made the Rule of Tryal of Knowledge in first admission to the Lords Supper and that saying the Catechisme when Children but six or seven years old may rehearse it yet cannot understand it nor examine themselves must therefore be a saying of it with understanding the meaning and sense of which the Curate must take notice before he admits to that Ordinance All such persons who shall be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ought to know that there is a God that there is but one Everlasting and true God Maker of Heaven and Earth and Governour of all things that this only true God is the God whom we worship that this God is but one God yet three distinct Persons the Father Son and Holy Ghost all equally God That God created Man after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness that by one man Sin entred into the world and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned that thereby they are all dead in trespasses and sins and are by Nature the Children of Wrath and so lyable to Eternal Death the wages of every sin That there is but one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who is also over all God blessed for ever neither is there Salvation in any other That he was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary that he died upon the Cross to save his people from their sins that he rose again the third day from the Dead ascended into Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God and maketh Intercession for us of whose Fulness we receive all Grace necessary to Salvation That Christ and his Benefits are applyed only by Faith that Faith is the gift of God and that we have it not of our selves but it
of difference among Ministers themselves distraction among people disadvantage to the free course of the Gospel offence to the weak and opportunity to adversaries to advance their destructive designes against the reformed Religion and agreement therein being so necessary both for uniting our selves and people together joynt carrying on the work of Christ and disappointing the adversaries of Religion and Reformation Therefore we hold forth this following accord for the present and shall endeavour in our Meetings of Association all further lawful and due agreement as God herein shall guide us 1. Seeing that Ordination of Men to the Ministry is an institution of Christ so necessary that in an ordinary way none can preach as a Pastor or administer the Sacraments without it and because Admission and Ordination of a Minister is a work that cannot have too great care and caution about Therefore when a Minister is to be ordained among us we agree that such as are of the Ministery faithful and able be intrusted and imployed in the tryal and approbation of him and in the work of Ordination which Ordination the most of us judge to be that act of Ministers whereby a fit person first duly tryed and approved by them or some of them is solemnly set apart and appointed to the Ministery and sent into the Lords work by such acts and in such manner as is peculiar and proper for that setting apart appointing and sending Namely by such suteable prayer with fasting and laying their hands on him as is according to the Gospel which laying on of hands being the universal practice of the Church of Christ from the Apostles time to this present age grounded on Scripture Rule and Patterne we earnestly desire that all of us might unanimously and constantly practice when occasions are offered we likewise for due and more orderly proceeding agree that when any person desires to be ordained a Minister among us that he do apply himself to that particular Association wherein he is to exercise his Ministery and therefore the Moderator of that Association assisted with some of the Brethren appointed by the Association to joyn with him shall take care that a due tryal be made of the persons fitness according to the direction given by the Assembly in that case or at least to the substance of it and such Brethren as shall be chosen by that Association after the aforesaid tryal and also approbation of him shall ordain him in manner as is fore-expressed and likewise in that place and before that Congregation where the party is to exercise his publike Ministery unless for better conveniency some other place adjoyning and to which the people he is to take charge of may come and be there present shall be chosen that so both Minister and people may together be instructed in and exhorted to their mutual duties We agree though the most of us judge the way of Ordination should be performed as is formerly expressed yet if some Brethren among us are not at present throughly satisfied therein we are willing to keep union with them if that Ordination among them be performed by ordained Ministers solemnly setting a part a person tryed according to the substance of the directions of Tryal expressed and appointing him to the Ministery with sutable prayer and fasting and there shall be endeavour as is formerly provided of further Unity in practise in this particular in our Associate meetings We will also seriously labour a Closure in affection as well as in judgement and practice and to that end we resolve to lay aside all names and termes of difference forbearing so much as may be all such things which may occasion mistakes jealousies or dissatisfaction and practising whatsoever may encrease and confirm Brotherly Union Lastly in respect of the Civil State we will avoid in our Associate meetings and otherwise all such things which may disturb or prejudice the quiet thereof endeavouring by what lies in our sphear and power to promote the publike peace and welfare Consentimus omnes nos infra scripti I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffefered under Pontius Pilare was crucified dead and buried he desconded into holl the third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins The Resurrection of the Body and life everlasting Amen I do heartily take this one God for my only God and chief good and I take this Jesus Christ for my only Saviour and Redeemer and this Holy Ghost for my Sanctifier by his grace giving up my self wholly to this one God to love and obey him sincerely and faithfully according to all his Laws contained in the holy Scriptures and all this unto the Death And also I consent and resolve in the strength of Christ to hold constant Communion with the Church of Christ in the publike Worship of God and to submit to the Discipline and Government which Christ hath ordained for his own glory and his peoples good And that I may have the opportunity of enjoying of these priviledges for the advancement of mine obedience I resolve and promise to submit to the Ministerial Guidance and over-sight exercised according to the Rules of the Word in this Congregation and to the Brotherly advice and admonition of Fellow Christians here 1. I Believe that there is one only true God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost which are three distinct persons and each of them God and all of them that one and the same God Infinite Eternal Unchangeable in being and all perfection 2. I believe that this God is the Fore-ordainer Maker Preserver and Governour of all things according to the Counsel of his own Will 3. I believe that God made man upright after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness who by transgressing the Law of his Creator fell from that holy and happy estate and brought himself with his whole posterity into an estate of sin and death 4. I believe that man thus fallen not being able to deliver himself from this estate of misery God so loved the world that he sent forth his only begotten Son Jesus Christ who took to himself our nature and became man being conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary of her substance and born of her who being perfect God and perfect man in one person free from sin even in his humane nature and life having fulfilled all Righteousness gave himself a Sacrifice for our sins and a Ransome for us by suffering the wrath of God the death of the Cross to reconcile us to God and being buried yet so triumphed over death that