Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Question and proposals
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, relateing to their own faithfulneſs towards each other, and the common intereſt of the churches; and that each of thoſe aſſociations hav… 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'er 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 watchfulneſs which may be of univerſal advantage; and that if any miniſter be accuſed to the aſſociation whereto he belongs, of ſcandal or hereſy, 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 offender is to be proceeded againſt.
4thly, That the candidates of the miniſtry undergo a due trial by ſome one or other of the aſſociations, concerning their qualifications for the evangelical miniſtry; and that no particular paſtor or congregation employ 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 employed 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 …he convening of councils that ſhall be thought neceſſary, for the welfare 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, endeavour 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 cognizance of ſome other council.
2dly, That to this end theſe aſſociated paſtors, with their reſpecti… churches, ſhall conſociate and combine according to wh… 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 enquire 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.
5thly, 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 convene on ſuch occaſions.
6thly, 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 than 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 ratify the ſentence, and withdraw from the communion of the church that would not be healed: Nevertheleſs, if any members of the diſorderly church, do not juſtify their diſorders, but ſuitably teſtify 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 propoſals were aſſented to by the delegates of the aſſociation, met according to former agreement, at B.—September 13th. 1705. To be commended to the ſeveral aſſociated miniſters in the ſeveral parts of the country, to be duly 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 foregoing propoſals were read and aſſented to, &c. Preſent, Nov. 5. 1705.