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truth_n church_n profess_v visible_a 1,998 5 9.1242 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
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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of_o the_o truth_n and_o the_o church_n profess_v it_o 9_o that_o a_o visible_a professor_n thus_o join_v to_o a_o particular_a church_n aught_o to_o continue_v steadfast_o with_o the_o say_a church_n and_o not_o forsake_v the_o ministry_n and_o ordinance_n there_o dispense_v without_o a_o orderly_a seek_v a_o recommendation_n unto_o another_o church_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v give_v when_o the_o case_n of_o the_o person_n apparent_o require_v it_o ii_o of_o the_o ministry_n 1._o we_o agree_v that_o the_o ministerial_a office_n be_v institute_v by_o jesus_n christ_n for_o the_o gather_v guide_v edify_v and_o govern_v of_o his_o church_n and_o to_o continue_v to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n 2._o they_o who_o be_v call_v to_o this_o office_n aught_o to_o be_v endue_v with_o competent_a learning_n and_o ministerial_a gift_n as_o also_o with_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n sound_a in_o judgement_n not_o novice_n in_o the_o faith_n and_o knowledge_n of_o the_o gospel_n without_o scandal_n of_o holy_a conversation_n and_o such_o as_o devote_v themselves_o to_o the_o work_n and_o service_n thereof_o 3._o that_o ordinary_o none_o shall_v be_v ordain_v to_o the_o work_n of_o this_o ministry_n but_o such_o as_o be_v call_v and_o choose_v thereunto_o by_o a_o particular_a church_n 4._o that_o in_o so_o great_a and_o weighty_a a_o matter_n as_o the_o call_n and_o choose_v a_o pastor_n we_o judge_v it_o ordinary_o requisite_a that_o every_o such_o church_n consult_v and_o advise_v with_o the_o pastor_n of_o neighbour_a congregation_n 5._o that_o after_o such_o advice_n the_o person_n consult_v about_o be_v choose_v by_o the_o brotherhood_n of_o that_o particular_a church_n over_o which_o he_o be_v to_o be_v set_v and_o he_o accept_v be_v due_o ordain_v and_o set_v apart_o to_o his_o office_n over_o they_o wherein_o it_o be_v ordinary_o requifite_a that_o the_o pastor_n of_o neighbour_a congregation_n concur_v with_o the_o preaching-eld_a or_o elder_n if_o such_o there_o be_v 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that_o a_o church-member_n not_o otherwise_o scandalous_a may_v sinful_o withdraw_v and_o divide_v himself_o from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n to_o which_o he_o belong_v in_o which_o case_n when_o all_o due_a mean_n for_o the_o reduce_v he_o prove_v ineffectual_a he_o have_v hereby_o cut_v himself_o off_o from_o that_o church_n communion_n the_o church_n may_v just_o esteem_v and_o declare_v itself_o discharge_v of_o any_o further_a inspection_n over_o he_o iv_o of_o communion_n of_o church_n we_o agree_v that_o particular_a church_n ought_v not_o to_o walk_v so_o distinct_a and_o separate_a from_o each_o other_o as_o not_o to_o have_v care_n and_o tenderness_n towards_o one_o another_o but_o their_o pastor_n ought_v to_o have_v frequent_a meeting_n together_o that_o by_o mutual_a advice_n support_v encouragement_n and_o brotherly_a intercourse_n they_o may_v strengthen_v the_o heart_n and_o hand_n of_o each_o other_o in_o the_o way_n of_o the_o lord_n 2._o that_o none_o 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head_n of_o agreement_n assent_v to_o by_o the_o unite_a minister_n in_o and_o about_o london_n former_o call_v presbyterian_a and_o congregational_a license_v and_o enter_v according_a to_o order_n edinburgh_n reprint_v by_o the_o heir_n of_o andrew_n anderson_n printer_n to_o their_o most_o excellent_a majesty_n anno_fw-la dom._n 1691._o the_o preface_n to_o the_o reader_n endeavour_n for_o a_o agreement_n among_o christian_n will_v be_v grievous_a to_o none_o who_o desire_v the_o flourish_a state_n of_o christianity_n itself_o the_o success_n of_o these_o attempt_n among_o we_o must_v be_v ascribe_v to_o a_o presence_n of_o god_n so_o signal_n as_o not_o t●_n be_v conceal_v and_o seem_v a_o hopeful_a pledge_n of_o further_a blessing_n the_o favour_n of_o our_o ruler_n in_o the_o present_a establish_a liberty_n we_o most_o thankful_o acknowledge_v and_o to_o they_o we_o be_v studious_a to_o approve_v ourselves_o in_o the_o whole_a of_o this_o affair_n therefore_o we_o declare_v 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its_o have_v be_v collect_v into_o any_o form_a society_n under_o a_o visible_a humane_a head_n on_o earth_n whether_o one_o person_n single_o or_o many_o collective_o we_o with_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o protestant_n unanimous_o disclaim_v it_o 2._o we_o agree_v that_o particular_a society_n of_o visible_a saint_n who_o under_o christ_n their_o head_n be_v stated_o join_v together_o for_o ordinary_a communion_n with_o one_o another_o in_o all_o the_o ordinance_n of_o christ_n be_v particular_a church_n and_o be_v to_o be_v own_v by_o each_o other_o as_o institute_v church_n of_o christ_n though_o differ_v in_o apprehension_n and_o practice_n in_o some_o lesser_a thing_n 3._o that_o none_o shall_v be_v admit_v as_o member_n in_o order_n to_o communion_n in_o all_o the_o special_a ordinance_n of_o the_o gospel_n but_o such_o person_n as_o be_v know_v and_o sound_a in_o the_o fundamental_a doctrine_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n without_o scandal_n in_o their_o life_n and_o to_o a_o judgement_n regulate_v by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n be_v person_n of_o visible_a godliness_n and_o honesty_n crediby_o profess_v cordial_a subjection_n to_o jesus_n christ_n 4._o a_o competent_a number_n of_o such_o visible_a saint_n as_o before_o describe_v do_v become_v the_o capable_a subject_n of_o state_v communion_n in_o all_o the_o special_a ordinance_n of_o christ_n upon_o their_o mutual_a declare_a consent_n and_o agreement_n to_o walk_v together_o therein_o according_a to_o gospel-rule_n in_o which_o declaration_n differerent_fw-la degree_n of_o expliciteness_n shall_v no_o no_n way_n hinder_v such_o church_n from_o own_v each_o other_o as_o institute_v church_n 5._o though_o parochial_a bound_n be_v not_o of_o divine_a right_n yet_o for_o common_a edification_n the_o member_n of_o a_o particular_a church_n ought_v as_o much_o as_o convenient_o may_v be_v to_o live_v near_o one_o another_o 6._o that_o each_o particular_a church_n have_v right_o to_o choose_v their_o own_o officer_n and_o be_v furnish_v with_o such_o as_o be_v due_o qualify_v and_o ordain_v according_a to_o the_o gospel-rule_n have_v authority_n from_o christ_n for_o exercise_v government_n and_o of_o enjoy_v all_o the_o ordinance_n of_o worship_n within_o itself_o 7._o in_o the_o administration_n of_o church_n power_n it_o belong_v to_o the_o pastor_n and_o other_o elder_n of_o every_o particular_a church_n if_o such_o there_o be_v to_o rule_v &_o govern_v and_o to_o the_o brotherhood_n to_o consent_v according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o gospel_n 8._o that_o all_o professor_n as_o before_o describe_v be_v bind_v in_o duty_n as_o they_o have_v opportunity_n to_o join_v themselves_o as_o fix_v member_n of_o some_o particular_a church_n their_o thus_o join_v be_v part_n of_o their_o profess_a subjection_n to_o the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n and_o a_o institute_v mean_n of_o their_o establishment_n and_o edification_n whereby_o they_o be_v under_o the_o pastoral_n care_n and_o in_o case_n of_o scandalous_a or_o offensive_a walk_n may_v be_v authoritative_o admonish_v or_o censure_v for_o their_o recovery_n and_o for_o vindication_n