The Churchs Quarrel Espoused, Question
THE Churches Quarrel ESPOƲSED, OR, A REPLY In Satyre, to certain Propoſals made, in Anſwer to this Queſtion, What further Steps are to be taken, that the Councils may have due Conſtitution and Efficacy in Supporting, Preſerving and well Ordering the Intereſt of the Churches in the Country?
1 Kings 18.27.
Elijah Mocked them.
Tit. 1.13.
Wherefore Rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the Faith.
Abjiciendus Pudor, Quoties urget Neceſſitas.
Printed and Sold by William Bradford in N. York, 1713.
Queſtion and Propoſals.
Queſtion.
WHat further Steps are to be taken, that the Councils may have due Conſtitution and Efficacy in ſupporting, preſerving and well ordering the Intereſt of the Churches in the Country?
1st Part, It was propoſed,
1ſt, That the Miniſters of the Country form themſelves into Aſſociations, that may meet at proper times to Conſider ſuch things as may properly lie before them, Relating to their own faithfulneſs towards each other and the common Intereſt of the Churches; and that each of thoſe Aſſociations have a Moderator for a certain time, who ſhall continue till another be choſen, who may call them together upon Emergencies.
In theſe Aſſociations,
2dly. That Queſtions and Caſes of importance, either provided by themſelves or by others preſented unto them, ſhould be upon due deliberation Anſwered.
3dly. That advice be taken by the aſſociated Paſtors, from time to time, e're they Proceed to any action in their Particular Churches, which be likely to produce any imbroilments. That the aſſociated Paſtors do Carefully and Lovingly treat each other with that watchfullneſs which may be of Univerſal advantage, & that if any Miniſter be accuſed to the Aſſociation whereto he belongs, of Scandal or Hereſie, the Matter ſhall be there examined, and if the Aſſociated Miniſters find juſt accuſation for it, they ſhall direct to the calling of the Council, by whom ſuch an Offendor is to be proceeded againſt.
4thly. That the Candidates of the Miniſtry under-go a due Tryal by ſome one or other of the Aſſociations concerning their Qualifications for the Evangelical Miniſtry, and that no particular Paſtor or Congregation Imploy any one in occaſional Preaching who has not been Recommended by a Teſtimonial under the hands of ſome Aſſociation.
5thly. That they ſhould together be conſulted by Bereaved Churches, to Recommend to them ſuch Perſons as may be fit to be imployed amongſt them for preſent Supply, from whom they may in due time proceed to chuſe a Paſtor.
6thly. That hereunto may be referred the Direction of Proceeding in any of their particular Churches about the Convening of Councils that ſhall be thought neceſſary for the Well-fare of the Churches.
7thly. That the Several Aſſociations in the Country maintain a due Correſpondence with one another, that ſo the ſtate of Religion may be the better known and ſecured in all the Churches, and particularly it is thought neceſſary to the well being of theſe Churches, that all the Aſſociations of the Country meet together by their Reſpective Delegates once in a year.
8thly. And finally, That Miniſters Diſpoſed to Aſſociate indeavour in the moſt Efficacious manner they can, to Prevail with ſuch Miniſters as unreaſonably neglect ſuch Meetings with their Brethren, in their proper Aſſociations, that they would not expoſe themſelves to the Inconveniencies that ſuch Neglects cannot but be attended withal.
Second Part, It is propoſed.
1ſt. That theſe Aſſociated Paſtors, with a proper Number of Delegates from their ſeveral Churches, be formed into a ſtanding or ſtated Council, which ſhall Conſult, Adviſe and Determine all Affairs that ſhall be proper matter for the Conſideration of an Eccleſiaſtical Council within their reſpective Limits, except always, the Caſes are ſuch as the Aſſociated Paſtors judge more convenient to fall under the Cogniſance of ſome other Council.
2dly. That to this end theſe Aſſociated Paſtors, with their Reſpective Churches, ſhall Conſociate and Combine according to what has been by the Synods of theſe Churches recommended, that they act as Conſociated Churches in all holy Watchfulneſs and Helpfulneſs towards each other, and that Each Church chooſe and depute one or more to Attend their Paſtor, as Members of the Council in their Stated Seſſions, or Occaſionally, as Emergencies ſhall call for.
3dly. That theſe Meſſengers from the ſeveral Conſociated Churches ſhall be choſen once a year at the leaſt.
4thly. It is propounded, as that which from our beginning has been Recommended, that the Churches, thus Conſociated for theſe purpoſes, have a ſtated time to meet in their Council, and once in a year ſeems little enough, that they may Inquire into the Condition of the Churches, and Adviſe ſuch things as may be for the Advantage of our holy Religion. But the more particular time is beſt left to the Determination of each reſpective Aſſociation.
That the Aſſociations ſhall Direct when there is Occaſion for this Council to convene, on any Emergency, and ſhall direct whether the whole, or only a certain Number of theſe conſociated Paſtors and Churches ſhall Conveen on ſuch Occaſions.
It appears agreable to the preſent Condition of our Churches, and from our beginnings acknowledged, That no Act of the Councils are to be reckoned as Concluded and deciſive, for which there has not been the Concurrence of the Major part of the Paſtors therein concerned.
7thly. The determinations of the Councils thus Provided, for the neceſſities of the Churches, are to be looked upon as final and deciſive, except agrieved Churches and Paſtors, have weighty Reaſons to the contrary, in which caſes there ſhould be Proviſion for a further hearing; and it ſeems proper that the Council convened on this occaſion, ſhould conſiſt of ſuch Paſtors as may be more for number then the former, and they ſhould be ſuch, as ſhall be directed to, and convened for this purpoſe by the Miniſters of an Aſſociation, near to that whereto theſe of the former Council belonged, unto which the agrieved ſhould accordingly apply themſelves, and in this way expect a final Iſſue?
8thly. If a particular Church will not be Reclaimed by Council from ſuch groſs Diſorders as Plainly hurt the common Intereſt of Chriſtianity, and are not meer tolerable differences in Opinion, but are plain Sins againſt the Command and Kingdom of our Lord JESUS Chriſt, the Council is to declare that Church no longer fit for Communion with the Churches of the Faithful; and the Churches repreſented in the Council, are to Approve, Confirm and Ratifie the Sentence, and with-draw from the Communion of the Church that would not be healed: Nevertheleſs if any Members of the diſorderly Church do not juſtifie their Diſorders, but ſuitably teſtifie againſt them, theſe are ſtill to be received to the wonted Communion by the Churches; and if after due waiting, the Church be not recovered, they may upon [advice] be actually taken in as Members of ſome other Church in the vicinity.
Theſe Propoſols were Aſſented to by the Delegates of the Aſſociation, met according to former Agreement, at B — September 12th, 1705. To be commended to the ſeveral Aſſociated Miniſters in the ſeveral parts of the Country, to be duely Conſidered, that ſo, what may be judged for the ſervice of our Great Lord, and his holy Churches, may be further Proceeded in.
At an Aſſociation-Meeting the fore-going Propoſals were Read and Aſſented to, &c. Preſent, Nov. 5. 1705