Blessed Unions, Articles
HEADS of AGREEMENT Assented to by the United Ministers, formerly called, PRESBYTERIAN and CONGREGATIONAL.
I. Of CHURCHES and CHURCH-MEMBERS.
1. VVE 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 Visible 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 …aving been collected into any formed Society, under a Visible human Head on Earth, whether one Person singly, or many collectively, We, with the rest of Protestants, Unanimously disclaim it.
2. We agree, That particular Societies of Visible Saints, who under Christ their Head, are statedly joined 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 Riligion, without Scandal in their Lives; & to a Judgment regulated by the Word of God, are persons of visible Godliness & Honesty; credibly 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 Ordina…ces of Christ, upon their mutual declared consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule. In which declaration, d ff…rent degrees of Expliciteness, shall 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 R…ght to chuse their own Officers; & being furnished with such as are duly qualified and ordained according to the Gospel Rule, hath Authority from Christ for exercising Government, & of enjoying all the O…dinances of Worship within it self.
7. In the Administration of Church Power, it belongs to the Pastors & other Elders of every particular Church (if such there be) to Rule and 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 joyn themselves as fixed Members of some particular Church; their thus joyning, being part of their professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, & an instituted means of their Establishment & 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, & for vindication of the Truth, & the Church professing it.
9. That a visible Professor thus joined to a particular Church, ought to continue stedfastly with the said Church; & not forsake the Ministry & Ordinances there dispersed, without an ord…rly 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. VVE agree, That the Ministerial Office is instituted by Jesus Christ, for the Gathering, Guiding▪ Edifying 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, & Ministerial Gifts, as also with the Grace of God, sound in Judgment, not Novices in the Faith & Knowledge of the Gospel; without scandal, of holy Conversation, & such as devote themselves to the Work & Service thereof.
3. That Ordinarily none shall be Ordained to the wo…k of this Ministry, but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church.
4. That in so great & weighty a matter, as the calling & chusing a Past…r, ws judg it ordinarily requisite, That every such Church consult & 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, & he accepting, be duly ordained, & set apart to his Off…ce over them; wherein t…s ordinarily requisite, That the Pastors of Neighbou…ing C…ngrega ions concur with the Preaching-Elder, or Elders, if such there be.
6. That whereas such Ordina…ion is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office; If any judg, that in the case also of the removal of one formerly ordained, to a new Station or Pastoral Charge, there ought to be alike solemn recommending him & his Labours to the Grace & Blessing of God; no different Sentiments or P…actice herein, shall be any occasion of Contention or B…each of Communion among us.
7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the wo…k of …reachi…g the Gospel, be not only qualified for Communion of Saints; but also that, except in cases extra…rdinary, they give proof of their Gifts & fitness for the said work, unto the Pastors of Churches of known abilities to discern & judg of their qualifications; That they may be sent forth with Solemn Approbation & 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 & Scandals arise by reason of Hypocrisie & 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 …ffences to be performed according to the Rule in Mat. 18. v. 15, 16, 17. & in case of publick offences, openly before the Church, as the Honour of the Gospel, & n…ture of the Scandal shall …equire: 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 & scandalous Brother; & he notwithstanding remains Impenitent, the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto; Wherein the Pastor & other Elders (if there be such) are to lead, and go before the Church; & the Brotherhood 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 f…om that Churches Communion; the Church may justly esteem & declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him.
IV Of Communion of Churches.
1. VVE Agree, that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct & separate from each other, as not to have care & tenderness towa…ds one another. But their Pastors ought to have freq…ent 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 subordinate 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 iust exception against them.
4 That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our respective Congregations, that hath joined 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 i…regular or injurious Proceedings.
6. That we are most willing & 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, & walk together according to the Gospel Rules of Communion of Churches.
V. Of Deacons & Ruling Elders.
VVE agree, The Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment, & that it belongs to their Office to receive, lay out, & distribute the Churches Stock to its proper uses, by the direction of the Pastor, & 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 & doctrine; & others think otherwise; We agree, That this d fference make no breach among us.
VI. Of Occasional Meeting of Ministers. &c
1. VVE agree, That in order to concord, & in any other weighty & difficult cases, it is needful, & acc…rding to the mind of Christ, that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted & 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, & Members, ought to have a reverential regard to their judgment so given, & not dissent therefrom, without apparent grounds from the word of God.
VII. Of our Demeanour towards the Civil MAGISTRATE.
1. VVE do reckon our selves obliged continually to pray for God's Protection, Guidance, and Blessing upon the Rule…s set over us.
2. That we ought to yield unto them not only subject…o… in the Lord, but support, according to our station & abilities.
3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasure to call together any Number of us, or require any account of our Affairs, & 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 ack…owledge the Scriptures to be the word of God, the perfect & only Rule of Faith and Practi e; & own 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 & Deportment towards them that are not in Communion with us.
1. VVE iudge it our duty to bear a Christian Respect to all Christians, according to their several Ranks and Stations, that are not of our Persuasion 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 opportunity, endeavour to explain to them the Doctrine of Life and Salvation, and to our uttermost persuade 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 Ʋnanimously Resolve, as the Lord shall enable us, to Practice according to them.
FINIS.
ERRATA. In the Dedication, Pag. 4. l. 13. for Nam'd, read Examin'd. In the Book, pag 44. l. 11. r. In Necessarijs.
End of the text · Cotton Mather, Blessed Unions (1692)