5. Let the ministers engage themselves in a special manner to watch over this flock, every one according to his abilities, both in teaching, exhorting, and ruling, so often as occasion shall be admini- stered, for things that contain ecclesiastical rule and church order; acting jointly and as in a classical combination, and putting forth all authority that such classes are intrusted \nth.
6. If it be judged necessary that any ofiicers be added to them for the purfiose before named, let them be chosen by the consent of the multitude.
7. If not, let the ministers have the whole distributed among themselves respectively, according to the difference of their gifts, — reserving to the people their due and just pri\dleges.
8. Let this congregation assemble at the least once in a month, for the celebration of the communion, and other things them concern- . ing ; the meeting of the ministers may be appointed by authority, for those of a classis.
9. If any one after his admission be found to walk unworthily, let him, after solemn, repeated admonition, be by joint consent left to his former station.
10. Let any person, in any of the parishes combined as before, that is desirous to be admitted into this society, as is thought fit, be received at any time.
52 A COUNTRY ESSAY
11. If the number in process of time appear to be too gi'^Kf let it be divided and subdivided, according to conveniency.
12. Any one of the ministers may administer the sacrament, either to some or all of these, in their several parishes or at the common meeting, as opportunity shall serve.
' 13. Let the rides of admission into this society and fellowship be scriptural, and the things required in the members only such as all godly men affirm to be necessary for every one that will partake of the ordinances with profit and comfort, — special care being taken that none be excluded who have the least breathings of soul in sin- cerity after Jesus Christ.
Now, beyond these generals for the present we judge it needless to express ourselves, or otherwise to confirm what we have proposed, each assertion almost directly pointing out unto what, in that parti- cular, we do adhere; which being sufficiently confirmed by others, were but a superfluous labour to undertake. Neither shall we trouble you with a catalogue of conveniences, — whereof men are put upon an express annumeration, when otherwise they do not appear, — but com- mit the consideration of the tendence of the whole to every one's judgment, and conclude with the removal of a few ob\dous objections; being resolved hereafter, by God's assistance, to endeavour satisfac- tion about this way unto all, — unless to such as shall be so simple or malicious as to ask whether this way be that of the Presbyterians or Independents.
Obj. 1. By this means parishes will be unchurched.
Ans. 1. If by churches you understand such entire societies of Christians as have all church power, both according to right and exercise, in and amongst themselves, as Independents speak of con- gregations ; then they were never churched by any.
2. If only civil divisions of men that may conveniently be taught by one pastor, and ruled by elders, whereof some may be fit to par- take of all the ordinances, some not, as Presbyterians esteem them ; then by this way they receive no injury, nor are abridged of any of their privileges.
Obj. 2. This is to erect churches amongst churches, and against churches.
Ans. No such thing; but a mere fonning of one church with one presbytery.
Obj. 3. It is against the Parliament's ordinance to assume a power of admitting and excluding of church members not exactly accord- ing to their rule, nor subordinate to the supervising of such as ai-e appointed by them.
Ans. I. For the rules set out by ordinance, we conceive that the church officers are to be inteqDreters of them, until appeal be made
FOR THE PRACTICE OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 53
from them, unto which we shall submit ; and if it be so determined against us, that any be put on our communion "ipsi viderint," — we shall labour to deliver our own souls.
2. Though the Parliament forbid any but such authoritatively to be excluded, yet it doth not command that any be admitted but such as desire it; and we shall pray for such a blessing upon the work of our ministry as will either prepare a man for it or persuade them " pro tempore " from it ; unless they be stubbornly obstinate, or openly wicked, — against whom we hope for assistance. To objections arising from trouble and inconvenience, we answer. It cost more to redeem their souls.
The God of peace and unity give the increase !
" Si quid novisti rectius istis,
Candidas iniperti, si non, liis utere."
[Hor. Ep., i. 6, 67, 68.]
And this is all which, for the present, I shall assert in this business ; and this also is my own vindication. Time and leisure may give me advantage hereafter (if God permit) to deal seriously in this cause. In the meantime, it is not unknown to many, that so much as this was necessary for me to do; and I will not add now anything that is not necessary.