Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A86140
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Heads of agreement assented to by the united ministers in and about London, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational
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Howe, John, 1630-1705.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing H1282B; ESTC R42739
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5,382
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11
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of the Truth and the Church professing it 9. That a visible Professor thus joined to a particular Church ought to continue stedfastly with the said Church and not forsake the Ministry and Ordinances there dispensed without an orderly seeking a recommendation unto another Church Which ought to be given when the case of the person apparently requires it II. Of the Ministry 1. WE agree That the Ministerial Office is instituted by Jesus Christ for the Gathering Guiding Edifying and Governing of his Church and to continue to the end of the World 2. They who are called to this Office ought to be endued with competent Learning and Ministerial Gifts as also with the Grace of God sound in Judgment not Novices in the Faith and Knowledge of the Gospel without scandal of holy Conversation and such as devote themselves to the Work and Service thereof 3. That ordinarly none shall be Ordained to the Work of this Ministry but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church 4. That in so great and weighty a matter as the calling and chusing a Pastor we judge it ordinarly requisit That every such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of Neighbouring Congregations 5. That after such Advice the Person consulted about being chosen by the Brotherhood of that particular Church over which he is to be set and he accepting be duly ordained and set apart to his Office over them wherein 't is ordinarly requifite That the Pastors of Neighbouring Congregations concur with the Preaching-Elder or Elders if such there be 6. That whereas such Ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office If any judge that in the case also of the removal of one formerly Ordained to a new Station or Pastoral Charge there ought to be a like Solemn recomending him and his Labours to the Grace and Blessing of God no different Sentiments or Practice herein shall be any occasion of Contention or Breach of Communion among us 7. It is expedient that they who enter on the work of Preaching the Gospel be not only qualified for Communion of Saints but also that except in cases extraordinary they give proof of their Gifts and fitness for the said work unto the Pastors of Churches of known abilities to discern and judge of their qualifications That they may be sent forth with Solemn Approbation and Prayer which we judge needful that no doubt may remain concerning their being Called to the work and for preventing as much as in us lieth Ignorant and rash Intruders III. Of Censures 1. AS it cannot be avoided but that in the purest Churches on Earth there will sometimes Offences and Scandals arise by reason of Hypocrisie and prevailing corruption so Christ hath made it the Duty of every Church to reform it self by Spiritual Remedies appointed by him to be applied in all such cases viz. Admonition and Excommunication 2. Admonition being the rebuking of an Offending Member in order to conviction is in case of private offences to be performed according to the Rule in Mat. 18 v. 15 16 17. And in case of Publick offences openly before the Church as the Honour of the Gospel and nature of the Scandal shall require And if either of the Admonitions take place for the recovery of the fallen Person all further proceedings in a way of censure are thereon to cease and satisfaction to be declared accordingly 3. When all due means are used according to the Order of the Gospel for the restoring an offending and scandalous Brother and he notwithstanding remains Impenitent the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto Wherein the Pastor and other Elders if there be such are to lead and go before the Church and the Brother-hood to give their consent in a way of obedience unto Christ and unto the Elders as over them in the Lord. 4. It may sometimes come to pass that a Church-Member not otherwise Scandalous may sinfully withdraw and divide himself from the Communion of the Church to which he belongeth In which case when all due means for the reducing him prove ineffectual he having hereby cut himself off from that Church Communion the Church may justly esteem and declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him IV. Of Communion of Churches WE Agree that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate from each other as not to have care and tenderness towards one another But their Pastors ought to have frequent meetings together that by mutual Advice Support Encouragement and Brotherly intercourse they may strengthen the hearts and hands of each other in the ways of the Lord. 2. That none of our particular Churches shall be subordinat to one another each being endued with equality of Power from Jesus Christ And that none of the said particular Churches their Officer or Officers shall exercise any Power or have any Superiority over any other Church or their Officers 3. That known Members of particular Churches constituted as aforesaid may have occasional Communion with one another in the Ordinances of the Gospel viz. the Word Prayer Sacraments Singing Psalms dispensed according to the mind of Christ Unless that Church with which they desire Communion hath any just exception against them 4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our respective Congregations that hath joyned himself to another without endeavours of mutual Satisfaction of the Congregations concerned 5. That one Church ought not to blame the Proceedings of another until it hath heard what that Church charged its Elders or Messengers can say in vindication of themselves from any charge of Irregular or Injurious Proceedings 6. That we are most willing and ready to give an account of our Church Proceedings to each other when desired for preventing or removing any offences that may arise among us Likewise we shall be ready to give the right hand of fellowship and walk together according to the Gospel-Rules of Communion of Churches V. Of Deacons and Ruling Elders WE agree The Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment and that it belongs to their Office to receive lay out and distribute the Churches Stock to its proper uses by the direction of the Pastor and the Brethren if need be And whereas divers are of opinion That there is also the Office of Ruling Elders who labour not in Word and Doctrine and others think otherwise We agree That this difference make no breach among us VI. Of Occasional Meetings of Ministers c. 1. WE agree That in order to concord and in any other weighty and difficult cases it is needful and according to the mind of Christ that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted and advised with about such Matters 2. That such Meetings may consist of smaller or greater Numbers as the Matter shall require 3. That particular Churches their respective Elders and Members ought to have a reverential regard to their judgement so given and not dissent therefrom without apparent grounds from the word of God VII Of our Demeanour towards the Civil Magistrat 1. WE do reckon our selves obliged continually to pray for God's Protection Guidance and Blessing upon the Rulers set over us 2. That we ought to yield unto them not only subjection in the Lord but support according to our station and abilities 3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasunt to call together any Number of us or require any accoun of our Affairs and the state of our Congregations we shall most readily express all dutiful regard to them herein VIII Of a Confession of Faith AS to what appertains to soundness of Judgment in matters of Faith we esteem it sufficient That a Church acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God the perfect and only Rule of Faith and Practice and owne either the Doctrinal part of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England or the Confession or Catechisms Shorter or Larger compiled by the Assembly at Westminster or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy to be agreeable to the said Rule IX Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in Communion with us 1. WE judge it our duty to bear a Christian Respect to all Christians according to their several Ranks and Stations that are not of our Perswasion or Communion 2. As for such as may be ignorant of the Principles of the Christian Religion or of vicious conversation we shall in our respective Places as they give us opportunity endeavour to explain to them the Doctrine of Life and Salvation and to our uttermost perswade them to be reconciled to God 3. That such who appear to have the Essential Requisites to Church-Communion we shall willingly receive them in the Lord not troubling them with Disputes about lesser matters As we Assent to the forementioned Heads of Agreement So we Vnanimously Resolve as the Lord shall enable us to Practise according to them FINIS
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 tâ— 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