" 'Afji'c^M y ila-TE^ai /MopTU^E? cro^iouTaTOi, Pind. Od. 1. Ol^ni.
Ixii PREFACE.
and parallel ; yea, did not extreme haste now call it from me, so that I have no leisure, so much as to tran- scribe the first draught, I doubt not but by God's as- sistance, it might be so set forth, as not to be thought altogether undesirable, if men would but a little lay aside beloved pre-conceptions. But the printer stays for every line; only I must entreat every one that shall cast a,candid eye on this unwillingly exposed embryo, and rude abortion, that he would assume in his mind any particular church mentioned in the Scripture, as of Jerusalem, Corinth, Ephesus, or the like, consider the way and state they were then, and some ages after, in respect of outward immunities and enjoyments; and tell me, whether any rational man can suppose, that either there were in those places sundry particular churches, with their distinct, peculiar officers, acting in most pastoral duties severally in them, as distin- guished and divided into entire societies, but ruling them in respect of some particulars loyally in combi- nation, considered as distinct bodies ; or else, that they were such single congregations, as that all that power and authority which was in them, may seem fitly and conveniently to be intrusted with a small handful of men, combined under one single pastor, with one, two, or perhaps no associated elders. More than this I shall only ask, whether all ordinary power may not, without danger, be asserted to reside in such a church as is here described, reserving all due right and au- thority to councils and magistrates? Now for the fountain, seat, and rise of this power, for the just dis- tribution of it, between pastors and people, this is no place to dispute; these following lines were intended merely to sedate and bury such contests, and to be what they are entitled.
A COUNTRY ESSAY,
Ssc.
Our long expectation of some accommodation* between the dissenting parties about church government, being now al- most totally frustrate ; being also persuaded partly through the apparent fruitlessness of all such undertakings, partly by other reasons, not at this time seasonable to be expressed, that all national disputes tending that way, will prove birth- less tympanies ; we deem it no ungrateful endeavour, waving all speculative ideas, to give an essay in such expressions, as all our country friends, concerned in it, may easily appre- hend, of what we conceive amongst us may really be reduced to comfortable and useful practice : concealing for awhile all arguments for motives and inducements unto this way, with all those rocks and shelves, appearing very hideous in former proposals, which we strive to avoid ; until we perceive whether any of our giants in this controversy will not come and look and so overcome it, that at first dash the whole frame be irrecoverably ruined.
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 about particulars, which must have their latitude. However, 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 per- sons, 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
P The form being given to this essay al the first, I thought not good to alter any thing about it.
64 A COUNTRY ESSAY FOR THE PRACTICE.
parliament, there are in many parishes, godly, orthodox, peace-loving pastors.
Secondly, For the people.
1. Very many, as in most other places, extremely igno- rant, worldly, profane, scandalously vicious.
2. Scarcely any parish where there are not some visibly appearing, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, fearing God, and walking unblaraeably 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 de- ceive well-meaning souls, any thing discontented with the present administration of church affairs.
6. Upon all which it appears, that comfortable commu- nion 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 com- mittees, 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 asso- ciating themselves in the work.
2. That men placed in civil authority may not, by virtue of their authority, claim any privilege in things purely eccle- siastical.