for the helping the Church against Errors Schismes and Scandals 3dly That these Synods may by the Power they have from Christ admonish men or Churches in his Name when they see evils Continuing in or growing upon the Church and their Admonitions carry with them the Authority of Jesus Christ 4ly As there shall be cause they may declare men or Churches to be Subverters of the Faith or otherwise according to the nature of the offence to shame them before all the Churches about them 5ly They may by a Solemn act in the Name of Jesus Christ refuse any further Communion with them till they repent 6ly They may declare also in the Name of Christ that these erring people or Churches are not to be received into Fellowship with any of the Churches of Christ nor to have Communion with one another in the Ordinances of Christ You will say what if they care not for all this Answ That is as if you should say what if they be not Conscientious what if nothing can prevail with Conscience if you say private Brethren may admonish and declare in the Name of Christ This is more then if any private Brethren should do the same thing For a Synod is a Solemn Ordinance of Christ and the Elders are to be looked upon as the Officers of Jesus Christ And again pag. 47. he ha's these words If it shall be said But surely they do not agree so farr they do not come up to these six things mentioned To that I Answer I do not in these deliver only mine own Judgement but by what I know of the Judgements of all those Brethren with whom I have occasion to Converse by Conference both before and since I stand Charged to make it good to be their Judgements also yea it hath been theirs and mine for divers years even then when we never thought to have enjoyed our own Land again And if it be so then let the Lord be Judge between us and our Brethren for those loud and grievous out-Cries there ha's been against us in this thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 POSTSCRIPT SInce the Composure of this Collection of Testimonies it hath pleased the Lord to take unto himself another of our Antient Studs viz. worthy and Reverend Mr. Allin of Dedham whose Apprehensions touching the Controverted Questions is sufficiently known Likewise not many weeks before his death he read this Script and expressed his judgement thereon in words following Reverend and dear Brother I salute you in the Lord. I humbly bless God for your fruitful Labours in this your Collection and in other matters performed by you concerning which in general I think it is worthy serious Consultation amongst your Friends whether it be not a Season to publish the same 1. We see the work of Christ touching the Church Seed is laid asleep this might awaken our drowsiness we see also the great disorders in Churches for want of seasonable help from Neighbouring Churches and by Reason of the rejection of Counsel without convincing their Sentence of error 2 dly We see how our present doctrine is rejected as a Novel Innovation differing from first and primitive Principles 3. Who knoweth how farr God may bless this Treatise to the recovery of some if not many from their Erroneous Opinions about these Truths I Conceive also some serious Exhortation to cleave to these first wayes of Christ in New England might be seasonably added I Rest Yours in our Lord Iohn Allin A Letter concerning the Subject of Baptisme written by that eminent Minister of Christ Mr Ionathan Mitchel late Pastor of the Church in Cambridg in New England Reverend and dear Sir I have deliberately read over Mr. Dâ— Essay and Epistle to the Reader which I now return to you with thanks for the Loan of it If I should say I see not matter of Conviction in it his Answer is already given me pag. 35 If men shut their eyes when the light is held out to them they may truly say they see not or in pag. 6. they that Enquire of God with an Idol in their hearts shall be paenally answered by being left to their own Counsels c. we had need Labour to approve our selves to God when we meet with such sharp Censures from men But the R. A. can hardly expect we should find Conviction here seeing he builds all upon this distinction of Immediate and mediate membership which with the Consectaries He deduceth from it is the prora puppis of his whole discourse and for the proof of the distinction himself in pag. 34 35. refers the Reader to his former Essays neither have I observed much more in this writing toward the proof of it then we have had before And therefore if we did not see it as by him explained and Improved to be evident before it is not strange if we do not see it now If it must be imputed to our blindness yea wilful and paenal blindness that we see it not we must be Content to bear it as we may Also when he affirms over and over pag. 75 83 92 103 131 145 152. that we our selves Confess the Parents in Question have not Faith or are not visible Believers the Contrary whereunto we have plainly asserted And how many times over does he say it we call them meer members which we have disclaimed and do not so call them but members not in full Communion yea he sayes in pag. 49. we grant that the persons in Question are not to be accounted Church members c. How should we receive Conviction from such discourses If his meaning be by so often reflecting on our meer members as he calls them to deny that distinction of members into such as are in full Communion and such as are not in full Communion that would seem strange for how can that be denyed by any Padâ—baptists and he seems to approve it in pag. 35. yea he seems sometimes to grant that some when Adult do Continue in the Church and Covenant who yet are not admitted to full Communion pag. 76. 99 yet he calls for a Rule for two such sorts of Adult members pag. 73. But I shall not enter into discourse of particulars nor am I fit to be an Answerer it is casie to observe a greater sharpness in his Expressions to me then else where in this Book I hope I shall Consider as I am able what I find in this or other discourses about the matter in Controversy c. and if I be convinced of Error I shall not be ashamed to own it but if there be no way to Issue the Controversy but by such voluminous writings and if every passage be not spoken to he counts himself neglected or unanswered And that which he hath before said stands still firm and good as to that purpose he speaks in this Book above twenty times I have little hope to see an Issue of it nor can I see any likely way for an Issue unless we can meet
THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NEW-ENGLAND Concerning The Subject of Baptisme Communion of Churches Collected partly out of the Printed Books but chiefly out of the Original Manuscripts of the First and chiefe Fathers in the New-English Churches With the Judgment of Sundry Learned Divines of the Congregational Way in England Concerning the said Questions Published for the Benefit of those who are of the Rising Generation in New England By INCREASE MATHER Teacher of a Church in Boston in New-England Deut. 32.7 Remember the dayes of old Aske thy Father and he will shew thee thy Elders they will tell thee Psal 102.18 This shall be written for the Generation to come Nihil mihi Authoritatis assumo sed quae ab alijs dispersa velut in ordinem Epitomata Conscribo Veget. L. 1. C. 8. CAMBRIDGE Printed by Samuel Green 1671. To the Reader COncerning the ensuing Collection of Testimonies which are expressive of the Judgement of the first and chief of the Fathers in the New English Churches as also of sundry others that are Pillars amongst those of the true Congregational way about the Subject of Baptisme and the Communion of Churches if any should have Scruples about the truth thereof they may easily in part satisfy themselves by having recourse to the printed Books out of which these passages are faithfully excerped And as for those things which are as most of the subsequent Collection is taken from Manuscripts I have by me the Original Scripts only some few of them are in other hands who are ready to shew them unto such if any such there be as shall hesitate touching the Fidelity of this publication As to that matter therefore no more shall or needs to be said My designe at pr sent is only to Commend a few things to the serious and Christian Consideration of the Antisynodalian Brethren Brethren I was once of your perswasion and thence can with the more Love and Compassion speak unto you What the Arguments were which caused me to be of another mind is not here a place to relate but it shall be done if God permit elsewhere For the present let it suffice to be said that Study and Prayer and much Affliction hath brought me to be of another belief then once I was of touching the Controverted Questions And unto you that are still of the Antisynodalian perswasion I would in the bowels and love of Christ say these few things 1. Consider that it is possible that you may be mistaken in your Apprehensions Many things might be mertioned to you which ought to Cause an humble jealousy in you least so it should be Were there that only Consideration that so many Learned and gedly men are opposed it ought to Cause Trembling and an holy fear in you least your Notions should be Erroneous It is a Christian Speech and Spirit which blessed Burroughs hath in his Excellent Itenicum pag. 89. where he saith He that differs in his Judgement from gedly learned men had need to spend much Time in Prayer and Humiliation before the Lord There is a notable Expression of Basil cited in an Epistle of Luther to the Ministers of Norimberg who were at variance variance one from another He who will separate from his Brethren had need to Consider many things even to anxiety he had need break his sleep many nights and seek of God with many Tears the demonstration of the Truth Thus He. Remember that those you differ from were under greater Advantages and Probabilities to understand the Truth then can be said concerning your selves For that many of the members of the late Synod called to Answer the Questions concerning the Subject of Baptisme and Consociation of Churches besides their eminent Piety and inlarged understanding and Capacity in those respects to discern the Truth had bestowed much Time and pains in seeking and searching after the mind of God about these Questions cannot be denyed For the most part when godly learned men miss of the Truth it is in points which either they have not at all or not throughly and Impartially studied when as the Leaders in the Synod mentioned had most industriously and not without prayers and Tears laboured to know the will of the Lord concerning these Affairs of his house and Kingdome Nor is it to be forgotten how the Lord did in his Providence signally own that Assembly For at the Time of their second Sessions there was a sore and threatning drought on the Land whereupon that Synod set a day apart to seek the Lord by Fasting and Prayer and Immediately upon those Prayers did the Lord give Rain from Heaven whereby he did from Heaven own both his Servants and the work which they were about And therein likewise we may observe a divine Confutation of those Spirits who impute our droughts blastings c. to that Assembly or to the Doctrine by them asseried and propugned Remember also that there have been very worthy men amongst whom I who am Conscious to my self that I am the chief of Sinners am no way worthy to be mentioned who were against such Inlargement of Baptisme as the Synod pleads for yet upon second and wisest thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have seen Cause to change their opinion This is true concerning some now at rest with Christ and sundry amongst whom as I said I reckon not my self yet surviving Yea it is true concerning some Judicious of the Congregational way in England as well as in New-England It is a good Observation which I remember Mr Cotton hath in his Letter to M. Williams pag. 12. where he argueth that the way of the Rigâ—â—â—epaâ—â—tion is not of God because those who in Simplicity and tenderness 〈◊〉 Conscience have been drawn into the error of that way yet when they have grown in grace they have also grown to discern the error of the Separation The same thing â—e may say in this Case some who did once Conscientiously and humbly according to their present light dissent from the late Synod yet as they have grown in wisdome and grace and ripeness for Heaven the Lord hath given them for to see that their Rigidity in this particular was a failing Moreover ii is a Rule as true as Ancient and Common that whatever Opinion doth drive the maintainers of it to any absurdities is to be suspected and rejected as erroneous It 's Everlastingly Certain that a false Conclusion can never be drawn out of true Premisses ex â—ero nil nisi verum Now some that with the highest Confidence have opposed the Doctrine of the Synod concerning the Subject of Baptisme to uphold their No ions have been forced to embrace such things as are very Irrational Alâ— these things being put together are enough to brâ—â—d an humble and an holy Jealousie over your own Apprehensions That then is the first word I would seriously and affectionately Commâ—nd to your Consideration The second word is this Consider that if you be mistaken your Error hath as things are
unfit to partake in the Seal of the Covenant c. He replies in these words Though they be not fit to make such profession of visible faith as to admit them to the Lords Table yet they may make profession full enough to receive them to Baptisme or to the same estate Isâ—mael stood in after Circumcission And to one who complained of being in the dark about the truth asserted in Mr. Cottons printed Book concerning the Baptisme of Infants and that amongst other made this Objection when said that Scrupler a child comes to know that his Parents are no visible Saints but appear to be contrary both in Life and Doctrine and the children had only words and water poured on them how came these persons to have right to it the Parents having no visible faith to act in that Ordinance and their children likewise being uncapable to hold forth the acts of faith before men He thus Answereth Ieroboam and his wife were neither of them visible Saints in your Sense but appeared to be contrary both in Life and Doctrine yet the Circumcision of their Son was not in vain to him 1 Kings 14.13 In this Case when the faith of the Parents is wanting and yet they still live within the Pale of the Church though the Church be Corrupt and the Parents also yet here the Speech of the Apostle takes place what though some believed not shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect God forbid Rom. 3. 3 4. now the Faithfulness of God who keepeth Covenant and mercy to thousands supplies the defect of the Faith of the next Parents and maketh good his Covenant to the Children in respect of the Faith of their former Ancestors in Elder Ages But against this sâ—me may object a passage in Mr. Cottons Book of the way of the Chuâ—ches pag. 81. where it is said where neither of the Parents can claim right to the Lords Supper their Infants cannot claim right to Bâ—ptisme therefore it mâ—y seem that Mr. Cottons Iudgement was not as haâ—h been now declared Unto this let the judicious Reâ—der attentively hear the Answer which is 1. In that very Book of Mr. Cottons there are sundry passages which plead for an Enlargement of Baptisme further then to the Immediate Children of persons in full Communion even to the Children of such Parents who have such a faith as denominateth them Christian Believers in opposition to Pagan Infidels yea if there be a Christian Sponsor for the Child of a Stranger or wicked man it may be baptized see the way pag 87. 88. 106 115. 2dly That Book of the way was printed from an imperfect Copy in which respect it is not to be wondâ—ed at if there be therein some passages contradictory to Mr. Cottons known Iudgement 3. Mr. Coâ—ton himself was much troubled when he saw that Book come forth and was desirous that the Reader should understand that his Judgement in such things wherein the Book of the way is discrepant from that of the Keyes should be sought for not in the Book of the way but in that of the Keys And that no one may think that these things are Imaginary or conjectural only let us hear Mr. Cotton speaking in his own words in his printed defence against the Imputations of Mr. Cawdrey written not long before his death and Published by Doctor Owen In which Book pag. 36. 37 38 39. The truth is saith Mr. Cotton that many years ago I was seriously moved by some of our Brethren and Fellow Elders here to draw up an Historical narration of our Church way together with some familiar Grounds of the same briefly In short time as God helped I dispatched it which when our Brethren had perused it I saw they did not close with it yet a Brother going for England got some where a Copy of it and presented it to some of the Congregational way there and I afterwards heard neither did they close with it and in particular not with that passage which is here recited which since appeareth more openly by the Asterisk put upon that passage and upon sundry other in the Book but before I saw that and had only heard that they did not fully accord I hoped that it had met with a timely Suppression rather then an Impression for I heard no more of it for two or three years after mean while perceiving that one main point of dissatisfaction was the Authority given to the Fraternity I consiered more seâ—iously and distinctly of the whole power of the Keys and expressed my apprehensions in that treatise of the Keys which our Brethren here did well accept and so did the Brethren of like Judgement in England and some of them were pleased to arrest it with the Preface that is now Extant before it This was sundry years after the Treatise of the way had been finished and carryed to England and as I hoped suppressed but it seemeth some Brother there caused his Copy which was indeed abrupt in the Entrance and imperfect otherwise to be published in print which when I saw it troubled me not a little as knowing that the discrepant Expressions in the one and in the other might trouble Friends and give Advantages to Adversaries I suffered both to stand as they did especially seeing I could not help it the Book of the way being published without my Consent and both the way and the Keys past my revoking so that if the Replier find some discrepancy in one of these Books from the other Let him know that the Doctrine of the way in such few points wherein it differs from the Keys was not mine when the Keys was published much less when the way was published which was many years after though it had been penned many years before Thus much may suffice for the clearing of Mr. Cottons Judgement concerning the Subject of Baptisme In the same year and in the same Vessel with Mr. Cotton came into this Country that famous Mr. Thomas Hooker late Pastor of the Church in Hartford upon Connecticot Now that in Mr. Hookers Judgement the Children concerning whom the Question is have a continued standing and membership in the visible Church upon which hinge the Controversy about the Enlargement of the Subject of Baptisme turns is evident from a passage in his most Judicious and accurate Survey of Church Discipline in which Book pag. 4â— are these words in some Cases saith Mr. Hooker an Implicit Covenant may be fully Sufficient as Suppose a whole Congregation should consist of such who were Child on to the Parents now deceased who were Confederate their children were true members according to the Rules of the Gospel by professing of their Fathers Covenant though they should not make any personal and vocal Expression of their Engagement as the Fathers did Also he lays it down for a Maxim that faederati sunt baptizandi proving by several Arguments that Confederates are the proper Subject of Baptisme see in the same Book part
Contentious Spirit I had Conference with him about this matter in his life time And the Summe of what he hath now written he then expressed and told me withal that if a Case should be presented to the Church in any other way by the Brethren he would refuse to act in it unless the Church would first dispute the point which he would offer but act against his Judgement he would not It 's true that the Rule requires to tell the Church in due order by the Officers as he that Commands one to goe into his house intends that he should go in by the door The Elders are Captains and Leaders and Rulers Heb. 13.17 1 Tim 5.18 And therefore the Brethren must not go before them A common Souldier must not begin or make an Attempt without the Captain And the Elders being Leaders and Rulers they are to order all the publick occasions and affairs of the Church in a comely manner which they cannot do if the Brethren have Liberty at their pleasure to publish what seems best to themselves Touching the desire of such members Children as desire to have their Children baptized it is a thing that I do not yet hear practiced but for my own part I am inclined to think that it cannot justly be denyed because their next Parents however not admitted to the Lords Supper stand as Compleat members of the Church within the Church Covenant and so acknowledged that they might have right to Baptisme Now they being in Covenant and standing members their Children also are members by virtue of their Parents Covenant and Membership as well as they themselves were by virtue of their Covenant and membership and they have not renounced that Covenant nor are justly Censured for the breach of that Covenant but do own and profess it and by virtue of it claim the Priviledge of it to their Children Those Children who are within the Covenant and so members of it Baptisme cannot be denyed unto But the Children in Question are within the Covenant of the Church and so members of it Ergo Baptisme cannot be denyed to them The assumption is proved thus the Children of such Parents as are within the Covenant of the Church are themselves within the Covenant of that Church and so members But the Children in Question are the Children of such Parents as are in Covenant and so members of the Church Ergo they are so themselves The Proposition is clear because the Parents Covenant for themselves and for their Children Deut. 29. from 10 to 16. Ezek. 16.8 13. And God accepts both Gen. 17.12 13. the whole Nation is faederally holy they are expressly said to be in Covenant with their Father Deut. 29. not partly or partially in Covenant Rom 9.3 4 Acts 2.39 and God stiles himself their God as well as their Father Gen. 17.7 8 9. and to have God to be our God is to be in Compleat Church Covenant with him The assumption is evident because else such their Parents had not had right to Baptisme the Seal of the Covenant but that they had right unto and so received it and the same right they had the Children have who are included in their Fathers did expressly engage and Covenant but these not I Answer that the Covenant is the same and of the same force to bind and of the same extent in the one as well as the other Explicite and Implicite are but adjuncts of the Covenant and therefore though they are not come into Covenant the same way that their Parents did viz. by explicite personal Covenanting but are taken in by the Father Covenanting for them and themselves yet it seems to me that they are not less truly or less Compleatly in Covenant The God of Peace and Truth guide us in those wayes I rest Milford June 12. 1651. Your loving Brother Peter Prudden Unto these might have been added the Testimony of that Reverend and faithful Servant of Christ Mr. Iohn Wilson the first Pastor of the first Church in Boston But his Judgement touching the question in hand is known to all that knew him And the Reader is referred to his dying Spee hes concerning this matter which are inserted in the Book called New Englands memorial pag. 183. 184. which because they were amongst the last words of so holy a man cannot without great sin be despised or disregarded Also we might have mentioned the Judgement of Reverend Mr. Norris which that it did Concur with what hath been expressed is to be seen from the Records of the Church in Salem viz. in their Records of the 24th of the first Moneth And of the 9th of the fifth Moneth and sixth Moneth Anno 1654. Likewise we might have produced the Judgement of Mr. Philips sometimes the faithful Pastor of the Church in Watertown but the Reader is for that referred to the Preface in the Synod Book Also that some godly and Judicious of the Congregational way in England are for a greater Latitude in the point of Baptisme then our dissenting Antisynodalian Brethren do acknowledge is manifest from what â—undry Learned men of that way have long sincâ— published For Doctor Owen in his review of Scâ—asmâ— pag 134 thus expresses himself I am so far from confining Baptisme subjective y to a particular Congregation that I do not believe that any m mber of a particular Church was ever regularly baptized baptisme pâ—â—cedes Admission into Church membership as to a particular Church the Subject of it is professing Believers and their Seed as such they have right unto it whether they be joyned to any particular Church or no suitable to this Judgement ha's been my Constant and uninterrupted practice Likewise Doctor Nathaniel Homes in his defence of Infant Baptisme against Mr. Tombs ha's these words pag 193. for baptizing of Believers Infants several Churches of us do hold that we may baptize them though neither of their Parents be of our particular Churches Baptisme as we conceive being an Admission into the universal v sinle Church c. And again pag 217. Mr. Tombs having made this Objection that the baptizing of Infants ha's occasioned on uâ—neâ—essary dispute about baptizing the Infants of believing Parents that are not members of gathered Churches I never saith Doctor Homes perceived the world troubled with this dispute divers Churches without dispute can practice the baptizing of such c. Thus he See also in the same Book 207 208 215. with his Epistle to the Reader And the Collector of these Testimonies hath lately received Letters from suâ—dry eminent Divines of the Congregational way in England declaring that the Judgement of the Elders with them is generally according to what hath been now expressed By these things therefore which have been thus far expressed it is very manifest that the doctrine of the late Synod concerning the Subject of Baptisme is no Apostacy from the first Principles of New-England nor yet any declension from the Congregational way It remaineth that we proceed
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