He was glad that the church of England was looked upon as the center of protestant unity: fuch he hoped fhe would prove: that the feemed already to have the proper pofition for this office, and would, if fhe vary much, go out of her true place; for fo much as the approached to the Calvinist, so far fhe departed from the Lutheran church, as friendly and a much more confiderable body: that if fhe would be a center, fhe muft be fixed fomewhere; for fhe could never be ferviceable to thofe abroad, if fhe were in diforder and confufion at home. And that we should be guided by the standing confideration of unity and peace at home, and not by the temporary conjunction of princes and states, which may alter the next year.

That he knew many, and those not inconfiderable, friends to the church against the bill as it was reported to be framed, and who thought it highly for the cause of the church to have it amended,

Though there be reafons for improvement, though peace and piety may be promoted, which is granted, it fhould be regularly confidered, and not done by a few friends, and on their own head. The prudence of the grand change defigned is the more fufpected, as there was great reafon to diflike the preparatory expedient.

One caufe that the juncture in Charles Ild's reign was loft, was the extravagance of the diffenters' propofals. Some were stiff for every tittle of the old form, and fome were more unreasonable against the whole. The fanatics and the papifts were for no fettlement at all. For fear the juncture should be entirely loft, it was thought adviseable to refolve upon the prefent establishment.

That the church, though it be not abfolutely perfect, is more perfect than any other in the chriftian world. The papists would take advantage of our difcords. He would have the bill fo framed as not to occafion their doing it. "The church," he faid, "without the diffenters, and

united as she is in herself, has been able to make a glo"rious ftand against popery regnant; but if by the ad"miffion of diffenters the fhall be broken and divided, "she may grow weaker by her new company, and not "refift fo fuccesfully a fecond time."

The season might be favourable, but that did not arife from the proteftant league abroad; for what breach of any articles of that league would it be, if the church remained unaltered; or how doth the league enabled us to make ever the better alterations. Circumstances at home render the feafon favourable, if we who were almost comprehended in the ruin, we at least who were united in the defence of our religion, would abate of our stiffness for or against smaller matters, and would be ready to form fuch a body as may be more firm and lasting.

NUMBER III.

Heads of Agreement assented to by the United Ministers in and about London, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational; not as a measure for any National Constitution, but for the Preservation of Order in our Congregations, that cannot come up to the common rule by law established.

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I. Of Churches and Church Members.

1. WE acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have catholick church, or kingdom, comprehending all that are united to him whether in heaven or earth and do conceive the whole multitude of visible

believers, and their infant feed, (commonly called the catholic visible church) to belong to Chrift's fpiritual kingdom in this world: but for the notion of a catholic vifible church here, as it fignifies its having been collected into any formed fociety, under a visible human head on earth, whether one perfon fingly, or many collectively, we, with the rest of protestants, unanimously disclaim it.

2. We agree, that particular focieties of visible faints, who under Chrift their head are statedly joined together for ordinary communion with one another in all the ordinances of Chrift, are particular churches, and are to be owned by each other, as instituted churches of Chrift, though differing in apprehenfions and practices in fome Jeffer things.

3. That none fhall be admitted as members, in order to communion in all the fpecial ordinances of the gospel, but fuch perfons as are knowing and found in the fundamental doctrines of the chriftian religion, without fcandal in their lives; and to a judgment regulated by the word of GOD, are perfons of vifible godlinefs and honesty, credibly profeffing cordial subjection to Jefus Chrift.

4. A competent number of fuch visible faints (as before defcribed) do become the capable fubjects of stated communion in all the fpecial ordinances of Chrift, upon their mutual declared confent and agreement to walk together herein ac ording to gofpel rule. In which declaration, different degrees of explicitnefs fhall no way hinder fuch churches from owning each other as inftituted churches.

5. Though parochial bounds be not of divine right, yet for common edification, the members of a particular church ought (as much as conveniently may be) to live

near one another.

6. That each particular church hath right to chufe their own officers; and being furnished with fuch as are duly qualified and ordained according to the gospel rule, hath

authority from Chrift for exercifing government, and of enjoying all the ordinances of worship within itself.

7. In the adminiftration of church power, it belongs to the paftors and other elders of every particular church (if fuch there be) to rule and govern ; and to the brotherhood to confent, according to the rule of the gospel.

8. That all profeffors, as before defcribed, are bound in duty, as they have opportunity, to join themselves as fixed members of fome particular church; their thus joining being part of their profeffed fubjection to the gofpel of Chrift, and an inftituted means of their eftablishment and edification; whereby they are under the paftoral care, and in cafe of fcandalous or offenfive walking, may be authoritatively admonished or cenfured for their recovery, and for vindication of the truth, and the church profeffing it.

9. That a visible profeffor thus joined to a particular church, ought to continue ftedfaftly with the faid church; and not forfake the miniftry and ordinances there difpensed, without an orderly seeking a recommendation to another church: which ought to be given, when the cafe of the perfon apparently requires it.

II. Of the Ministry.

1. We agree, that the minifterial office is inftituted by Jefus Chrift, for the gathering, guiding, edifying, and governing of his church; and to continue to the end. of the world.

2. They who are called to this office, ought to be endued with competent learning and ministerial gifts; as alfo with the grace of GoD, found in judgment, not novices in the faith and knowledge of the gofpel; withous fcandal, of holy converfation, and fuch as devote themfelves to the work and fervice thereof.

3 That ordinarily none fhall be ordained to the work of this miniftry, but fuch as are called and chofen thereunto by a particular church.

4. That in fo great and weighty a matter, as the calling and chufing a pastor, we judge it ordinarily requifite, that every fuch church confult and advife with the paftors of neighbouring congregations.

5. That after fuch advice, the perfon confulted about, being chosen by the brotherhood of that particular church over which he is to be fet, and he accepting, be duly ordained, and fet apart to his office over them; wherein it is ordinarily requifite, that the pastors of neighbouring congregations concur with the preaching elder or elders, if fuch there be.

6. That whereas fuch ordination is only intended for fuch as never before had been ordained to the ministerial office; if any judge, that in the cafe alfo of the removal of one formerly ordained, to a new station or paftoral charge, there ought to be a like folemn recommending him and his labours to the grace and bleffing of GOD; no different fentiments or practice herein shall be any occafion of contention or breach of communion among us.

7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the work of preaching the gafpel, be not only qualified for communion of faints; but also that, except in cafes extraordinary, they give proof of their gifts and fitnefs for the faid work unto the paftors of churches, of known abilities to difcern and judge of their qualifications: that they may be fent forth with folenin approbation and prayer, which we judge needful, that no doubt may remain concerning their being called to the work; and for preventing (as much as in us lies) ignorant and rafh intruders.