III. Of Censures. 1. As it cannot be avoided, but that in the pureft churches on earth, there will fometimes offences and fcandals arise by reafon of hypocrify and prevailing corruption; fo Chrift hath made it the duty of every church to reform itself by fpiritual remedies appointed by him to be applied in all fuch cafes, viz. admonition and excommunication. 2. Admonition, being the rebuking of an offending member in order to conviction, is, in cafe of private offences, to be performed according to the rule in Matth. xviii. 15, 16, 17: and in cafe of publick offences, openly before the church, as the honour of the gofpel and nature of the scandal shall require and if either of the admonitions take place for the recovery of the fallen person, all further proceedings in a way of cenfure are thereupon to cease, and fatisfaction to be declared accordingly. 3. When all due means are used, according to the order of the gofpel, for the reftoring an offending and fcandalous brother, and he notwithstanding remains impenitent, the cenfure of excommunication is to be proceeded unto; wherein the paftor and other elders (if there be fuch) are to lead and go before the church, and the brotherhood to give their confent, in a way of obedience unto Chrift, and unto the elders, as over them in the lord. 4. It may fometimes come to pafs, that a church member, not otherwife fcandalous, may finfully withdraw, and divide himself from the communion of the church to which he belongeth; in which cafe, when all due means for the reducing him prove ineffectual; he having hereby cut himself off from that church's communion, the church may justly esteem and declare itself discharged of any further inspection over him. IV. Of Communion of Churches. 1. We agree, that particular churches ought not to walk fo diftinct and feparate from each other as not to have care and tenderness towards one another but their paftors ought to have frequent meetings together, that by mutual advice, fupport, encouragement, and brotherly intercourfe, they may ftrengthen the hearts and hands of each other in the ways of the Lord. 2. That none of our particular churches shall be fubordinate to one another, each being endued with equality of power from Jefus Chrift: and that none of the faid particular churches, their officer or officers, fhall exercise any power or have any fuperiority over any other church or their officers. 3. That known members of particular churches, conftituted as aforefaid, may have occafional communion with one another in the ordinances of the gospel, viz. the word, prayer, facraments, finging pfalms, difpenfed according to the mind of Chrift; unlefs that church with which they defire communion, hath any juft exception against them. 4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a member of our refpective congregations, that hath joined himself to another, without endeavours of mutual fatisfaction of the congregations concerned. 5. That one church ought not to blame the proceedings of another, till it hath heard what that church charged, its elders or meffengers, can fay in vindication of themfelves from any charge of irregular or injurious proceedings. 6. That we are most willing and ready to give an account of our church proceedings to each other when defired, for preventing or removing any offences, that may arife among us. Likewife, we fhall be ready to give the right hand of fellowship, and walk together according to the gospel rules of communion of churches. V. Of Deacons and Ruling Elders: We agree, the office of a deacon is of divine appointment, and that it belongs to their office to receive, lay out, and diftribute the church's stock to its proper uses, by the direction of the paftor and elders, if such there be. And whereas divers are of opinion that there is also the office of ruling elders, who labour not in word and doctrine; and others think otherwife, we agree that this difference make no breach among us. VI. Of Synods. 1. We agree, that in order to concord, and in any other weighty and difficult cafes, it is needful, and according to the mind of Chrift, that a fynod be called to confult and advise about fuch matters. 2. That a fynod may confift of fmaller or greater numbers, as the matter fhall require. 3. That particular churches, their respective elders and members, ought to have a reverential regard to the judgment of fuch fynods, and not diffent therefrom, without apparent grounds from the word of God. VII. Of our Demeanour towards the Civil 1. We do reckon ourfelves obliged continually to pray for G D's protection, guidance, and bleffing upon the rulers set over us. 2. That we ought to yield unto them not only fubjection in the Lord, but fupport, according to our station and abilities. 3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasure to call together any number of us, or require any account of our affairs, and the state of our congregations, we shall most readily exprefs all dutiful regard to them herein. VIII. Of a Confession of Faith. As to what appertains to foundness of judgment in matters in faith, we esteem it fufficient, that a church acknowledge the fcriptures to be the word of God, the perfect and only rule of faith and practice; and own either the doctrinal part of thofe commonly called the Articles of the Church of England, or the Confeffion, or Catechifms, fhorter or larger, compiled by the affembly at Westminster, or the confeffion agreed on at the Savoy, to be agreeable to the faid rule. IX. Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in communion with us. 1. We judge it our duty to bear a christian respect to fellow christians, according to their feveral ranks and ftations, that are not of our perfuafion of communion. 2. As for fuch as may be ignorant of the principles of the christian religion, or of vicious conversation, we shall in our refpective places, as they give us opportunity, endeavour to explain to them the doctrine of life and falvation, and to our uttermost perfuade them to be reconciled to GOD. 3. That fuch who appear to have the effential requifites to church communion, we fhall willingly receive them in the LORD, not troubling them with difputes about leffer matters, NUMBER IV. Dissenters' Address on the Death of Queen Mary. May it please your Majesty, THOUGH we come in the rear of the train of mourners to pay our tributary tears for the invaluable lofs in the death of your royal confort, and our most gracious queen, yet our refentments of it are with as tender a fympathy as are in the breafts of any of your fubjects. This gives the sharpeft accent to our paffions, that the confiderations which are moft proper and powerful to allay our forrows, exasperate them; for while we remember what fhe was, how general and diffufive a bleffing to three kingdoms, the fevere ftroke of Providence in taking her from us is most afflicting. Such a concurrence of high perfection thined in her person and actions, that would have made her illuftrious in a low condition; and in her exalted station, they were attractive of the eyes and admiration of all. Her mind was above the temptations that attend the throne. Majefty was mixed with that condefcending humility, that tender and beneficent goodness, that he was eafily acceffible to all for their relief and fupport. Her piety and purity were fo confpicuous, her affections were fo compofed and temperate, that the court, that is ufually the centre of vanity and voluptuoufnefs, became virtuous by the impreffion of her example. Her converfation was fo regular, that her enemies (if goodness in fuch bright eminency had any) could not fasten a taint upon her. Her royal endowments for government, wif dom, magnanimity, vigilance, and care in managing affairs of ftate, (without, which the higheft princes are but civil idols, ufelefs and unprofitable to the world,) thefe were in fuch a degree of excellency, that in your Majefty's |