Neither would we have any expect our full sense to each particular imaginable in this business, — it being only a heap of materials, most- what unhewed, that we intend, and not a well-compacted fabric ; — and if the main be not condemned, we are confident no difference will ensue aljout particulars, which must have their latitude. How- ever, if it be received as candidly as it is offered, no inconvenience will ensue. Now, that the whole may be better apprehended, and the reasons, if not the necessity, of this undertaking intimated, we shall premise some things concerning the place and persons for whose use is this proposal.
First, For ministers. The place having all this while, through the goodness of God, been preserved in peace and quietness; and by the rich supply of able men sent hither by Parliament, there are in many parishes godly, orthodox, peace-loving pastors.
Secondly, For the people.
1. Very many, as in most other places, extremely ignorant, worldly, profane, scandalously vicious.
1 The form being given to this essay at the first, I thought not good to alter any thing about it.
VOL. viir. 4
50 A COUNTRY ESSAY
2. Scarcely any parish where there are not some visibly appearing, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, fearing God, and walking unblani- ably with a right foot, as beseemeth the gospel; though in some places they are but like the berries after the shaking of an olive-tree.
3. Amongst these, very few gifted, fitted or qualified for government. , 4. Many knowing professors, and such of a long standing, inclined
to separation, unless some expedient may be found for comfortable communions; and in this resolution seem to be settled, to a contempt of allurements and threatenings.
5. Seducers everywhere lying in wait to catch and deceive well- meaning souls, any thing discontented Avith the present administra- tion of church affairs.
6. Upon all which it appears, that comfortable communion is not to be attained within the bounds of respective parishes.
Farther to carry on our intentions, we would desire of authority, —
1. That our divisions may not be allotted out by our committees, — who, without other consideration, have bounded us with the precincts of high constables, — but be left to the prudence of ministers, and other Christians, willingly associating themselves in the work.
2. That men placed in civil authority may not, by virtue of their authority, claim any privilege in things purely ecclesiastical.
In the several parishes let things be thus ordered : —
1. Let every minister continue in his station, taking especial care of all them that live Avithin the precincts of his parish ; preaching, exhorting, rebuking, publicly, and from house to house ; warning all, — using all appointed means to draw them to Jesus Christ and the faith of the gospel; waitingwith all patience on them that oppose themselves, until God give them repentance to the acknowledgmg of the truth ; and in so domg, rest upon the calling he hath already received.
2. Let the respective elders of the several parishes, to be chosen ac- cording to the ordinance of Parliament (annually, or otherwise), join with the ministers in all acts of rule and admonition, with those other parts of their charge which the parochial administration doth require.
8. Let all criminal things, tending to the disturbance of that church administration Avhich is amongst them be by the officers orderly delated to such as the civil magistrate shall appoint to take cognizance and determine of such things.
And thus far have we proposed notliing new, nothing not com- mon; neither in that which follows is there any thing so indeed, may it be but rightly apprehended.
For the several coinbinations of ministers and j^eople : —
L Let the extremes of the division not be above eight or ten miles distant and so the middle or centre not more than four or live miles from any part of it, — which is no more than some usually go to
FOR THE PRACTICE OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 5l
the pri^acliing of the word, and in which space Christians are gene- rally as well known to one another in the country as almost at the next door in cities ; but yet this may be regulated according to the number of professors fit for the society intended, — which would not be above five hundred, nor under one hundred.
2. In this division let there be, in the name of Christ and the fear of God, a gathering of professors (visible saints, men and women of good knowledge and upright conversation, — so holding forth their communion with Christ), by their own desire and voluntary consent, into one body, — uniting themselves, by vhtue of some promissory en- gagement or otherwise, to perform all mutual duties, to walk in love and peace, spiritual and church communion, as beseemeth the gospel.
3. Let every one so assembling have liberty, at some of the first meetings, to except against another, whether minister or others, so it be done with a spirit of meekness, and submission of judgment ; or to demand such questions for satisfaction as shall be thought fit to be propounded.
4. When some convenient number are thus assembled, let the ministers, if men of approved integrity and abilities, be acknow- ledged as elders respectively called to teach and rule in the church by virtue of their former mission, and be assumed to be so to this society by virtue of their voluntaiy consent and election.