In the several parishes let things be thus ordered. ' 1. Let every minister continue in his station, taking es- pecial care of all them that live within the precincts of his parish ; preaching, exhorting, rebuking, publickly, and from house to house, warning all, using all appointed means to draw them to Jesus Christ, and the faith of the gospel, waiting with all patience on them that oppose themselves, until God give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth ; and in so doing, rest upon the calling he hath already received*
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2. Let the respective elders of the several parishes, to be chosen according 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.
3. Let all criminal things, tending to the disturbance of that church administration which 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 nothing new, nothing not common ; neither in that which follows is there any thing so indeed, may it be but rightly apprehended.
For the several combinations of ministers and people,
1. 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 five miles from any part of it, which is no more than some usually go to the preaching of the word, and in which space Christians are generally 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 de- sire, and voluntary consent, into one body uniting themselves, by virtue of some promissory engagement, or otherwise, to perform all mutual duties, to walk in love and peace, spi- ritual 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 minis- ter or others, so it bo done with a spirit of meekness, and sub- mission of judgment ; or to demand such questions for satis- faction 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 acknowledged as elders respectively, called to teach and rule in the church, by virtue of their former mission, and be
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66 A COUNTRY ESSAY FOR THE PRACTICE
assumed to be so to this society, by virtue of their voluntary consent and election.
6. Let the ministers engage themselves in a special man- ner to watch over this flock, every one according to his abili- ties, both in teaching, exhorting, and ruling, so often as oc- casion shall be administered, for things that contain eccle- siastical rule and church order; acting jointly and as in a classical combination, and putting forth all authority that such classes are intrusted with.
6. If it be judged necessary that any officers be added to them for the purpose 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- vileges.
8. Let this congregation assemble at the least once in a month for the celebration of the communion, and other things them concerning ; the meeting of the ministers may be ap- pointed by authority, for those of a classis.
9. If any one after his admission be found to walk un- worthily, 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.
11. If the number in process of time appear to be too great, let it be divided, and subdivided according to conve- niency.
12. Any one of the ministers may administer the sacra- ment, either to some, or all of these, in their several parishes, or at the common meeting, as opportunity shall serve.
13. Let the rules of admission into this society and fel- lowship be scriptural, and the things required in the mem- bers 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 sincerity after Jesus Christ.
Now beyond these generals for the present we judge it
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needless to express ourselves, or otherwise to confirm what we have proposed, each assertion almost directly pointing out unto what, in that particular, we do adhere, which being sufficiently confirmed by others, were but a superfluous la- bour to undertake; neither shall we trouble you with a cata- logue 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- vious objections, being resolved hereafter, by God's assist- ance, to endeavour satisfaction about this way unto all ; un- less 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 socie- ties of Christians, as have all church power, both accordino" to right and exercise, in and amongst themselves, as Inde- pendents speak of congregations, then they were never churched by any.