Communion of churches, or, The divine management of gospel-churches by the ordinance of councils constituted in order according to the Scriptures as also the way of bringing all Christian parishes to be particular Reforming Congregationall Churches, humbly proposed as ... a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties the Presbyterians and the Congregationals ... / written by John Eliot.
         Eliot, John, 1604-1690.
      
       
         
           1665
        
      
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             Communion of churches, or, The divine management of gospel-churches by the ordinance of councils constituted in order according to the Scriptures as also the way of bringing all Christian parishes to be particular Reforming Congregationall Churches, humbly proposed as ... a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties the Presbyterians and the Congregationals ... / written by John Eliot.
             Eliot, John, 1604-1690.
          
           [1], 38 p.
           
             Printed by Marmaduke Johnson,
             Cambridge [Mass.] :
             1665.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church polity.
           Christian union.
        
      
    
     
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             Communion
             of
             Churches
             :
          
           OR
           ,
           The
           Divine
           Management
           of
           
             Gospel-Churches
          
           by
           the
           Ordinance
           of
           COUNCILS
           ,
           Constituted
           in
           Order
           according
           to
           the
           
             SCRIPTURES
             .
          
        
         
           AS
           ALSO
           ,
           The
           Way
           of
           bringing
           all
           Christian
           Parishes
           to
           be
           particular
           Reforming
           Congregationall
           Churches
           :
           
             Humbly
             Proposed
             ,
          
           As
           a
           Way
           which
           hath
           so
           much
           Light
           from
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           Truth
           ,
           as
           that
           it
           may
           lawfully
           be
           Submitted
           unto
           by
           all
           ;
           and
           may
           ,
           by
           the
           blessing
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           be
           a
           Means
           of
           Uniting
           those
           two
           Holy
           and
           Eminent
           PARTIES
           ,
           The
           
             Presbyterians
          
           and
           the
           
             Congregationals
             .
          
        
         
           
             AS
             ALSO
          
           To
           Prepare
           for
           the
           hoped-for
           Resurrection
           of
           the
           Churches
           ;
           and
           to
           Propose
           a
           way
           to
           bring
           all
           Christian
           Nations
           unto
           an
           Unity
           of
           the
           Faith
           and
           Order
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           Written
           ▪
           by
           
             Iohn
             Eliot
             ,
          
           Teacher
           of
           
             Roxbury
          
           in
           
             N.
             E.
             
          
        
         
           Psal.
           1.
           ●…0
           
        
         
           That
           ye
           may
           try
           the
           things
           that
           are
           excellent
           .
        
         
           1
           John
           4
           1.
           
        
         
           Try
           the
           Spirits
           .
        
         
           
             Cambridge
             :
          
           Printed
           by
           
             Marmaduke
             Iohnson
             .
          
           1665.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           ALthough
           a
           few
           Copies
           of
           this
           small
           Script
           are
           Printed
           ;
           yet
           it
           is
           not
           published
           ,
           onely
           committed
           privately
           to
           some
           Godly
           and
           Able
           hands
           ,
           to
           be
           Viewed
           ,
           Corrected
           ,
           Amended
           ,
           or
           Rejected
           ,
           as
           it
           shall
           be
           found
           to
           hold
           wright
           in
           the
           Sanctuary
           Ballance
           ,
           or
           not
           .
           And
           it
           is
           the
           humble
           Request
           of
           the
           Author
           ,
           That
           whatever
           Objections
           ;
           Rectification
           ,
           or
           Emendati●…ns
           may
           occurre●…
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           conveyed
           unto
           him
           ;
           who
           desireth
           nothing
           may
           be
           accepted
           in
           the
           Churches
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           according
           to
           the
           Will
           and
           Minde
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           tendeth
           to
           Holiness
           ,
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Promotion
           of
           the
           holy
           Kingdome
           of
           Iesus
           Christ.
           
        
         
           The
           procuring
           of
           half
           so
           many
           Copies
           Written
           and
           Corrected
           ,
           would
           be
           more
           difficult
           and
           chargeable
           ,
           then
           the
           Printing
           of
           these
           few
           .
        
         
           I
           beg
           the
           Prayers
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Pains
           of
           the
           precio●…s
           Servants
           of
           the
           Lord
           ▪
           that
           I
           may
           never
           have
           the
           least
           singer
           in
           doing
           any
           thing
           that
           may
           be
           derogatory
           to
           the
           Holiness
           and
           Honour
           of
           Iesus
           Christ
           and
           his
           Churches
           .
           And
           to
           this
           I
           subscribe
           my self
           ,
        
         
           
             One
             of
             the
             least
             of
             the
             Labourers
             in
             our
             Lords
             Vineyard
             ,
             JOHN
             ELIOT
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           
             Communion
             of
             Churches
             :
          
           OR
           ,
           The
           divine
           Management
           of
           Gospel-Churches
           BY
           THE
           
             Ordinance
             of
             Councils
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               CHAP.
               I.
               Prolegomena
               ;
            
             or
             ,
             Things
             premised
             .
          
           
             I.
             THere
             be
             two
             holy
             Publick
             Societies
             famous
             in
             the
             Gospel
             :
          
           
             
               1.
               
               A
               Church
               of
               Believers
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               A
               Council
               of
               Churches
               .
            
          
           
             
               A
               Church
               of
               Believers
               ,
            
             is
             a
             company
             of
             visible
             Sainte
             combined
             together
             ,
             with
             one
             heart
             ,
             to
             hold
             Communion
             in
             all
             the
             instituted
             Gospel-worship
             ,
             Ordinances
             and
             Discipline
             ,
             which
             Christ
             hath
             sitted
             for
             ,
             and
             given
             unto
             a
             particular
             Church
             .
             Such
             a
             Company
             are
             frequently
             called
             
               A
               Church
               .
            
             See
             a
             few
             places
             :
             
               Acts
            
             2.
             47
             ,
             &
             11.
             26.
             
             &
             14.
             23
             ,
             27.
             1
             
             
               Cor.
            
             11.
             18
             ,
             20
             ,
             22
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               A
               Council
               ,
            
             is
             a
             Society
             of
             particular
             Churches
             in
             Communion
             ,
             by
             their
             Representatives
             ,
             for
             their
             well-being
             ,
             and
             well-ordering
             all
             things
             among
             them
             ,
             by
             mutual
             ,
             Counsel
             ,
             in
             Truth
             ,
             Peace
             ,
             and
             Holiness
             .
             Our
             Pattern
             is
             ,
             that
             
               Great
               Council
               ,
            
             Acts
             15.
             which
             consisted
             of
             two
             Churches
             ,
             in
             an
             ordinary
             way
             expresly
             agreed
             ,
             to
             
               give
            
             and
             
               take
               counsel
               :
            
             and
             it
             is
             le●…
             as
             a
             Standard
             and
             Pattern
             ,
             ●…ow
             the
             great
             Ordinance
             
             of
             Counsel
             is
             to
             be
             used
             and
             managed
             for
             the
             well-being
             of
             Churches
             ,
             to
             the
             worlds
             end
             .
          
           
             II.
             The
             Constitution
             of
             both
             these
             Buildings
             or
             Societies
             ,
             are
             eminent
             and
             observable
             in
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             The
             first
             of
             these
             ,
             viz.
             
               A
               Church
               of
               Believers
               ,
            
             is
             first
             instituted
             by
             Christ
             himself
             ,
             and
             afterward
             put
             in
             practice
             by
             the
             Apostles
             ;
             
               Matth.
            
             16.
             18.
             
             
               Thou
               art
               Peter
               ,
               and
               upon
               this
               Rock
               I
               will
               build
               my
               Church
            
             The
             Rock
             confessed
             is
             
               CHRIST
               :
            
             Christ
             Confessëd
             ,
             is
             the
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Visible
             Church
             ⸫
             
               Peter
            
             confessing
             ,
             is
             an
             hewn
             stone
             ,
             squared
             to
             the
             foundation
             *
             ;
             a
             Believer
             made
             Ecclesiastically
             visible
             ,
             sitted
             for
             Church-building
             and
             fellowship
             .
          
           
             A
             company
             of
             such
             Confessors
             ,
             or
             a
             company
             of
             these
             confessing
             Believers
             ,
          
           
             1.
             
             Have
             power
             to
             joyn
             together
             into
             a
             Gospel
             Church-state
             ,
             as
             they
             did
             
               Acts
            
             1.
             13
             ,
             14.
             
             
               Continued
               with
               one
               accord
               :
            
             so
             
               Acts
            
             2.
             46.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             They
             have
             power
             to
             call
             Officers
             ,
             by
             whom
             they
             become
             an
             Organick
             Body
             ,
             and
             sitted
             to
             administer
             and
             enjoy
             all
             instituted
             Worship
             :
             
               Acts
            
             1.
             15
             ,
             23.
             
             
               Peter
               stood
               up
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               the
               Disciples
               ;
               And
               they
               appointed
               two
               .
            
             Acts
             6.
             3.
             
             
               Brethren
               ,
               look
               you
               out
               men
               .
            
             Acts
             14.
             23.
             
             
               By
               bolding
               up
               bands
               made
               Elders
               .
            
          
           
             3.
             
             By
             the
             Ministry
             of
             these
             Officers
             ,
             the
             Church
             doth
             actually
             enjoy
             such
             Ordinances
             as
             are
             instituted
             by
             Christ
             ,
             for
             their
             Edisication
             ;
          
           
             
               Both
            
             
               
                 Directive
                 ,
              
               in
               Word
               ,
               Sacraments
               ,
               Prayer
               ,
               Singing
               of
               Psalms
               ,
               and
               Collections
               :
               
                 Acts
              
               2.
               42.
               
               
                 They
                 continu●…ct
                 stedfastly
                 in
                 the
                 Apostles
                 doctrine
                 ,
                 and
                 sellowship
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 breaking
                 of
                 bread
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 prayers
                 .
              
               Col.
               3.
               16.
               
               
                 Teaching
                 one
                 another
                 in
                 Psalms
                 and
                 Hymns
                 ▪
              
               &c.
               
               ;
               ●…1
               Cor.
               16.
               1
               ,
               2.
               
               
                 Every
                 first
                 day
                 lay
                 by
                 it self
                 ,
              
               &c.
               for
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               is
               the
               Neuter
               Gender
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               Masculine
               ,
               and
               is
               so
               to
               be
               read
               ,
               because
               they
               had
               two
               distinct
               Collections
               ●…t
               that
               time
               ▪
               The
               Collection
               for
               
                 Ierusalem
              
               was
               by
               it self
               ,
               a
               
                 publick
                 ,
              
               not
               a
               
                 private
                 Collection
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Corrective
                 :
              
               1
               Cor.
               ●…5
               .
               425.
               
               
                 When
                 gathered
                 together
                 ,
                 deliver
                 to
                 Sa●…
                 .
              
            
          
           
             III
             ▪
             The
             administration
             of
             ,
             and
             participation
             in
             all
             these
             Ordi●…ances
             ,
             (
             while
             we
             are
             in
             this
             flesh
             ,
             and
             state
             militant
             )
             are
             in
             full
             of
             variety
             of
             difficulties
             and
             temptations
             ,
             especially
             where
             Churches
             are
             numerous
             ,
             that
             the
             work
             cannot
             long
             be
             carried
             on
             (
             a
             while
             it
             sometimes
             may
             ,
             
               viz.
            
             while
             
             the
             Churches
             are
             under
             the
             eye
             of
             an
             adversary
             ,
             and
             when
             there
             be
             Elders
             eminent
             in
             Piety
             ,
             Humility
             and
             Ability
             )
             without
             stated
             help
             .
          
           
             The
             help
             which
             the
             Lord
             hath
             instituted
             ,
             is
             
               Counsel
               .
            
          
           
             When
             
               Antiech
            
             had
             trouble
             in
             some
             points
             of
             Doctrine
             ,
             the
             Remedy
             which
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             applied
             ,
             was
             
               Counsel
               ▪
            
             given
             them
             by
             a
             
               formall
               Council
               ,
            
             Acts
             15.
             
          
           
             When
             
               Corinth
            
             wanted
             help
             in
             a
             point
             of
             Discipline
             ,
             the
             Apostle
             doth
             help
             ,
             by
             ministring
             
               Counsel
            
             unto
             them
             ,
             1
             
               Cor.
            
             5.
             3
             ,
             4
             ,
             5.
             and
             he
             counselleth
             the
             Church
             to
             Excommunicate
             the
             man
             ,
             the
             sinner
             .
          
           
             
               Excommunication
            
             is
             a
             sharp
             Rod
             ,
             made
             up
             of
             seven
             most
             severe
             and
             terrible
             Twigs
             ;
             or
             a
             strong
             Purgation
             ,
             compounded
             of
             seven
             violent
             Ingredients
             ;
             
               viz.
               
            
          
           
             
               1.
               
               He
               is
               cut
               off
               from
               visible
               Communion
               with
               Christ
               in
               the
               Church
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               He
               is
               cut
               off
               from
               familiar
               Communion
               with
               the
               Saints
               in
               Worship
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               He
               is
               cast
               out
               of
               the
               usual
               walk
               of
               the
               Spirit
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               He
               is
               cast
               out
               of
               the
               House
               of
               God
               ,
               as
               unsavoury
               Salt
               ,
               or
               a
               loathsome
               thing
               that
               doth
               offend
               .
            
             
               5.
               
               He
               is
               thrust
               out
               of
               the
               Paradise
               of
               God
               ,
               from
               eating
               the
               Tree
               of
               Life
               ,
               
                 viz.
              
               Christ
               in
               the
               Sacrament
               of
               the
               Supper
               ,
               where
               the
               Spirit
               sitteth
               as
               in
               his
               Sealing-office
               .
            
             
               6.
               
               He
               is
               cut
               off
               from
               familiar
               Civil
               Communion
               with
               the
               Saints
               ;
               he
               may
               not
               be
               invited
               to
               eat
               with
               them
               .
            
             
               7.
               
               He
               is
               delivered
               to
               Satan
               ,
               and
               that
               by
               the
               Sentence
               of
               Christ
               ,
               through
               the
               hand
               of
               his
               Spouse
               the
               Church
               and
               all
               this
               to
               be
               inflicted
               upon
               a
               Brother
               .
            
          
           
             Ah!
             who
             trembles
             not
             to
             minister
             such
             a
             
               Pill
               ,
            
             to
             lay
             on
             such
             a
             
               Rod
               ?
            
             And
             therefore
             it
             had
             need
             to
             be
             managed
             and
             administred
             with
             all
             care
             ,
             fear
             ,
             and
             clearness
             .
             And
             all
             this
             sheweth
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             might
             be
             produced
             to
             shew
             ,
             what
             need
             there
             is
             of
             
               Counsel
               ;
            
             which
             ,
             after
             thirty
             or
             forty
             years
             experience
             in
             the
             way
             of
             
               Congregational
               Churches
               ,
            
             in
             fulness
             of
             liberty
             ,
             we
             finde
             more
             and
             more
             need
             to
             insist
             upon
             ,
             and
             that
             in
             such
             a
             fixed
             and
             ordered
             way
             ,
             as
             that
             thereby
             men
             may
             be
             tyed
             to
             attend
             unto
             Counsel
             .
          
           
             IV.
             A
             
               Council
            
             is
             constituted
             
               Acts.
            
             15.
             where
             the
             wisdome
             of
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             hath
             given
             us
             a
             Pattern
             of
             the
             
               least
               ,
            
             and
             of
             the
             
               greatest
               Councils
               ,
            
             as
             our
             
               N.
               E.
            
             Divines
             have
             well
             observed
             .
             There
             cannot
             be
             a
             
               less
               Council
            
             then
             that
             was
             ,
             for
             there
             were
             but
             two
             Churches
             mentioned
             ;
             and
             there
             cannot
             be
             a
             
               greater
               ,
            
             and
             more
             compleat
             one
             ,
             because
             there
             were
             
             the
             greatest
             Counsellors
             ,
             a
             most
             compleat
             Pattern
             ,
             even
             the
             Apostles
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ;
             teaching
             ,
             That
             if
             there
             be
             but
             two
             Churches
             ,
             they
             may
             enjoy
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               mutuall
               Counsel
               ,
            
             though
             more
             incompleatly
             .
             But
             if
             there
             he
             many
             Churches
             ,
             then
             they
             are
             to
             be
             ordered
             according
             to
             the
             Pattern
             of
             Comblning
             Churches
             into
             compleat
             Councils
             .
             
               Of
               which
               in
               the
               next
               Chapter
               .
            
          
           
             V.
             Christ
             ,
             who
             hath
             
               all
               power
               ,
            
             Mat.
             28.
             20.
             hath
             derived
             all
             Ecclesiastical
             Power
             first
             unto
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             that
             they
             by
             Institution
             mi●…ht
             distribute
             the
             same
             unto
             several
             Offices
             in
             the
             Church
             .
             Hence
             ▪
          
           
             As
             all
             Church-Officers
             ,
             especially
             Elders
             ,
             and
             more
             especially
             
               Teaching
               Elders
               ,
            
             are
             ordinary
             Successors
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             in
             their
             several
             branches
             of
             Church
             power
             :
             So
             
               Councils
               of
               Churches
            
             are
             their
             eminent
             ordinary
             Successors
             ,
             in
             point
             of
             Counsel
             ,
             and
             that
             in
             several
             respects
             .
          
           
             
               First
               ,
            
             Because
             in
             Councils
             there
             is
             
               most
               light
               ,
            
             and
             nearest
             to
             infallibility
             :
             and
             the
             more
             compleat
             ,
             the
             better
             ;
             though
             the
             most
             compleat
             Council
             may
             erre
             ,
             because
             they
             have
             not
             a
             promise
             of
             infallible
             assistance
             .
          
           
             
               Secondly
               ,
            
             Because
             when
             the
             Apostles
             themselves
             had
             constituted
             Churches
             ,
             they
             did
             guide
             and
             counsel
             them
             how
             to
             use
             their
             power
             ;
             as
             
               Paul
            
             did
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Corinth
               ,
            
             1
             
               Cor.
            
             ●…
             ,
             4.
             the
             Apostle
             did
             not
             act
             the
             Censure
             himself
             :
             and
             so
             is
             that
             of
             
               Paul
            
             to
             be
             interpreted
             ,
             1
             
               Tim.
            
             1.
             20.
             
             
               I
               have
               delivered
               to
               Satan
               ;
            
             viz.
             as
             I
             did
             the
             incestuous
             
               Corinthian
               ,
            
             by
             giving
             such
             counsel
             to
             the
             Church
             ,
             whereof
             they
             were
             Members
             .
             In
             thus
             doing
             ,
             Councils
             succeed
             the
             Apostles
             .
          
           
             VI.
             Inasmuch
             as
             Councils
             are
             
               Publick
               Assemblies
               ,
            
             and
             that
             not
             onely
             Ecclesiastically
             publick
             ,
             but
             Civilly
             also
             ,
             when
             they
             are
             held
             with
             openness
             and
             boldness
             .
             Hence
             ,
             
               Civill
               Authority
            
             hath
             influence
             ,
             by
             Law
             and
             Command
             ,
             to
             give
             allowance
             unto
             such
             Assemblies
             ;
             and
             so
             they
             have
             an
             
               Extrinsecall
               Efficiency
            
             in
             calling
             Councils
             :
             but
             the
             
               Intrinsecall
            
             and
             
               proper
               Efficients
            
             of
             a
             Council
             ,
             are
             
               the
               Churches
               ,
            
             who
             elect
             and
             send
             Messengers
             to
             that
             end
             .
          
           
             VII
             .
             The
             Members
             constituent
             of
             a
             Council
             ,
             are
             
               Church-Messengers
               .
            
          
           
             The
             persons
             sent
             ought
             to
             be
             
               Elders
               ,
            
             of
             
               both
               Orders
               ,
               Teaching
            
             and
             
               Ruling
               ▪
            
             to
             represent
             the
             whole
             Church
             ;
             or
             in
             defect
             of
             
               Ruling
               Elders
            
             to
             represent
             the
             people
             ,
             
               Faithful
               Brethren
               ▪
            
             eminent
             in
             holiness
             and
             wisdome
             ,
             who
             are
             as
             Elders
             :
             
               Acts
            
             15.
             2.
             
             
               Certain
               other
               of
               them
            
             Ver.
             22.
             
             
               Chosen
               men
               ,
               chief
               men
               among
               ,
               the
               Brethren
               .
            
             Ver.
             32.
             
             
               Being
               Prophets
               also
            
             
             
               themselves
               .
            
             And
             the
             reason
             hereof
             is
             ,
             Because
             ,
             as
             the
             temptation
             of
             Learned
             men
             ,
             is
             to
             affect
             a
             Prolacy
             over
             the
             people
             :
             So
             the
             temptation
             of
             the
             Fraternity
             ,
             is
             to
             affect
             a
             Morellian
             Democracy
             .
             And
             therefore
             the
             wisdome
             of
             God
             hath
             by
             institution
             ballanced
             all
             Ecclesiastical
             Councils
             with
             Members
             of
             
               both
               sorts
               ,
            
             that
             may
             ballance
             each
             other
             ,
             by
             
               Number
            
             at
             least
             ,
             though
             not
             in
             
               Weight
               ,
            
             yet
             enough
             to
             prevent
             any
             prevalency
             of
             a
             temptation
             ,
             either
             to
             subjugate
             the
             Churches
             under
             any
             Prelatical
             Usurpation
             of
             the
             Learned
             ;
             or
             to
             elevate
             and
             intoxicate
             the
             Fraternity
             ,
             to
             affect
             any
             inordinate
             power
             :
             which
             rather
             ,
             and
             more
             effectually
             te●…ds
             to
             enervate
             and
             evacuate
             Government
             ,
             then
             to
             preserve
             any
             Lawful
             and
             just
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Brotherhood
             .
          
           
             The
             end
             of
             the
             Churches
             sending
             these
             Messengers
             ,
             is
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
            
             in
             due
             order
             .
          
           
             VIII
             .
             The
             Organick
             parts
             of
             a
             Council
             ,
             whereby
             they
             are
             enabled
             to
             manage
             their
             affairs
             in
             Prudence
             and
             Order
             ,
             are
             
               Moderators
               ,
            
             ●…nd
             
               Notaries
               :
            
             the
             choice
             of
             whom
             is
             the
             first
             act
             they
             do
             ,
             to
             compleat
             themselves
             to
             be
             fit
             for
             action
             .
          
           
             It
             may
             sometimes
             edifie
             ,
             to
             
               change
               Moderators
            
             every
             new
             Session
             ,
             part●…ly
             to
             train
             up
             each
             other
             unto
             that
             special
             work
             of
             Christ
             ,
             in
             the
             management
             of
             the
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             in
             caring
             for
             the
             publick
             welfare
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             ;
             and
             also
             to
             take
             trial
             of
             mens
             Gifts
             ,
             Spirit
             and
             Abilities
             unto
             that
             high
             service
             ;
             that
             so
             ,
             when
             there
             may
             be
             special
             need
             ,
             they
             may
             know
             who
             is
             most
             fit
             to
             manage
             the
             Council
             at
             such
             ●…
             time
             ,
             for
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             most
             effectual
             Edification
             ,
             and
             publick
             well
             being
             of
             the
             Churches
             .
          
           
             Though
             Moderators
             may
             be
             often
             changed
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             fit
             :
             that
             the
             Notaries
             should
             be
             so
             often
             changed
             .
          
           
             IX
             .
             The
             Power
             of
             Ecclesiastical
             Councils
             is
             onely
             Dogmatical
             ,
             or
             Doctrinal
             :
             Power
             of
             
               Censure
            
             is
             by
             the
             Lord
             fixed
             in
             the
             
               Church
               ;
            
             and
             hence
             ,
             when
             any
             appeal
             unto
             a
             Council
             ,
             it
             is
             for
             further
             and
             more
             clear
             light
             from
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             for
             conviction
             thereby
             ,
             but
             not
             for
             the
             Exercise
             of
             any
             Juridical
             Power
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               II.
            
             Of
             the
             Gospel-Measuring-Reed
             by
             the
             Number
             
               Twelve
               .
            
          
           
             I.
             SEeing
             particular
             Congregations
             in
             Gospel-Order
             ,
             are
             
               Churches
               ;
            
             and
             these
             Churches
             ,
             for
             their
             well-being
             ,
             need
             to
             hold
             and
             exercise
             
               Communion
               by
               Councils
               :
            
             and
             one
             Church
             (
             as
             
               Antioch
            
             )
             may
             need
             the
             greatest
             and
             highest
             Counsel
             .
          
           
             Hence
             in
             such
             places
             where
             ,
             through
             the
             riches
             of
             the
             Grace
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Churches
             are
             numerous
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             necessary
             ,
             that
             the
             management
             of
             these
             Councils
             should
             be
             in
             Order
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Pattern
             of
             
               Compleat
               Councils
               ,
               Acts
            
             15.
             
             For
             multitude
             unordered
             ,
             by
             ●…ow
             much
             the
             greater
             they
             are
             ,
             the
             greater
             is
             their
             cumber
             ,
             and
             unaptness
             to
             operate
             in
             Order
             unto
             their
             end
             .
             Lesser
             Bodies
             are
             more
             readily
             ordered
             ,
             and
             have
             a
             greater
             aptitude
             to
             be
             active
             in
             their
             Order
             unto
             their
             end
             .
             
               Ordo
               anima
               rerum
               .
            
          
           
             II.
             
               Order
            
             is
             one
             of
             the
             
               Beauties
               of
               Heaven
               ,
            
             and
             so
             it
             is
             of
             the
             Churches
             .
             
               Let
               all
               things
               be
               done
               in
               Order
               ,
            
             1
             Cor
             ▪
             14.
             40.
             
             
               Ierusalem
               is
               a
               City
               compacted
               ,
            
             Psal.
             122.
             3.
             and
             the
             more
             orderly
             Bodies
             are
             ,
             the
             better
             are
             they
             compacted
             .
             Bodies
             that
             are
             compacted
             ,
             are
             so
             ordered
             by
             
               Number
            
             and
             
               Measure
               :
            
             The
             
               New
               Ierusalem
            
             is
             the
             most
             glorious
             City
             that
             ever
             shall
             be
             on
             Earth
             ;
             and
             we
             see
             that
             it
             shall
             be
             compacted
             by
             
               Number
            
             and
             
               Measure
               ,
            
             Rev.
             21.
             12
             ,
             
               to
            
             18.
             and
             the
             Foundation
             Number
             is
             
               Twelve
               ,
            
             as
             appeareth
             
               ver
               .
            
             14.
             
             
               The
               wall
               of
               the
               City
               had
               twelve
               Foundations
               .
            
             And
             this
             Number
             
               Twelve
            
             is
             multiplied
             by
             
               Twelve
               ,
            
             as
             appeareth
             
               ver
               .
            
             16
             ,
             17.
             it
             is
             square
             ,
             
               Twelve
            
             every
             way
             ,
             which
             amounteth
             to
             One
             hundred
             forty
             and
             four
             .
          
           
             III.
             The
             
               Twelve
               Tribes
            
             in
             the
             Old
             Testament
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Twelve
               Apostles
            
             in
             the
             New
             ,
             do
             make
             that
             Number
             famous
             in
             the
             Churches
             ,
             and
             fundamental
             in
             ordering
             and
             compacting
             of
             Churches
             into
             Ecclesiasticall
             Combinations
             of
             Councils
             .
          
           
             The
             
               Twelve
               Tribes
            
             compacted
             in
             order
             ,
             was
             the
             most
             beautiful
             ,
             and
             heart-ravishing
             Camp
             ,
             that
             ever
             the
             worlds
             Eye
             did
             look
             upon
             ,
             
               Numb
               .
            
             24.
             2
             ,
             5
             ,
             6.
             
             The
             
               Twelve
               Loaves
               of
               Shew-bread
               ,
            
             did
             represent
             the
             whole
             Visible
             Church
             
             before
             God
             in
             the
             Temple
             .
             The
             
               Twelve
               Precious
               Sta●…s
               in
               the
               Breast-plate
               of
               the
               High
               Priest
               ,
            
             shew
             ,
             That
             i●…
             such
             a
             Number
             Christ
             is
             pleased
             to
             order
             and
             represent
             the
             whole
             Militant
             Church
             before
             his
             Father
             in
             Heaven
             .
             And
             according
             to
             this
             Type
             ,
             
               Rev.
            
             7.
             4.
             the
             whole
             Visible
             Church
             is
             ordered
             ,
             multiplied
             ,
             and
             ●…ealed
             in
             this
             Number
             .
             And
             Rev.
             21.
             12
             ,
             14.
             the
             
               Twelve
               Tribes
            
             are
             the
             
               Twelve
               Gates
               ,
            
             and
             the
             
               Twelve
               Apostles
            
             are
             the
             
               Twelve
               Foundations
            
             of
             the
             New
             
               Ierusalem
               .
            
             ●…hat
             glorious
             visible
             Gospel-Church
             ,
             Ezek●…8
             ●…8
             .
             which
             is
             called
             
               Iehovah-Shamniah
               ,
            
             is
             ordered
             by
             the
             Number
             
               Twelve
               ,
            
             according
             to
             the
             Twelve
             Tribes
             of
             Israel
             ,
             as
             the
             Typicall
             and
             of
             
               Canaan
            
             was
             .
          
           
             IV.
             In
             the
             
               perfect
               Pattern
            
             (
             f●…r
             the
             Word
             is
             a
             
               perfect
               Rule
            
             )
             which
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ▪
             hath
             left
             us
             ,
             
               Acts
            
             15.
             as
             there
             is
             a
             ground
             ▪
             work
             for
             the
             least
             of
             Councils
             ,
             in
             the
             
               Two
               Churches
               ;
            
             so
             of
             compleat
             Councils
             ,
             in
             the
             
               Twelve
               Apostles
               .
            
          
           
             For
             ,
             though
             
               Herod
            
             had
             killed
             
               Iames
            
             with
             the
             sword
             ,
             Acts●…
             ●…
             .
             ●…
             .
             his
             Martyrdome
             did
             not
             remove
             him
             out
             of
             the
             
               Foundation
               ,
            
             but
             rather
             six
             him
             in
             it
             :
             And
             the
             Apostles
             were
             most
             of
             them
             killed
             for
             
               the
               Testimony
               of
               Iesus
               ,
            
             before
             
               Iohn
            
             had
             his
             
               Revelation
               ,
            
             and
             yet
             we
             finde
             them
             all
             written
             in
             the
             Foundation
             of
             the
             
               New
               Ierusalem
               .
            
          
           
             And
             therefore
             what
             should
             hinder
             ,
             but
             that
             in
             the
             ordering
             of
             
               Compleat
               Councils
               ,
            
             we
             should
             lay
             our
             foundation
             in
             the
             Number
             
               Twelve
               ?
            
             and
             all
             the
             Orders
             of
             Councils
             should
             be
             raised
             and
             compacted
             by
             that
             Number
             ,
             even
             from
             the
             bottom
             to
             the
             top
             .
          
           
             V.
             And
             unto
             this
             
               Order
            
             and
             
               Number
            
             we
             may
             the
             ●…ather
             be
             induced
             ,
             because
             here
             will
             be
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elder●…
               ,
            
             who
             do
             wait
             upon
             ,
             and
             worship
             the
             holy
             Majesty
             of
             God
             in
             all
             the
             Churches
             upon
             earth
             ,
             as
             he
             hath
             pleased
             to
             reveal
             himself
             ,
             
               Rev.
            
             4.
             where
             the
             presence
             of
             God
             among
             the
             Churches
             is
             reve●…led
             :
             First
             ,
             with
             his
             glorious
             Angels
             next
             him
             ,
             represented
             by
             the
             
               four
               living
               Creatures
               ,
            
             according
             to
             
               Ezek.
            
             1.
             
             
               &
            
             10.
             
             And
             secondly
             ,
             with
             the
             Communion
             of
             Churches
             about
             him
             ,
             represented
             by
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             who
             do
             represent
             all
             the
             Churches
             on
             earth
             ,
             in
             Communion
             :
             as
             will
             anon
             appear
             .
          
           
             VI.
             For
             when
             
               Twelve
               Churches
            
             are
             combined
             to
             hold
             Communion
             together
             ,
             the
             least
             Number
             that
             one
             Church
             must
             (
             by
             Institution
             )
             send
             forth
             to
             that
             first
             Council
             ,
             must
             be
             
               one
               Teaching
               Elder
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ;
            
             and
             then
             ,
             this
             Society
             of
             Churches
             is
             represented
             by
             
               twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             strictly
             .
          
           
           
             And
             when
             
               Twelve
            
             of
             these
             
               first
               Councils
            
             shall
             ,
             with
             consent
             of
             the
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             elect
             and
             send
             forth
             ▪
             
               one
               Teaching
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             the
             ablest
             and
             fittest
             among
             them
             ,
             to
             constitute
             a
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ;
            
             that
             Council
             will
             be
             strictly
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             representing
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             that
             Province
             ,
             concurring
             in
             the
             Election
             .
          
           
             And
             when
             
               Twelve
               Provincial
               Councils
            
             shall
             ,
             with
             like
             consent
             ,
             send
             forth
             from
             each
             of
             them
             
               one
               Teaching
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             the
             most
             holy
             and
             able
             among
             them
             ,
             to
             constitute
             a
             
               National
               Council
               ,
            
             they
             will
             still
             be
             strictly
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             representing
             the
             whole
             Nation
             ,
             in
             their
             Ecclesiastical
             state
             ,
             before
             the
             Lord.
             
          
           
             And
             when
             
               Twelve
               National
               Councils
            
             shall
             send
             forth
             ,
             in
             like
             manner
             ,
             from
             each
             of
             them
             ,
             
               one
               Teaching
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             the
             most
             holy
             and
             fit
             among
             them
             ,
             to
             constitute
             a●…
             
               Oecumenic●…l
               Council
            
             (
             or
             by
             what
             other
             less
             term
             it
             may
             be
             thought
             meet
             to
             call
             it
             )
             they
             will
             still
             be
             strictly
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             representing
             before
             the
             Lord
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             all
             those
             Nations
             ,
             concurring
             in
             the
             Election
             .
          
           
             And
             why
             may
             not
             this
             ascent
             ,
             and
             representation
             of
             all
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             be
             part
             of
             the
             meaning
             of
             that
             Text
             ,
             
               Rev.
            
             5.
             8
             ,
             9
             ,
             11
             ,
             12
             ,
             14
             ?
          
           
             VII
             .
             And
             this
             point
             is
             the
             more
             to
             be
             ●…eeded
             ,
             because
             Gods
             visible
             respect
             unto
             ,
             and
             acceptation
             of
             any
             people
             ,
             is
             according
             to
             the
             good
             aspect
             and
             condition
             of
             their
             
               Representatives
               ▪
            
             There
             may
             be
             much
             ▪
             drose
             in
             a
             Parish
             ,
             a
             Province
             ,
             a
             Nation
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             world
             ;
             yet
             if
             they
             have
             good
             Representatives
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             if
             they
             carry
             the
             Lords
             matters
             well
             ,
             in
             his
             sight
             ,
             that
             doth
             obtain
             ,
             through
             Christ
             ,
             a
             favourable
             acceptation
             of
             ,
             and
             dispensation
             towards
             all
             that
             are
             so
             represented
             .
             And
             he
             hath
             instituted
             Representatives
             of
             the
             Church
             on
             earth
             :
             
               Aaron
            
             represented
             
               all
               Israel
               on
               his
               breast
               before
               the
               Lord
               ,
            
             Exod.
             28.
             29.
             
             And
             a
             Council
             consisting
             of
             
               Messengers
               of
               Churches
               ,
            
             the
             glory
             of
             Christ
             ,
             do
             represent
             the
             Churches
             who
             send
             and
             constitute
             that
             Council
             ,
             
               Acts
            
             15.
             
             Oh!
             how
             happy
             were
             it
             for
             any
             people
             ,
             to
             be
             in
             such
             visible
             instituted
             Order
             on
             earth
             ,
             as
             that
             they
             may
             be
             (
             through
             Christ
             )
             acceptably
             represented
             before
             the
             Lord
             !
          
           
             For
             God
             is
             so
             well
             pleased
             to
             see
             his
             people
             in
             Order
             ,
             as
             that
             he
             will
             dwell
             in
             that
             place
             ,
             and
             call
             it
             by
             his
             own
             Name
             .
             
               Iehovah-Shamniah
               ;
            
             especially
             when
             they
             are
             Civilly
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Ecclesiastically
             in
             good
             order
             represented
             before
             Him.
             
          
           
           
             VIII
             .
             Furthermore
             ,
             this
             is
             to
             be
             considered
             ,
             that
             though
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             are
             so
             called
             ,
             by
             the
             least
             Number
             that
             they
             can
             be
             ,
             by
             this
             Constitution
             ;
             yet
             ,
             according
             as
             the
             riches
             of
             Gods
             grace
             is
             more
             abundantly
             poured
             out
             ,
             they
             may
             be
             more
             in
             Number
             ,
             though
             under
             this
             constituting
             denomination
             .
             For
             ,
             one
             Church
             may
             send
             forth
             
               ●…ing
               Elders
               ,
            
             as
             
               Antioch
            
             sent
             forth
             
               Paul
            
             and
             
               Barnabas
               ,
            
             and
             
               Ruling
               Elders
               ,
            
             or
             
               Brethren
            
             proportionably
             .
             So
             likewise
             upon
             the
             same
             ground
             ,
             when
             there
             be
             more
             
               Eminent
               Lights
            
             in
             any
             of
             the
             Councils
             (
             as
             through
             grace
             it
             is
             like
             often
             to
             be
             )
             they
             may
             send
             more
             then
             one
             to
             the
             
               Provincial
               ,
            
             or
             
               National
               ,
            
             or
             
               Oecumenical
               Councils
               ▪
            
             but
             still
             they
             are
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             because
             that
             is
             the
             
               Foundation
               Number
               .
            
          
           
             IX
             .
             What
             if
             I
             should
             illustrate
             this
             Point
             by
             that
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ?
             who
             are
             often
             in
             Scripture
             called
             
               the
               Twelve
               Apostles
               ,
            
             and
             yet
             there
             were
             more
             Apostles
             then
             
               Twelve
               :
            
             for
             who
             doubteth
             but
             that
             
               Paul
               ,
            
             who
             was
             none
             of
             the
             
               Twelve
            
             yet
             he
             was
             
               an
               Apostle
               ,
            
             and
             
               a
               chief
               Apostle
               ,
            
             a
             great
             Foundation
             ;
             and
             
               Barnabas
            
             was
             an
             
               Apostle
            
             also
             ,
             
               Acts
            
             14
             ▪
             14.
             and
             1
             
               Cor.
            
             ●…
             .
             9.
             
             But
             
               Twelve
            
             is
             the
             
               Foundation
               Number
               ,
            
             and
             therefore
             they
             are
             so
             denominated
             .
          
           
             X.
             Again
             ,
             though
             
               Twelve
               Churches
            
             be
             the
             lowest
             Number
             of
             the
             
               first
               Combination
               ,
            
             yet
             they
             may
             be
             more
             then
             
               Twelve
               ,
            
             when
             the
             pourings
             out
             of
             Gods
             grace
             shall
             be
             inlarged
             ;
             yea
             ,
             they
             may
             be
             any
             Number
             under
             
               Twenty
               four
               Churches
               .
            
          
           
             If
             then
             
               Twenty
               three
               Churches
            
             should
             be
             in
             a
             Combination
             ,
             their
             Messengers
             sent
             to
             the
             
               first
               Council
            
             will
             be
             a
             great
             Number
             ;
             but
             still
             they
             are
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             by
             their
             fundamental
             Constitution
             .
          
           
             So
             a
             like
             Number
             of
             
               Provincial
               Councils
               ,
            
             and
             a
             like
             Number
             of
             
               National
               Councils
               ,
            
             though
             their
             Messengers
             are
             many
             ,
             yet
             they
             are
             still
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             growing
             up
             ,
             through
             grace
             ,
             and
             increasing
             unto
             more
             
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
            
             for
             the
             greater
             glory
             of
             Christ.
             
          
           
             And
             when
             (
             through
             grace
             )
             there
             shall
             be
             
               Twenty
               four
               Churches
               ,
            
             or
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             or
             
               Provincial
               ,
            
             or
             
               National
               Councils
               ▪
            
             then
             they
             must
             be
             compacted
             into
             
               two
               Orders
            
             of
             those
             Councils
             ,
             because
             
               Twelve
            
             is
             the
             Foundation
             Number
             ,
             by
             which
             they
             are
             multiplied
             ,
             and
             compacted
             .
             And
             when
             this
             is
             done
             ,
             they
             are
             reduced
             to
             be
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             strictly
             ;
             the
             
               Foundation
               Number
               .
            
          
           
             As
             in
             the
             Order
             of
             that
             
               Civill
               Government
            
             set
             up
             by
             
               Moses
               ;
            
             
             the
             Orders
             of
             
               Ten
               ,
            
             and
             of
             
               fifty
               ,
            
             &c.
             are
             denominated
             b●…
             the
             least
             and
             constituting
             Number
             :
             though
             those
             Orders
             may
             consist
             (
             when
             they
             are
             full
             of
             people
             and
             blessing
             )
             of
             many
             more
             ,
             even
             any
             number
             under
             
               Twenty
            
             and
             
               an
               hundred
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             But
             when
             
               Ten
            
             are
             become
             
               Twenty
               ,
            
             and
             when
             
               Fifty
            
             are
             become
             
               an
               hundred
               ,
            
             then
             they
             must
             be
             multiplied
             into
             
               more
               Orders
               ,
            
             because
             these
             Numbers
             are
             
               Foundation
               Numbers
               ,
            
             by
             which
             the
             
               Orders
            
             of
             the
             Government
             are
             multiplied
             and
             compacted
             ;
             and
             when
             that
             is
             transacted
             ,
             they
             are
             reduced
             unto
             their
             
               Foundation
               Numbers
               .
            
          
           
             So
             it
             is
             here
             in
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Orders
             of
             Government
             ,
             the
             least
             Number
             of
             a
             compleat
             stated
             
               first
               Council
               ,
            
             is
             
               Twelve
               Churches
               ,
            
             whose
             least
             Number
             of
             Messengers
             are
             
               Twenty
               four
               ;
            
             and
             by
             these
             Numbers
             they
             are
             denominated
             ,
             though
             they
             may
             be
             more
             Churches
             in
             a
             Combination
             ,
             and
             more
             Messengers
             from
             some
             of
             the
             Churches
             :
             and
             so
             it
             is
             in
             all
             the
             other
             
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               .
            
          
           
             For
             a
             little
             further
             illustration
             of
             this
             point
             ,
             I
             shall
             propose
             and
             answer
             
               Six
               Questions
               ,
            
             which
             may
             let
             in
             a
             little
             further
             light
             into
             this
             Frame
             ,
             and
             remove
             some
             Objections
             .
          
           
             Quest.
             1.
             
             
               May
               a
               Church
               perform
               any
               Ecclesiastical
               Acts
               by
               Messengers
               ,
               or
               Representatives
               in
               their
               Name
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Yea.
             doubtless
             they
             may
             ;
             they
             may
             
               Consult
               ,
            
             and
             
               Agree
            
             to
             
               give
               Counsel
               ,
            
             in
             such
             cases
             as
             may
             be
             presented
             for
             that
             end
             ,
             touching
             either
             
               Faith
            
             or
             
               Order
               ,
            
             as
             it
             appeareth
             
               Acts
            
             15.
             
          
           
             Quest
             2.
             
             
               May
               a
               Church
               elect
               by
               Messengers
               or
               Representatives
               ,
               when
               themselves
               cannot
               be
               present
               where
               such
               Election
               is
               performed
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             A●…
             act
             of
             Election
             may
             be
             transacted
             by
             
               some
            
             of
             a
             Society
             ;
             yea
             by
             
               a
               few
            
             in
             behalf
             of
             the
             rest
             ,
             when
             they
             have
             their
             consent
             ,
             and
             a
             calling
             so
             to
             act
             .
             For
             instance
             ,
          
           
             If
             a
             
               lesser
               Number
            
             of
             a
             Church
             be
             necessarily
             absent
             from
             an
             act
             of
             Election
             performed
             in
             a
             lawful
             Assembly
             ,
             they
             are
             all
             involved
             in
             the
             act
             of
             the
             
               major
            
             part
             :
             This
             is
             without
             Controversie
             fo●…
             Here
             some
             onely
             Elect
             ,
             and
             all
             are
             engaged
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             if
             the
             
               major
            
             part
             be
             necessarily
             absent
             ,
             and
             fond
             a
             
               lesser
            
             part
             ,
             or
             a
             
               ●…ew
               ,
            
             with
             their
             express
             consent
             to
             do
             an
             act
             o●…
             Election
             ,
             it
             hath
             the
             like
             force
             and
             validity
             .
             The
             royal
             Ar●…
             which
             chose
             
               David
            
             to
             be
             their
             King
             ,
             ●…
             
               Chron.
            
             12.
             were
             farre
             the
             lesser
             part
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             but
             they
             were
             
               〈◊〉
               ,
            
             and
             
               elected
               for
               them
               ,
            
             and
             did
             perform
             it
             as
             affectually
             
             as
             if
             the
             
               whole
               People
            
             had
             been
             present
             ;
             and
             
               David
            
             was
             King
             ,
             not
             onely
             over
             the
             
               Representatives
               ,
            
             who
             did
             actually
             chuse
             him
             ,
             but
             over
             
               all
               the
               People
               ,
            
             who
             did
             Elect
             him
             by
             their
             Representatives
             .
          
           
             If
             the
             parties
             
               s●…nt
            
             to
             transact
             an
             Election
             ,
             do
             act
             according
             to
             their
             heart
             who
             sent
             them
             ,
             they
             will
             not
             object
             ,
             for
             had
             they
             been
             there
             present
             ,
             they
             would
             have
             done
             the
             same
             :
             but
             if
             the
             parties
             sent
             to
             Elect
             ,
             do
             not
             Elect
             according
             to
             their
             heart
             ,
             they
             may
             justly
             question
             their
             act
             ,
             and
             consider
             of
             their
             Apologie
             ;
             but
             that
             doth
             not
             
               nullifie
            
             the
             act
             in
             point
             of
             Order
             .
          
           
             When
             
               Political
               Bodies
               ,
            
             whether
             
               Civil
            
             or
             
               Ecclesiastical
               ,
            
             are
             multitudinous
             ,
             and
             remote
             from
             the
             place
             of
             action
             ,
             either
             
               all
               cannot
               act
               ,
            
             or
             if
             they
             do
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             by
             
               Representatives
               .
            
          
           
             Quest.
             3.
             
             
               May
               a
               Church
               Elect
               Elders
               or
               Messengers
               out
               of
               another
               Church
               ,
               unto
               a
               publick
               and
               common
               service
               of
               Christ
               and
               of
               the
               Churches
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Yea
             ,
             they
             may
             :
             For
             the
             
               great
               Collection
            
             of
             the
             
               Gentile
               Churches
               ,
            
             which
             
               Paul
            
             carried
             up
             to
             
               Ierusalem
            
             at
             his
             last
             going
             thither
             ,
             was
             an
             act
             of
             
               many
               Churches
               :
            
             And
             
               Paul
               ,
            
             with
             those
             that
             went
             with
             him
             to
             present
             it
             ,
             were
             
               chosen
               by
               the
               Churches
            
             unto
             that
             service
             ,
             2
             
               Cor.
            
             8.
             19.
             
             And
             there
             were
             
               many
               more
               Churches
               Contributors
               ,
            
             then
             there
             were
             
               Messengers
               sent
               to
               carry
               it
               .
               Acts
            
             20.
             4.
             there
             were
             but
             seven
             or
             eight
             in
             
               Pauls
            
             company
             ,
             but
             all
             the
             Churches
             of
             
               Galatia
               ,
               Corinth
               ,
               Asia
               ,
            
             and
             
               Macedonia
               ,
            
             were
             Contributors
             .
             Therefore
             many
             Churches
             
               chose
               Messengers
            
             who
             were
             none
             of
             their
             own
             
               particular
               Churches
               ,
            
             unto
             that
             
               publick
               and
               common
               service
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Churches
               .
            
          
           
             Again
             ,
             the
             ready
             subjection
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             about
             
               Antioch
               ,
            
             and
             other
             places
             ,
             
               Acts
            
             16.
             4.
             unto
             the
             Decrees
             of
             the
             Council
             at
             
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             doth
             probably
             speak
             ,
             That
             ,
             as
             the
             trouble
             by
             those
             
               Questions
               ,
            
             was
             a
             
               common
               case
            
             in
             all
             the
             Churches
             ;
             so
             they
             had
             some
             
               fore-knowledge
               ,
               concurrence
               ,
            
             and
             
               consent
            
             (
             after
             
               consent
            
             sure
             enough
             they
             h●…d
             )
             in
             the
             Mission
             of
             
               Paul
            
             and
             
               Barnabas
            
             (
             Teaching
             Elders
             of
             
               Antioch
               ,
               Acts
            
             13.
             2.
             
             )
             unto
             
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             to
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Elders
             about
             that
             matter
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             seeing
             the
             Rule
             of
             
               Communion
               of
               Churches
            
             doth
             impose
             upon
             Elders
             a
             
               degree
               of
               care
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               ,
            
             especially
             of
             those
             
               within
               their
               Ordered
               Communion
               ;
            
             it
             doth
             also
             give
             unto
             all
             the
             Churches
             ,
             a
             
               mutual
               interest
               in
               each
               others
               Elders
               ,
            
          
           
           
             Hence
             ,
             when
             they
             chuse
             any
             of
             the
             Elders
             within
             the
             compass
             of
             their
             Order
             ,
             they
             chuse
             those
             ,
             who
             ,
             in
             
               some
               respect
               ,
            
             are
             their
             own
             ,
             in
             whom
             they
             have
             an
             
               Ecclesiastical
               interest
               ,
            
             especially
             unto
             this
             publick
             service
             of
             
               Counsel
               .
            
          
           
             Quest.
             4.
             
             
               May
               many
               Churches
               Elect
               a
               ●…ew
               of
               their
               Elders
               unto
               some
               publick
               and
               common
               service
               ▪
               wherein
               all
               the
               Churches
               so
               Electing
               are
               interessed
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Yea
             ,
             they
             may
             :
             For
             
               all
               the
               Churches
            
             of
             
               Asia
               ,
               Galatia
               ,
               Macedonia
               ,
            
             &c.
             did
             Elect
             
               a
               few
            
             to
             accompany
             
               Paul
            
             in
             carrying
             their
             Contributions
             unto
             
               Ierusalem
               :
            
             and
             it
             is
             expresly
             said
             ,
             that
             from
             the
             Churches
             of
             
               Asia
            
             there
             were
             but
             
               two
               sent
               ▪
            
             Acts
             20.
             4.
             and
             we
             know
             there
             were
             at
             least
             
               seven
               Churches
            
             in
             
               Asia
               ,
            
             Rev.
             1
             ●…4
             .
          
           
             Quest.
             5.
             
             
               When
               two
               ,
               or
               a
               few
               Elders
               are
               chosen
               by
               many
               Churches
               unto
               some
               publick
               and
               common
               service
               of
               the
               Churches
               ,
               do
               they
               represent
               all
               the
               Churches
               who
               did
               Elect
               them
               unto
               that
               service
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Yea
             ,
             they
             do
             so
             :
             For
             when
             
               many
               Churches
            
             (
             by
             Paul's
             ordering
             )
             sent
             
               a
               few
            
             Messengers
             to
             
               Corinth
               ,
            
             2
             Cor.
             8.
             23.
             to
             fetch
             their
             Contribution
             ,
             to
             be
             carried
             (
             among
             the
             Contribution
             of
             many
             other
             Churches
             )
             unto
             
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             by
             the
             hands
             of
             
               Paul
               ,
            
             and
             a
             few
             others
             ,
             chosen
             by
             the
             Churches
             unto
             that
             service
             ,
             ●…
             
               Cor.
            
             8.
             19.
             these
             
               few
               Messengers
            
             did
             represent
             
               all
               the
               Churches
               who
               sent
               them
               :
            
             So
             as
             that
             what
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Corinth
            
             should
             transact
             
               afore
               them
               ,
            
             is
             expresly
             said
             to
             be
             
               afore
               all
               the
               Churches
               ,
            
             viz.
             who
             sent
             them
             ,
             2
             
               Cor.
            
             8.
             24.
             
          
           
             Quest.
             6.
             
             
               These
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
               First
               ,
               Second
               ,
               Third
               ,
               representing
               fewer
               or
               more
               Churches
               ,
               Are
               they
               a
               Divine
               Institution
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Touching
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             consisting
             of
             immediate
             
               Messengers
               of
               Churches
            
             sent
             for
             that
             end
             ,
             it
             is
             out
             of
             question
             that
             these
             are
             a
             
               Divine
               Institution
               ,
            
             Acts
             15.
             
          
           
             The
             great
             difficulty
             is
             ▪
             touching
             the
             
               second
            
             and
             
               third
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
            
             and
             so
             higher
             ,
             unto
             the
             highest
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
               ,
            
             whose
             Members
             are
             chosen
             immediately
             by
             Councils
             ,
             yet
             with
             the
             express
             consent
             of
             every
             particular
             Church
             :
             not
             immediately
             by
             the
             
               Churches
               ,
            
             but
             by
             their
             
               Representatives
               .
            
          
           
             Touching
             these
             ,
             in
             way
             of
             humble
             Proposal
             I
             affirm
             ,
          
           
             
               That
               they
               are
               a
               Divine
               Institution
               .
            
          
           
             1.
             
             Because
             their
             
               Foundation
               ,
               Formation
               ,
            
             and
             
               Constitution
               ,
            
             is
             deducible
             from
             the
             
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
            
             as
             appeareth
             by
             laying
             together
             the
             foregoing
             
               Questions
               ,
            
             and
             
               Answers
            
             thereunto
             ,
             with
             what
             hath
             been
             said
             before
             .
          
           
           
             2.
             
             Because
             this
             
               multiplying
               of
               Order
               upon
               Order
               ,
            
             seemeth
             to
             be
             typified
             in
             the
             
               Ascents
            
             and
             
               Degrees
            
             in
             
               Ezekiels
            
             Temple
             ;
             and
             by
             the
             multiplication
             of
             the
             Number
             
               Twelve
            
             in
             the
             
               New
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             Rev.
             21
             ,
             
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             3.
             
             Because
             if
             there
             be
             not
             this
             
               multiplying
               of
               Council
               above
               Council
            
             (
             
               above
               ,
            
             I
             say
             ,
             not
             in
             any
             
               ●…●…cal
               Power
               ,
            
             but
             in
             
               Order
            
             and
             
               Extent
            
             )
             then
             it
             doth
             not
             yet
             appear
             that
             there
             is
             any
             way
             or
             expedient
             ,
             whereby
             there
             should
             be
             a
             
               General
            
             and
             
               Equal
            
             Communion
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             a
             Nation
             ,
             wherein
             every
             Church
             shall
             be
             ,
             by
             their
             own
             act
             and
             consent
             ,
             interessed
             and
             concerned
             .
          
           
             Much
             less
             can
             there
             be
             a●…
             
               Equal
            
             Communion
             of
             Churches
             ,
             of
             several
             Nations
             .
          
           
             For
             ,
             if
             several
             Nations
             should
             need
             and
             desire
             to
             hold
             
               Communion
               of
               Councils
               ,
            
             who
             shall
             chuse
             the
             
               Persons
            
             or
             
               Instruments
               ,
            
             by
             whom
             this
             Communion
             shall
             be
             held
             and
             acted
             ?
          
           
             If
             
               Princes
            
             chuse
             them
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             a
             regular
             Ecclesiastical
             Council
             .
             If
             
               Churches
            
             chuse
             ▪
             and
             send
             them
             ▪
             shall
             
               some
               Churches
            
             onely
             chuse
             them
             ,
             or
             
               all
               the
               Churches
               ?
               ●…f
               some
            
             onely
             ;
             
               who
               ?
            
             and
             why
             
               they
               ,
            
             and
             not
             
               others
               ▪
            
             and
             how
             can
             their
             act
             interest
             and
             oblige
             all
             ?
          
           
             If
             
               all
            
             the
             Churches
             must
             chuse
             ,
             then
             
               Immediately
               ,
            
             or
             ●…
             
               Delegates
               :
               Immediately
               ,
            
             it
             is
             unfeizible
             ,
             especially
             to
             act
             in
             knowledge
             and
             prudence
             ;
             but
             
               mediately
            
             by
             their
             
               Confidents
            
             and
             
               Representatives
            
             they
             may
             .
          
           
             The
             same
             may
             be
             said
             of
             the
             Communion
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             a
             Nation
             or
             Province
             ,
             where
             Elections
             must
             ●…e
             performed
             by
             Representatives
             .
             In
             which
             way
             ,
             a
             
               General
            
             and
             
               Equal
            
             Election
             is
             attainable
             ;
             and
             without
             it
             ,
             it
             doth
             not
             yet
             appear
             that
             it
             is
             attainable
             .
          
           
             Now
             that
             
               several
               Nations
            
             ought
             to
             hold
             Communion
             ,
             and
             also
             
               all
               the
               Churches
            
             in
             a
             Nation
             ,
             it
             doth
             appear
             in
             these
             Scriptures
             :
             
               Isa.
            
             19.
             23
             ,
             24
             ,
             25.
             
             
               Zeph.
            
             3.
             9.
             1
             
             
               Cor.
            
             11.
             
             1●…
             .
             
               &
            
             14.
             32
             ,
             36.
             
             Of
             which
             see
             more
             in
             
               Synod
               at
               Boston
               .
            
          
           
             This
             being
             commanded
             by
             God
             ,
             and
             as
             yet
             no
             Way
             or
             Expedient
             appearing
             ,
             whereby
             it
             may
             be
             duely
             acted
             ,
             we
             are
             at
             a
             great
             loss
             .
             Therefore
             the
             Lord
             opening
             this
             way
             ,
             which
             is
             so
             attainable
             ▪
             and
             not
             without
             Scripture
             Light
             ,
             What
             i●…
             the
             Churches
             should
             set
             upon
             the
             
               Tryall
            
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             see
             how
             the
             Lord
             may
             appear
             unto
             his
             Servants
             therein
             ?
             As
             for
             the
             
               Episcopal
               Way
               of
               Government
               ,
            
             Alas
             !
             that
             is
             most
             remote
             from
             this
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Communion
               of
               Churches
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               III.
            
             Of
             the
             Constitution
             of
             Four
             Orders
             of
             Councils
             .
          
           
             I.
             WHen
             
               Twelve
               Churches
               ,
            
             or
             any
             other
             Number
             under
             
               Twenty
               ●…our
               ▪
            
             shall
             agree
             to
             hold
             Communion
             in
             a
             Council
             for
             
               Mutual
               Help
               ,
            
             and
             shall
             send
             forth
             Messengers
             at
             least
             
               two
            
             from
             every
             Church
             ,
             and
             they
             of
             both
             Orders
             of
             Elders
             ,
             or
             in
             defect
             of
             
               Ruling
               Elders
               ,
               Brethren
               eminent
               in
               Piety
               and
               Wisdome
               ,
            
             who
             are
             as
             Elders
             ,
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
            
             in
             the
             behalf
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             benefit
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             herein
             combined
             .
          
           
             These
             do
             constitute
             the
             
               first
               Order
            
             of
             a
             compleat
             Council
             ;
             the
             
               first
               Ascent
            
             of
             the
             glorious
             Temple
             ;
             the
             
               first
               Row
            
             in
             compacting
             the
             
               New
               Ierusalem
               .
            
             These
             are
             the
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             representing
             all
             the
             Congregations
             which
             sent
             them
             .
             It
             is
             both
             needful
             and
             attainable
             ,
             that
             these
             Councils
             should
             meet
             once
             every
             Moneth
             .
          
           
             II.
             When
             
               Twelve
            
             of
             the
             
               first
               Order
            
             of
             Councils
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Number
             under
             
               Twenty
               four
               ,
            
             shall
             ,
             with
             the
             express
             consent
             of
             all
             their
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             agree
             to
             hold
             Communion
             in
             a
             Council
             for
             
               Mutual
               Help
               ,
            
             and
             for
             the
             benefit
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             combined
             ;
             and
             to
             that
             end
             ,
             shall
             send
             forth
             from
             among
             themselves
             ,
             at
             least
             
               one
            
             principal
             and
             eminent
             
               Teaching
               Elder
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ,
            
             in
             a
             Provincial
             Synod
             ,
             in
             the
             behalf
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             benefit
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             herein
             combined
             :
             These
             do
             constitute
             the
             
               second
               Order
               of
               Councils
               .
            
             These
             are
             a
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ;
            
             these
             do
             represent
             very
             many
             Churches
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             people
             in
             them
             ,
             with
             their
             express
             consent
             ,
             and
             yet
             they
             are
             but
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             so
             denominated
             by
             their
             least
             and
             constituting
             Number
             ,
             though
             the
             Numbers
             represented
             be
             very
             great
             ▪
             according
             to
             
               Rev.
            
             5.
             8
             ,
             9
             ,
             
               &c.
               
            
             These
             all
             are
             
               Church-Messengers
               ,
            
             sent
             forth
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ,
            
             though
             immediately
             sent
             forth
             by
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             with
             the
             express
             consent
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             combined
             .
             These
             are
             the
             
               second
               Row
            
             of
             
               Churches
            
             compacted
             by
             the
             Number
             
               Twelve
               ;
            
             the
             
               second
            
             
             
               Row
               of
               〈◊〉
            
             in
             the
             
               Temple
               ,
            
             of
             equal
             dimensions
             to
             the
             ▪
             first
             ,
             and
             built
             upon
             the
             
               first
               ,
            
             standing
             upon
             the
             same
             bottom
             and
             foundation
             ,
             the
             
               Twelve
               Apostles
               .
            
             It
             is
             both
             needfull
             and
             attainable
             ▪
             that
             these
             should
             meet
             quarterly
             ▪
          
           
             III.
             When
             
               Twelve
               Provincial
               Councils
               ,
            
             or
             any
             other
             number
             under
             
               Twenty
               four
               ,
            
             shall
             ,
             with
             the
             explicite
             consent
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             and
             with
             the
             explicite
             consent
             of
             the
             
               Churches
               ,
            
             who
             are
             in
             this
             Combination
             ▪
             agree
             to
             hold
             Communion
             in
             a
             
               Council
            
             for
             
               Mutual
               Help
               ;
            
             and
             to
             that
             end
             ,
             shall
             send
             forth
             from
             among
             themselves
             at
             least
             
               one
            
             principal
             
               Teaching
               Elder
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             both
             eminent
             in
             holiness
             ,
             wisdome
             ,
             and
             all
             fitting
             abilities
             ,
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
            
             in
             a
             
               National
               Synod
               ,
            
             in
             the
             behalf
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             benefit
             of
             all
             the
             
               Provinces
               ,
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             and
             
               particular
               Churches
            
             herein
             combined
             :
             These
             do
             constitute
             a
             
               Third
               Order
               of
               Councils
               .
            
             These
             are
             a
             
               National
               Council
               ;
            
             these
             do
             represent
             a
             
               whole
               Nation
               of
               Churches
               ,
            
             and
             all
             the
             people
             of
             the
             Land
             ;
             and
             yet
             they
             are
             but
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               ,
            
             as
             
               Rev.
            
             5
             ▪
             1●…
             ,
             13
             ,
             14.
             though
             
               all
               Creatures
            
             concurre
             ,
             and
             are
             combined
             in
             the
             work
             ;
             all
             are
             represented
             before
             the
             Lord
             in
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
               .
            
             These
             are
             all
             of
             them
             
               Church-Messengers
               ,
            
             sent
             forth
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ;
            
             but
             they
             are
             immediately
             sent
             forth
             by
             the
             
               Provi●…iall
               Councils
               .
            
          
           
             IV.
             As
             the
             first
             Councils
             consist
             of
             the
             
               most
               choyce
               persons
            
             in
             all
             the
             Churches
             ;
             so
             the
             Provincial
             Councils
             do
             consist
             of
             the
             
               most
               choyce
               Instruments
            
             in
             the
             respective
             Provinces
             ;
             and
             the
             National
             Council
             doth
             consist
             of
             the
             
               most
               choyce
               persons
            
             in
             all
             the
             Nation
             :
             who
             pass
             through
             so
             many
             Ecclesiastical
             Elections
             ,
             before
             they
             arrive
             unto
             this
             
               high
               and
               ●…oly
               Service
               .
            
             They
             pass
             under
             an
             opportunity
             of
             being
             called
             out
             from
             among
             all
             the
             
               Choyce
               Iewels
            
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             who
             are
             in
             ●…n
             Ecclesiastical
             Order
             and
             Capacity
             .
             It
             will
             be
             both
             needful
             and
             attainable
             ,
             that
             these
             should
             meet
             once
             in
             a
             Year
             .
          
           
             V.
             When
             
               Twelve
               National
               Councils
               ,
            
             or
             any
             Number
             under
             
               Twenty
               four
               ,
            
             shall
             agree
             ,
             with
             the
             explicite
             consent
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             ,
             passing
             and
             arising
             through
             all
             the
             
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
            
             to
             hold
             Communion
             in
             Councils
             for
             
               Mutual
               Help
               ;
            
             and
             to
             that
             end
             shall
             send
             Forth
             ,
             at
             least
             
               one
               Teaching
               ,
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             men
             eminent
             in
             Holiness
             and
             Abilities
             for
             so
             high
             a
             service
             ,
             to
             constitute
             an
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
               ▪
            
             and
             there
             to
             manage
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ▪
            
             in
             the
             behalf
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             benefit
             of
             all
             the
             
               Churches
            
             and
             
               Councils
            
             
             herein
             combined
             :
             These
             do
             constitute
             a
             
               Fourth
               Order
               of
               Councils
               .
            
             They
             are
             an
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
               ,
            
             and
             represent
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             those
             Nations
             before
             the
             Lord
          
           
             VI.
             
               Twenty
               three
               Nations
            
             met
             in
             one
             Council
             ,
             will
             be
             a
             great
             glory
             to
             Christ
             ,
             and
             by
             what
             hath
             yet
             been
             in
             the
             world
             ▪
             may
             be
             called
             
               Oecumenical
               .
            
             Yet
             when
             
               the
               Kingdomes
               of
               this
               world
               ,
               shall
               become
               the
               Kingdomes
               of
               our
               Lord
               ,
               and
               of
               his
               Christ
               ,
            
             I
             know
             not
             but
             there
             will
             be
             Councils
             
               above
            
             this
             .
             Nay
             ;
             why
             may
             there
             ▪
             not
             be
             
               Twelve
               Ascents
            
             in
             combining
             all
             the
             World
             ?
             
               Rev.
            
             21.
             16
             ,
             17.
             
             But
             I
             leave
             it
             to
             the
             Lord.
             At
             present
             this
             is
             the
             top
             ,
             and
             uppermost
             
               Order
               of
               Councils
               ▪
            
             and
             somewhat
             higher
             then
             we
             can
             yet
             well
             descry
             :
             but
             
               Faith
               in
               the
               Promise
            
             can
             see
             all
             the
             world
             in
             the
             
               Gospel
               Order
               of
               Iesus
               Christ.
            
             And
             now
             the
             Lord
             Jesus
             is
             triumphing
             in
             his
             Militant
             Glory
             upon
             earth
             ,
             with
             his
             
               Twenty
               four
               Elders
            
             about
             him
             ,
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             visible
             Order
             .
             And
             now
             the
             whole
             
               Militant
               Body
               ,
               fitly
               joyned
               together
               ,
               and
               compacted
               by
               that
               which
               every
               joynt
               supplieth
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               effectual
               working
               of
               the
               measure
               of
               every
               part
               from
               Christ
               ,
               maketh
               increase
               of
               the
               body
               ,
               unto
               the
               edifying
               of
               it self
               in
               love
               ,
            
             Ephes.
             4.
             16.
             
          
           
             VII
             .
             Furthermore
             consider
             ,
             that
             though
             I
             have
             proposed
             but
             
               Three
               Orders
               of
               Councils
            
             within
             the
             Nation
             ;
             yet
             in
             populous
             Nations
             there
             may
             be
             a
             
               〈◊〉
               of
               Provinces
               ,
            
             into
             
               chief
               Provinces
            
             and
             
               sub-Provinces
               .
            
             If
             a
             Nation
             be
             divided
             into
             (
             at
             least
             )
             
               Twelve
               Ecclesiastical
               Provinces
               ,
            
             and
             every
             one
             of
             these
             divided
             into
             (
             at
             least
             )
             
               Twelve
               Sub-provinces
               ,
            
             and
             every
             one
             of
             these
             into
             (
             at
             least
             )
             
               Twelve
               Precincts
            
             of
             
               first
               Councils
               ;
            
             then
             they
             will
             have
             
               Four
               Orders
               of
               Councils
            
             within
             the
             Nation
             .
          
           
             And
             
               three
            
             such
             
               Ascents
            
             will
             combine
             all
             the
             world
             into
             the
             holy
             Breastplate
             of
             our
             great
             High-Priest
             the
             Lord
             Jesus
             ,
             in
             an
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
               ;
            
             or
             
               three
               Ascents
            
             in
             one
             Nation
             ,
             and
             
               four
            
             such
             
               Ascents
            
             in
             the
             Combination
             of
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             doth
             in
             li●…e
             manner
             make
             up
             the
             holy
             Breastplate
             of
             Christ
             :
             Which
             
               Council
            
             may
             meet
             in
             
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             if
             the
             Lord
             will
             ;
             and
             if
             that
             be
             so
             literal
             a
             meaning
             of
             sundry
             Texts
             that
             way
             looking
             .
             And
             when
             that
             
               Council
            
             shall
             agree
             of
             Universal
             dayes
             of
             
               Fasting
            
             or
             
               Feasting
            
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             upon
             iust
             occasion
             ;
             Oh!
             what
             glorious
             dayes
             will
             those
             be
             ,
             when
             
               all
               the
               World
            
             shall
             appear
             together
             before
             the
             Lord
             in
             such
             acts
             of
             Worship
             !
          
           
             VIII
             .
             And
             as
             an
             eminent
             Preparatory
             to
             these
             glorious
             dayes
             (
             when
             Christ
             shall
             be
             King
             over
             all
             the
             earth
             ,
             when
             
             
               there
               shall
               be
               one
               Lord
               ,
               and
               his
               Name
               one
               ,
            
             Zech.
             14.
             9.
             
             And
             when
             the
             Lord
             shal
             accomplish
             that
             Prophesie
             
               E●…e
               .
            
             34.
             23
             ,
             24.
             
             
               And
               I
               will
               set
               up
               one
               Shepherd
               over
               them
               ,
               and
               he
               shall
               feed
               them
               even
               my
               servant
               David
               ,
               he
               shall
               feed
               them
               ,
               and
               he
               shall
               be
               their
               Shepherd
               ;
               and
               I
               the
               Lord
               will
               be
               their
               God
               ,
               and
               my
               servant
               David
               a
               Prince
               among
               them
               :
               〈◊〉
               Lord
               have
               〈◊〉
               it
               .
            
             When
             Christ
             shall
             rule
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             both
             in
             Civil
             and
             Ecclesiastical
             affairs
             ,
             by
             the
             
               Word
               of
               his
               mouth
               ▪
            
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             by
             the
             hand
             of
             Saints
             ,
             even
             holy
             and
             religious
             
               Kings
               ,
               Princes
               ,
            
             and
             
               chief
               Rulers
            
             )
             Oh
             that
             the
             Lord
             would
             p●…
             it
             into
             the
             heart
             of
             some
             of
             his
             Religious
             and
             Learned
             Servants
             ,
             to
             take
             such
             pains
             about
             the
             holy
             
               Hebrew
               Language
               ,
            
             as
             to
             fit
             it
             for
             this
             
               Universal
               glorious
               use
               !
            
             Considering
             ,
             that
             above
             
               all
               Languages
            
             spoken
             by
             the
             lip
             of
             man
             (
             by
             reaso●…●…f
             i●…
             
               Trigra●…macall
               Foundation
               ,
            
             and
             other
             regular
             Cons●…erations
             ,
             for
             the
             multiplications
             of
             all
             sorts
             of
             words
             )
             it
             is
             most
             capable
             to
             be
             
               enlarged
               ,
            
             and
             fitted
             to
             express
             all
             
               things
            
             and
             
               action●…
               ,
            
             all
             
               motions
            
             and
             
               notions
            
             that
             our
             Human●…
             Intellect
             is
             capable
             of
             (
             to
             speak
             no
             higher
             of
             i●…
             )
             .
             in
             this
             ●…ortall
             life
             .
             Considering
             also
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             
               Invention
            
             of
             God
             himself
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             the
             
               purest
               Language
            
             on
             earth
             ,
             not
             as
             yet
             defiled
             with
             the
             
               scurrilo●…
               froth
            
             and
             
               some
            
             of
             carnal
             Wits
             in
             writings
             .
             Considering
             also
             ,
             what
             is
             promised
             to
             be
             in
             
               th●…se
               dayes
               ,
            
             that
             way
             looking
             ,
             
               Zeph.
            
             ●…
             .
             ●…
             .
             
               I
               will
               turn
               to
               the
               people
               a
               pure
               Language
               :
            
             And
             when
             
               Egypt
            
             is
             converted
             ,
             it
             is
             expressed
             by
             this
             ,
             that
             
               they
               shall
               speak
               the
               Language
               of
               Cana●…
               ▪
            
             Isa.
             19.
             18
             
             ▪
             When
             all
             the
             World
             do
             obeisance
             to
             Christ
             
               disjunction
               ,
            
             then
             
               all
               Languages
               shall
               see
               my
               glory
               .
            
             Isa.
             66.
             18.
             but
             when
             they
             do
             it
             
               conjunctim
               ,
            
             in
             what
             Language
             better
             then
             in
             it
             ,
             in
             which
             God
             first
             spake
             unto
             man
             ?
             How
             shall
             
               all
               flesh
               see
               the
               glory
               of
               the
               Lord
               together
               ,
            
             Isa.
             ●…0
             .
             5.
             unless
             there
             be
             an
             
               Universal
               Language
               ?
            
             And
             what
             one
             fitter
             then
             
               that
               ,
            
             which
             it
             pleased
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             to
             make
             use
             of
             ,
             when
             he
             spake
             from
             heaven
             unto
             Paul●…o
             ●…o
             his
             first
             Conver●…ion
             ,
             Acts●…6
             ●…6
             .
             13
             ▪
             ●…
             .
             
               I
               saw
               a
               light
               from
               heaven
               ;
               and
               heard
               a
               voice
               speaking
               unto
               me
               ,
               and
               saying
               in
               the
               Hebrew
               Tongue
               ,
               Saul
               ,
               Saul
               ,
            
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               IV.
            
             The
             Order
             of
             Electing
             all
             th●…se
             Councils
             ;
             with
             Consideration
             of
             the
             
               Time
            
             of
             their
             duration
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             
               Times
            
             and
             
               Place
            
             of
             Meeting
             .
          
           
             I.
             THe
             Election
             of
             the
             First
             Council
             is
             severally
             performed
             in
             euery
             particular
             Church
             combined
             in
             〈◊〉
             Society
             ;
             wherein
             there
             seldome
             is
             any
             variety
             of
             choice
             ,
             and
             therefore
             no
             difficulty
             in
             the
             action
             :
             So
             that
             it
             may
             be
             performed
             either
             by
             
               Lifting
               up
               of
               Hands
               ,
            
             or
             by
             a
             
               Silent
               Vote
               ,
            
             when
             their
             Silence
             is
             the
             sign
             of
             their
             Concurrence
             .
          
           
             I●…
             there
             be
             
               two
               Teaching
               Elders
               ,
            
             the
             Church
             may
             send
             them
             ●…oth
             ,
             if
             they
             see
             good
             ,
             as
             
               Antioch
            
             sent
             
               Paul
            
             and
             
               〈◊〉
               ,
            
             who
             were
             two
             Teaching
             Elders
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
             
               Acts
               ▪
            
             13.
             
             ●…
             .
             And
             according
             to
             the
             number
             of
             
               Teaching
               Elders
               ,
            
             whom
             they
             send
             ,
             the
             like
             number
             of
             
               Ruling
               Elders
               ,
            
             or
             
               〈◊〉
               Brethren
               ▪
            
             they
             are
             to
             send
             ,
             and
             astociate
             with
             them
             .
          
           
             II.
             This
             act
             of
             the
             Churches
             Election
             must
             be
             diligently
             ,
             religiou●…y
             and
             sol●…nly
             attended
             and
             performed
             ,
             a●…
             being
             〈◊〉
             and
             esse●…tially
             requisite
             ,
             both
             for
             the
             
               Constitution
            
             of
             all
             Councils
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             
               Obligation
            
             of
             all
             Churches
             unto
             obedience
             ▪
          
           
             This
             act
             of
             the
             Church
             hath
             reference
             ▪
             not
             onely
             to
             the
             Constitution
             of
             the
             
               first
               Council
               ,
            
             but
             also
             of
             all
             the
             rest
             .
             For
             〈◊〉
             ▪
             Churches
             are
             the
             
               Efficient
               Causes
            
             of
             Council●…
             ▪
             none
             are
             to
             be
             chosen
             〈◊〉
             a
             
               Prouincial
               ,
               National
               ,
            
             or
             
               Oecumenical
               Synod
               ,
            
             but
             such
             as
             were
             
               first
               chosen
            
             by
             some
             particular
             〈◊〉
             to
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             a
             
               first
            
             〈◊〉
             ▪
             and
             ●…o
             〈◊〉
             on
             the
             〈◊〉
             of
             
               〈◊〉
            
             〈◊〉
             to
             order
             .
          
           
             Hence
             〈◊〉
             it
             must
             be
             carefully
             and
             expressedly
             put
             into
             th●…
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             ▪
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             of
             the
             Churches
             Election
             .
             That
             〈◊〉
             are
             chosen
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             on
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               〈◊〉
            
             in
             all
             the
             Orders
             of
             it
             ,
             both
             in
             
               Provincial
               ,
               National
               ,
            
             and
             
               Oecu●…e
               ▪
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             even
             unto
             th●…
             highest
             point
             :
             for
             though
             all
             
             that
             are
             th●…s
             elected
             and
             sent
             by
             the
             Churches
             ;
             are
             not
             to
             be
             elected
             and
             sent
             to
             
               Provincial
               ,
               National
               ,
            
             and
             
               Oecumenical
               Councils
               ,
            
             yet
             some
             of
             them
             are
             to
             be
             sent
             ,
             and
             all
             of
             them
             are
             to
             elect
             and
             send
             .
             And
             therefore
             when
             the
             Church
             doth
             elect
             and
             send
             them
             to
             this
             
               first
               Council
               ,
            
             they
             are
             ,
             by
             this
             act
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             impowered
             to
             carry
             on
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ,
            
             through
             all
             the
             Orders
             thereof
             ,
             ev●…n
             to
             the
             top
             branch
             ,
             either
             by
             
               electing
               others
               ,
            
             or
             being
             
               ●…ected
               themselves
               ,
            
             unto
             those
             services
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             ●…ches
             .
          
           
             III.
             The
             
               Time
            
             of
             this
             Election
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             upon
             the
             
               Sabbath
            
             immediately
             preceding
             the
             
               stated
               time
            
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ▪
            
             Monethly
             Meeting
             :
             and
             then
             are
             they
             to
             be
             sent
             forth
             with
             the
             Prayers
             and
             Blessing
             of
             the
             Church
             .
          
           
             IV.
             The
             
               Provincial
               Council
            
             doth
             consist
             of
             the
             
               choycest
               Instruments
            
             in
             all
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             by
             whom
             they
             are
             chosen
             and
             sent
             with
             their
             Prayers
             and
             Blessing
             :
             Every
             
               first
               Council
            
             electing
             the
             most
             holy
             ,
             learned
             ,
             and
             able
             Elders
             ,
             both
             
               Teaching
            
             and
             
               Ruling
               ,
            
             tha●…
             they
             have
             ,
             who
             are
             most
             fit
             to
             promote
             and
             attain
             the
             end●…
             they
             are
             sent
             for
             ,
             viz.
             so
             carry
             on
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
            
             in
             a
             
               Provincial
               Synod
               ,
            
             both
             by
             themselves
             ,
             and
             by
             chusing
             such
             as
             may
             further
             promote
             the
             same
             in
             a
             
               National
               Council
               ,
            
             &c.
             
          
           
             V.
             The
             
               Time
            
             of
             
               this
               Election
               ,
            
             is
             to
             be
             in
             that
             Session
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             which
             doth
             immediately
             precede
             the
             stated
             
               Quarterly
               time
            
             of
             the
             Provincial
             Councils
             Meeting
             .
          
           
             VI.
             The
             
               Order
            
             and
             
               Manner
            
             of
             this
             Election
             may
             be
             this
             :
             The
             
               Moderator
            
             of
             that
             Session
             may
             first
             put
             this
             to
             vote
             ,
             
               whether
               they
               will
               send
               bu●…
               one
               ▪
               or
               more
               then
               one
               Teaching
               Elders
               ▪
            
             for
             by
             the
             good
             Providence
             and
             rich
             Grace
             of
             Christ
             ▪
             there
             may
             be
             s●…ndry
             able
             and
             eminent
             
               Lights
            
             in
             one
             
               first
               Council
               ,
            
             and
             such
             ,
             as
             that
             it
             were
             a
             publick
             injury
             and
             detriment
             to
             the
             Cause
             of
             Christ
             ,
             if
             they
             be
             not
             sent
             .
             This
             provided
             ,
             That
             according
             to
             the
             Number
             of
             
               Teaching
               Elders
               ,
            
             a
             like
             Number
             of
             
               Ruling
               Elders
            
             be
             also
             sent
             with
             them
             .
          
           
             The
             
               Manner
            
             of
             Election
             may
             be
             by
             
               Papers
               ,
            
             if
             they
             see
             meet
             ;
             which
             the
             
               Moderator
            
             and
             
               Notary
            
             are
             to
             take
             ,
             and
             number
             ,
             and
             manifest
             who
             are
             chosen
             :
             and
             such
             as
             are
             chosen
             ,
             are
             by
             the
             
               Notary
            
             to
             be
             recorded
             .
          
           
             VII
             .
             The
             
               National
               Council
            
             doth
             consist
             of
             the
             most
             choice
             ,
             ●…oly
             ,
             able
             ,
             and
             eminent
             
               Lights
            
             in
             all
             the
             
               Provincial
               Councils
               ,
            
             by
             whom
             they
             are
             chosen
             ,
             and
             sent
             forth
             with
             their
             prayers
             and
             blessing
             .
          
           
           
             Every
             
               Provincial
               Council
            
             chusing
             the
             most
             holy
             and
             able
             Elders
             ,
             both
             
               Teaching
            
             and
             
               Ruling
               ,
            
             that
             they
             have
             among
             them
             ,
             to
             constitute
             a
             
               National
               Council
               ,
            
             and
             to
             carry
             on
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
               ,
            
             in
             that
             high
             and
             holy
             service
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             the
             Nation
             ;
             ye●…
             and
             among
             other
             Nations
             if
             need
             be
             ,
             and
             when
             there
             is
             a
             calling
             thereunto
             .
          
           
             VIII
             .
             The
             
               Time
            
             of
             this
             Election
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             in
             
               that
               Session
            
             of
             the
             Provincial
             Councils
             ,
             which
             doth
             immediately
             precede
             the
             stated
             time
             of
             the
             
               Annual
               Session
            
             of
             the
             National
             Council
             .
          
           
             The
             
               Order
            
             and
             
               Manner
            
             of
             their
             Election
             ,
             may
             be
             in
             all
             respects
             according
             to
             the
             forementioned
             Election
             in
             the
             Provincial
             Synod
             .
          
           
             IX
             .
             An
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
               ,
            
             is
             to
             consist
             of
             the
             most
             holy
             and
             eminent
             
               Lights
            
             in
             all
             the
             
               National
               Councils
               ,
            
             combined
             in
             this
             holy
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Mutual
               Counsel
               ;
            
             and
             may
             readily
             be
             ordered
             by
             this
             standard
             ,
             when
             the
             Lord
             shall
             in
             the
             riches
             of
             his
             grace
             ,
             give
             opportunity
             to
             exercise
             the
             same
             .
          
           
             Touching
             the
             
               Duration
            
             of
             these
             Councils
             .
          
           
             X.
             Every
             one
             of
             these
             Councils
             doth
             continue
             in
             being
             ,
             until
             ,
             according
             to
             Order
             ,
             a
             
               new
               Election
            
             be
             made
             ;
             the
             new
             Election
             doth
             antiquate
             the
             old
             .
          
           
             Hence
             ,
             as
             the
             Primitive
             Church
             had
             Apostles
             alwayes
             in
             being
             ,
             for
             their
             help
             ;
             So
             there
             be
             at
             least
             three
             
               Orders
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               Councils
               ,
            
             ever
             in
             being
             in
             every
             populous
             Christian
             Nation
             ,
             who
             must
             at
             the
             
               stated
               Times
               ,
            
             and
             may
             at
             any
             
               ●…it
               time
               meet
               ,
            
             when
             the
             affairs
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             any
             of
             the
             Churches
             do
             need
             ,
             and
             duely
             call
             for
             the
             same
             .
          
           
             And
             when
             Christian
             Nations
             shall
             be
             thus
             combined
             ,
             there
             will
             be
             an
             
               Oecumenical
               Council
            
             ever
             in
             being
             :
             yea
             ,
             and
             when
             all
             the
             World
             shall
             be
             combined
             ,
             there
             will
             be
             
               a
               great
               Oecumenical
               Council
            
             ever
             in
             being
             ▪
             to
             order
             all
             ecclesiastical
             affaires
             ,
             in
             unity
             ,
             holiness
             and
             peace
             ,
             all
             the
             World
             over
             .
          
           
             XI
             .
             A
             principal
             objection
             ariseth
             against
             this
             fixing
             and
             stating
             of
             Councils
             ;
             viz.
             
               That
               although
               pro-renascent
               Councils
               are
               a
               divine
               ▪
               remedy
               ,
               when
               troubles
               arise
               ,
               as
               it
               was
               at
            
             Antioch
             ,
             
               who
               also
               then
               finished
               the
               Council
               ,
               when
               the
               present
               work
               was
               finished
               :
               but
               of
               fixed
               ,
               stated
               ,
               and
               permanent
               Councils
               we
               have
               no
               example
               ,
               nor
               doth
               there
               appear
               any
               ground
               i●…
               Scripture
               to
               bottom
               them
               upon
               .
            
          
           
             
               Ans.
            
             The
             Primitive
             Churches
             had
             a
             
               stated
            
             and
             
               perm●…nent
            
             way
             of
             counsel
             eminently
             ,
             and
             more
             then
             our
             
               stated
            
             and
             
               permanent
               Councils
            
             can
             be
             ,
             for
             they
             had
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             constantly
             among
             them
             .
          
           
           
             And
             though
             they
             had
             fixed
             Elders
             in
             every
             Church
             ,
             yet
             they
             did
             need
             the
             visitations
             ,
             and
             frequently
             made
             use
             of
             the
             counsel
             of
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             ,
             who
             were
             the
             
               permanent
               Councils
            
             of
             the
             Primitive
             Churches
             .
          
           
             And
             though
             it
             hath
             pleased
             the
             wisdome
             of
             our
             great
             Lawgiver
             ,
             to
             give
             us
             but
             
               one
               Example
            
             of
             an
             ordinary
             Council
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             hath
             done
             ,
             to
             be
             our
             perpetual
             guide
             in
             our
             ordinary
             way
             ;
             yet
             there
             be
             many
             examples
             of
             the
             Churches
             need
             of
             ,
             and
             frequent
             use
             of
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             counsel
             ,
             whom
             they
             had
             alwayes
             with
             them
             ,
             or
             knew
             
               when
            
             and
             
               where
            
             to
             repair
             unto
             them
             for
             their
             help
             .
          
           
             And
             we
             finde
             by
             much
             and
             long
             experience
             ,
             that
             our
             
               Reforming
               Churches
            
             do
             stand
             in
             as
             much
             (
             if
             not
             more
             )
             need
             of
             
               constant
            
             and
             
               stated
               Councils
               ,
            
             as
             the
             primitive
             Churches
             did
             ▪
             of
             the
             
               constant
               presence
            
             of
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             ,
             alwayes
             for
             their
             
               directive
               ,
            
             and
             often
             for
             their
             
               corrective
               ●…elp
               .
            
          
           
             We
             finde
             by
             experience
             ,
             that
             our
             Churches
             do
             oftener
             need
             the
             
               directive
            
             help
             of
             Councils
             ,
             then
             the
             
               corrective
               ,
            
             and
             in
             both
             respects
             together
             we
             need
             them
             to
             be
             always
             in
             being
             .
          
           
             Many
             good
             works
             for
             the
             promotion
             of
             the
             Gospel
             and
             Kingdom
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             do
             stick
             long
             in
             the
             birth
             ,
             and
             languish
             :
             yea
             ,
             oft
             miscarry
             and
             vanish
             for
             want
             of
             the
             help
             of
             Councils
             .
          
           
             Sundry
             Churches
             also
             ,
             and
             remote
             places
             ,
             ly
             long
             in
             the
             dark
             ,
             without
             food
             and
             help
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             the
             orderly
             care
             of
             setled
             Councils
             ;
             
               Every
               bodies
               work
               is
               no-bodies
               .
            
             But
             when
             all
             Churches
             are
             in
             order
             ,
             all
             know
             where
             their
             work
             lyeth
             .
          
           
             Disorders
             likewise
             ,
             and
             insuperable
             distempers
             ,
             by
             long
             ●…retting
             and
             burning
             in
             the
             bosom
             of
             sundry
             Churches
             ,
             to
             the
             great
             dishonour
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             scandal
             to
             the
             Saints
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             
               stated
               Councils
               :
            
             some
             or
             other
             refusing
             (
             in
             the
             time
             of
             their
             temptations
             )
             to
             submit
             themselves
             unto
             the
             remedy
             ,
             especially
             having
             that
             advantage
             ,
             that
             without
             
               their
               consent
               ,
            
             a
             
               pro-renascent
               Council
            
             may
             not
             be
             called
             ;
             or
             if
             called
             by
             
               some
               onely
               ,
            
             they
             have
             the
             less
             opportunity
             of
             doing
             good
             ,
             and
             are
             in
             the
             more
             danger
             of
             doing
             hurt
             .
          
           
             Nor
             can
             it
             be
             said
             that
             there
             is
             
               no
               example
            
             nor
             ground
             of
             stated
             and
             permanent
             Councils
             in
             the
             holy
             Scriptures
             ,
             seeing
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             were
             so
             ,
             and
             more
             ,
             unto
             the
             Primitive
             Churches
             .
          
           
             Hence
             also
             it
             was
             enough
             to
             give
             us
             
               one
               p●…tern
            
             of
             an
             ordinary
             Council
             ,
             there
             was
             no
             need
             for
             the
             continuation
             
             thereof
             ,
             whilst
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             did
             survive
             .
          
           
             Object
             .
             
               But
               doth
               not
               this
               strengthen
               the
               Argument
               for
               Bishops
               ,
               and
               such
               like
               Superintendents
               over
               the
               Churches
               ?
               for
               so
               they
               a
               gue
               .
            
          
           
             
               Ans.
            
             Were
             there
             a
             like
             example
             in
             an
             ordinary
             way
             ,
             set
             down
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             for
             this
             work
             to
             be
             done
             by
             any
             one
             
               Man
            
             not
             extraordinarily
             called
             ,
             as
             there
             is
             
               for
               a
               Council
               ,
            
             then
             their
             Argument
             would
             have
             force
             with
             it
             ;
             but
             such
             ●…
             
               pattern
               ,
            
             or
             
               precept
            
             for
             it
             ,
             is
             not
             to
             be
             found
             .
             And
             the
             way
             of
             Councils
             ,
             (
             which
             is
             clearly
             instituted
             )
             is
             sufficient
             to
             attain
             the
             end
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             found
             by
             pracious
             and
             pienteous
             experience
             :
             though
             we
             are
             still
             defective
             ,
             in
             that
             we
             have
             not
             our
             Councils
             
               stated
               ,
            
             and
             we
             do
             finde
             great
             inconvenience
             by
             reason
             of
             that
             defect
             .
          
           
             XII
             .
             These
             Councils
             ,
             in
             the
             time
             of
             their
             
               duration
               ,
            
             may
             multiply
             or
             cut
             short
             their
             Sessions
             ,
             as
             need
             may
             require
             ,
             according
             as
             the
             business
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             and
             affairs
             of
             Christ
             may
             be
             more
             or
             less
             pressing
             and
             urgent
             .
          
           
             XIII
             .
             There
             be
             
               two
               sorts
            
             of
             their
             Meetings
             ,
          
           
             
               Sta●…ed
               ▪
            
             
               Occasional
               .
            
          
           
             The
             
               stated
            
             Meetings
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
            
             are
             every
             
               Moneth
               ▪
            
             and
             what
             if
             it
             should
             be
             on
             the
             ●…irst
             
               Third
               day
            
             of
             the
             week
             ,
             in
             every
             month
             ,
             through
             the
             year
             ?
          
           
             The
             
               stated
            
             meeting
             of
             the
             
               Provincial
               Councils
               ,
            
             are
             once
             every
             
               quarter
               :
            
             and
             what
             if
             two
             of
             them
             be
             the
             first
             
               Third
               day
            
             after
             the
             Sun
             touches
             the
             middle
             point
             of
             the
             summer
             and
             winter
             
               Solstices
               ?
            
             And
             the
             other
             two
             ,
             the
             first
             
               Third
               day
            
             after
             the
             Sun
             is
             in
             the
             
               Vernal
            
             and
             
               Autumnal
               Equin●…ial
               ▪
            
             With
             this
             consideration
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Sun
             touch
             any
             of
             these
             points
             upon
             the
             
               Third
               day
            
             of
             the
             week
             ,
             then
             that
             is
             the
             day
             of
             meeting
             ;
             if
             on
             any
             other
             day
             ,
             then
             the
             
               Third
               day
            
             after
             .
          
           
             The
             stated
             meeting
             of
             the
             
               National
               Council
               ,
            
             is
             once
             a
             
               Year
               ,
            
             and
             best
             in
             the
             Spring
             :
             and
             what
             if
             it
             be
             the
             last
             
               Third
               day
            
             of
             the
             
               First
               Moneth
            
             called
             
               March
               ?
            
          
           
             XIV
             .
             The
             Law
             of
             the
             
               Constitution
            
             doth
             call
             all
             these
             Councils
             to
             meet
             at
             the
             stated
             times
             ,
             without
             any
             other
             order
             or
             appointment
             .
          
           
             XV.
             It
             is
             very
             requisite
             that
             some
             eminent
             man
             preach
             a
             
               publick
               Lecture
               ,
            
             on
             the
             day
             of
             the
             meeting
             of
             every
             Council
             ,
             ●…o
             draw
             many
             Saints
             together
             ,
             and
             to
             raise
             a
             strong
             breath
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             to
             put
             the
             greater
             Solemnity
             upon
             so
             holy
             a
             work
             .
          
           
             XVI
             .
             
               Occasional
               Meetings
            
             may
             be
             multiplied
             either
             by
             
             intricacy
             of
             
               Cases
               ,
            
             Variety
             of
             
               Opinions
               ,
            
             Troublesomeness
             of
             
               Persons
               ,
            
             Danger
             of
             
               Churches
               ,
            
             Gross
             
               Scandals
            
             that
             cannot
             proceed
             to
             Censure
             ,
             because
             of
             some
             obstruction
             ,
             without
             the
             help
             of
             
               Counsel
               .
            
          
           
             Such
             
               Occasional
               Meetings
               ▪
            
             if
             foreseen
             ,
             may
             be
             appointed
             by
             the
             Council
             before
             they
             rise
             ;
             if
             not
             foreseen
             ,
             then
             they
             must
             be
             called
             by
             the
             
               Moderator
            
             then
             in
             being
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Notary
               ,
            
             by
             Letters
             under
             either
             of
             their
             hands
             ,
             where
             distance
             of
             place
             requireth
             it
             .
          
           
             XVII
             .
             The
             place
             of
             Meeting
             for
             these
             Councils
             ,
             and
             especially
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
            
             is
             not
             to
             be
             limited
             ,
             or
             tyed
             to
             any
             
               one
               place
               ,
            
             because
             there
             be
             sundry
             Considerations
             about
             the
             place
             ,
             whereof
             one
             may
             be
             prevalent
             at
             one
             time
             ,
             and
             another
             time
             another
             :
             Sometimes
             the
             
               age
               ,
            
             and
             unfitness
             for
             Travel
             of
             some
             eminently
             useful
             person
             ;
             sometimes
             the
             common
             conveniency
             for
             all
             :
             Sometimes
             it
             may
             edifie
             to
             meet
             in
             that
             Church
             where
             the
             chief
             Trouble
             may
             at
             the
             present
             be
             ,
             ard
             yet
             this
             not
             alwayes
             so
             ,
             because
             the
             troubles
             of
             
               Antioch
            
             were
             heard
             and
             setled
             at
             
               Ierusalem
               ,
            
             where
             the
             best
             and
             ablest
             Counsel
             was
             to
             be
             had
             ,
             with
             the
             least
             trouble
             and
             inconveniency
             unto
             any
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               CHAP.
               V.
            
             The
             generall
             Work
             of
             all
             Ecclesiasticall
             Councils
             .
          
           
             THese
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Councils
            
             are
             to
             do
             for
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             an
             ordinary
             way
             ,
             what
             the
             Apostles
             were
             to
             do
             in
             an
             extraordinary
             way
             .
             
               The
               care
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               doth
               lye
               upon
               them
               ,
            
             which
             appeareth
             both
             in
             the
             
               Manner
            
             of
             their
             Constitution
             ,
             and
             
               End
            
             of
             their
             Meeting
             .
          
           
             Yea
             ,
             they
             are
             to
             do
             for
             
               all
               the
               World
            
             what
             lyeth
             in
             them
             ,
             as
             the
             Apostles
             were
             to
             do
             ,
             
               Matth
            
             28.
             
             
               Go
               ,
               and
               teach
               all
               Nations
               ,
            
             &c.
             
          
           
             I.
             Hence
             ,
             first
             ,
             if
             there
             be
             any
             Heathen
             people
             that
             yet
             know
             not
             Christ
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             work
             well-becoming
             any
             of
             these
             
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
            
             and
             all
             of
             them
             in
             their
             harmony
             ,
             to
             seek
             out
             ,
             and
             
               send
               forth
               sit
               Labourers
            
             to
             such
             a
             work
             and
             
             service
             of
             Christ
             ,
             to
             carry
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             preach
             Jesus
             Christ
             unto
             them
             ;
             to
             gather
             and
             
               plant
               Churches
            
             amongst
             them
             .
             And
             it
             is
             the
             duty
             of
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             unto
             whose
             Society
             such
             
               Instruments
               ,
            
             chosen
             by
             the
             Councils
             ,
             do
             belong
             ,
             by
             
               Fasting
               and
               Prayer
               ,
            
             and
             
               Imposition
               of
               hands
               ,
            
             to
             send
             them
             forth
             unto
             that
             Work
             ;
             as
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Antioch
            
             did
             unto
             
               Barn●…bas
            
             and
             
               Saul
               ,
            
             when
             they
             were
             extraordinarily
             called
             ,
             and
             sent
             forth
             unto
             such
             a
             Work
             as
             we
             are
             now
             speaking
             of
             ,
             
               Acts
            
             13.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
             And
             this
             will
             be
             one
             holy
             way
             of
             improvement
             of
             
               Church-treasuries
            
             raised
             by
             voluntary
             Contributions
             ,
             to
             
               spread
            
             and
             
               propagate
               the
               Gospel
            
             to
             all
             the
             World.
             
          
           
             II.
             If
             there
             be
             any
             among
             the
             professing
             Nations
             
               that
               sie
               in
               darkness
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               region
               of
               the
               shadow
               of
               death
               ,
               and
               see
               no
               light
               ,
            
             (
             and
             too
             many
             such
             dark
             Corners
             there
             be
             ,
             in
             the
             Land
             of
             
               Zebulon
            
             and
             
               Naphthali
               ,
            
             Mat.
             4
             ▪
             15
             ,
             16.
             )
             who
             have
             none
             to
             bring
             the
             glad
             Tidings
             of
             Light
             and
             Life
             unto
             them
             ,
             at
             least
             ,
             none
             that
             
               do
               it
               :
            
             It
             well
             becometh
             the
             vigilance
             of
             these
             Councils
             ,
             to
             provide
             and
             send
             ●…it
             Instruments
             unto
             them
             ,
             by
             whose
             Labours
             ,
             the
             
               Light
            
             (
             through
             grace
             )
             may
             arise
             ,
             and
             shine
             among
             them
             .
             And
             it
             is
             the
             duty
             of
             the
             Churches
             to
             send
             forth
             such
             persons
             with
             their
             prayers
             and
             blessing
             ,
             as
             abovesaid
             .
          
           
             III.
             If
             there
             be
             any
             Sister-Church
             that
             hath
             
               no
               Breasts
               ,
            
             (
             which
             ,
             by
             death
             or
             other
             means
             oft
             falleth
             out
             ,
             where
             Churches
             are
             numerous
             )
             it
             is
             a
             special
             and
             proper
             care
             of
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Councils
             ,
             to
             take
             a
             prudent
             ,
             pious
             ,
             and
             speedy
             course
             for
             their
             supply
             :
             It
             being
             a
             matter
             that
             hath
             a
             great
             tendency
             to
             the
             well-being
             not
             onely
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
             but
             of
             the
             Councils
             also
             ,
             into
             whose
             Communion
             ●…ll
             Elders
             are
             received
             .
          
           
             And
             unto
             this
             point
             of
             their
             care
             and
             duty
             it
             doth
             belong
             ,
             sometimes
             to
             remove
             
               Lights
            
             from
             one
             
               Candlestick
            
             to
             another
             ,
             where
             the
             gifts
             and
             labours
             of
             some
             special
             Instruments
             may
             be
             most
             fruitful
             ,
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             publick
             good
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Churches
             .
          
           
             But
             this
             is
             to
             be
             done
             with
             all
             wisdome
             ,
             tenderness
             ,
             and
             evidence
             of
             Scripture-light
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             
               Will
               of
               God
               ,
            
             and
             for
             his
             
               Glory
            
             so
             to
             be
             ▪
             that
             so
             the
             Church
             concerned
             may
             yield
             it
             as
             an
             act
             of
             obedience
             to
             Christ
             ,
             for
             whose
             sake
             they
             should
             be
             willing
             to
             
               pluck
               out
               their
               right
               eyes
               ,
            
             and
             give
             them
             unto
             Christ
             ,
             in
             obedience
             as
             unto
             the
             
               Apostles
               ,
            
             so
             unto
             
               Coun●…ils
            
             their
             ordinary
             Successors
             .
          
           
             IV.
             As
             the
             care
             of
             
               all
            
             the
             Churches
             dyeth
             on
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             
             Councils
             ,
             so
             especially
             the
             care
             of
             
               those
            
             Churches
             which
             are
             in
             Combination
             together
             ,
             and
             whose
             Communion
             they
             do
             act
             ,
             and
             towards
             whom
             their
             
               first
               trust
               and
               care
            
             is
             to
             be
             exercised
             ,
             for
             their
             well-being
             on
             earth
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             furtherance
             of
             their
             eternal
             being
             in
             the
             Kingdome
             of
             heaven
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             for
             the
             glory
             of
             Christ
             :
             and
             in
             particular
             to
             take
             care
             that
             there
             be
             general
             directions
             for
             Publick
             Worship
             ,
             and
             all
             other
             Ecclesiastical
             Administrations
             ,
             and
             Conversation
             ;
             and
             for
             
               Catec●…ism
               ,
            
             and
             
               Platform
            
             both
             of
             
               Doctrine
            
             and
             
               Discipline
               .
            
          
           
             V.
             If
             any
             
               Errour
            
             or
             
               Heresie
            
             arise
             ,
             or
             be
             by
             any
             evil
             Instruments
             openly
             or
             secretly
             buzzed
             and
             infused
             ,
             or
             any
             way
             ●…ented
             and
             diffused
             ,
             to
             ●…azard
             the
             infecting
             and
             poisoning
             any
             of
             the
             people
             :
             It
             is
             a
             special
             care
             of
             these
             
               Councils
            
             to
             take
             up
             the
             matter
             ,
             to
             clear
             up
             the
             light
             of
             the
             case
             by
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             in
             due
             order
             to
             settle
             the
             
               Cause
               .
            
             and
             suppress
             the
             
               Errour
               ,
            
             by
             counselling
             the
             Church
             to
             whom
             the
             person
             belongeth
             ,
             to
             a
             due
             
               exercise
               of
               Discipline
               ,
            
             if
             need
             be
             .
          
           
             VI.
             If
             any
             
               Controversie
               ,
            
             or
             
               doubtful
               Disputation
            
             arise
             in
             any
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             about
             any
             point
             of
             Religion
             ▪
             either
             in
             
               Faith
            
             or
             
               Order
               ;
            
             because
             all
             difference
             of
             
               Opinion
            
             is
             apt
             to
             breed
             aliemtion
             of
             affection
             ,
             and
             give
             entrance
             to
             Satan
             ,
             and
             grief
             to
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Love
             and
             Peace
             :
             It
             concerneth
             the
             
               Councils
               ,
            
             with
             all
             care
             and
             prudence
             ,
             in
             due
             order
             to
             
               settle
            
             and
             
               si●…nce
            
             such
             a
             Controversie
             .
          
           
             VII
             .
             If
             any
             
               Strife
            
             or
             
               Division
            
             arise
             among
             any
             ,
             either
             
               person●…
               ,
            
             or
             
               parties
               ,
            
             or
             
               Churches
               ,
            
             or
             
               Towns
               ,
            
             or
             
               Magistrates
               ;
            
             because
             all
             strife
             is
             of
             Satan
             ,
             and
             dangerous
             ,
             and
             the
             higher
             the
             worse
             :
             Therefore
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             the
             care
             of
             all
             the
             Councils
             ,
             speedily
             to
             
               reconcile
            
             (
             in
             an
             Ecclesiastical
             way
             ,
             as
             to
             their
             spirits
             and
             affections
             )
             
               all
               such
               strife
               ▪
            
             with
             all
             care
             
               refusing
            
             to
             in●…erpose
             ,
             o●…
             meddle
             with
             the
             
               Civil
               cause
               ,
            
             if
             any
             be
             ,
             leaving
             that
             to
             be
             decided
             in
             Civil
             Order
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             VIII
             .
             If
             there
             arise
             any
             
               difficulty
            
             in
             any
             of
             the
             Churches
             about
             
               Election
               of
               Officers
               ,
               Administration
               of
               Censures
               ,
               Admission
               of
               Members
               ,
               Education
               of
               Youth
               ,
            
             or
             in
             such
             like
             cases
             ;
             (
             and
             when
             do
             all
             these
             vigorously
             proceed
             without
             
               difficulty
               ?
            
             )
             It
             is
             the
             duty
             and
             care
             of
             these
             
               Councils
               ,
            
             by
             the
             evidence
             of
             the
             light
             of
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             so
             to
             
               advise
            
             and
             
               counsel
            
             these
             Churches
             ,
             as
             that
             they
             may
             proceed
             to
             act
             in
             due
             unity
             ,
             good
             order
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             power
             and
             peace
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             IX
             .
             Because
             the
             pious
             and
             prudent
             management
             of
             the
             
             publick
             stock
             of
             
               Prayers
            
             and
             
               Pra●…es
               ,
            
             is
             a
             point
             that
             greatly
             doth
             concern
             the
             Church
             Militant
             :
             and
             because
             all
             the
             great
             Motions
             in
             the
             world
             are
             steered
             and
             man●…ged
             by
             
               Divine
               Providence
               ,
            
             according
             to
             the
             
               Prayers
            
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Saints
             ;
             Hence
             it
             is
             a
             great
             service
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             for
             all
             the
             Councils
             to
             order
             and
             present
             matter
             of
             
               Prayers
            
             and
             
               Thanksgiving
               ,
            
             and
             also
             to
             order
             and
             guide
             the
             times
             and
             seasons
             of
             
               publick
               Fastings
            
             and
             
               Thanksgivings
               .
            
             The
             management
             of
             the
             
               great
               Wheel
            
             of
             
               publick
               Prayers
               ▪
            
             as
             to
             the
             
               presenting
               of
               matter
               ,
            
             and
             
               ordering
               of
               seasons
               ,
            
             lyeth
             within
             the
             care
             and
             guidance
             of
             the
             Councils
             ,
             by
             whose
             pious
             prudence
             ,
             all
             the
             Churches
             will
             be
             led
             on
             in
             an
             united
             Spirit
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             both
             for
             
               matter
            
             and
             
               seasons
               ▪
            
             but
             abandoning
             the
             An●…ichristian
             
               stinted
               Forms
            
             and
             
               Ti●…es
               .
            
          
           
             X.
             If
             
               Colonies
               ,
            
             or
             
               New
               Towns
            
             are
             to
             be
             erected
             in
             Wildernesses
             ,
             or
             any
             unhabited
             places
             in
             the
             world
             ;
             and
             people
             appear
             ready
             in
             their
             mindes
             to
             undertake
             such
             a
             
               Design
               :
            
             It
             is
             a
             singular
             point
             of
             wisdom
             and
             love
             ,
             to
             manage
             such
             a
             design
             religiously
             ,
             so
             as
             that
             God
             may
             go
             with
             them
             ,
             and
             dwell
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             them
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             is
             necessary
             that
             they
             have
             the
             Ministry
             of
             Gods
             Word
             ,
             and
             some
             other
             godly
             persons
             with
             them
             ,
             who
             ●…ay
             carry
             on
             Church-work
             among
             them
             .
             And
             this
             care
             belongeth
             to
             the
             
               Councils
               ,
            
             to
             order
             ,
             guide
             ,
             and
             provide
             for
             them
             .
          
           
             XI
             .
             When
             
               Parishional
               Congregations
            
             are
             to
             be
             called
             up
             unto
             Reformation
             ;
             and
             when
             Officers
             are
             to
             be
             Ordained
             among
             them
             ,
             where
             none
             were
             before
             ;
             and
             when
             ,
             by
             
               addition
               of
               Churches
               unto
               the
               Communion
               ,
            
             Councils
             are
             to
             be
             multiplied
             :
             These
             (
             and
             such
             like
             )
             are
             
               blessed
               Births
               ,
            
             and
             very
             well-pleasing
             to
             Christ
             ;
             and
             O●…
             how
             well
             it
             becometh
             these
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Councils
            
             to
             Midwife
             forth
             such
             Births
             as
             these
             ?
          
           
             XII
             .
             When
             a
             
               whole
               Church
            
             or
             the
             
               major
            
             part
             thereof
             ,
             do
             remove
             their
             dwelling●…
             ,
             and
             transplant
             themselves
             into
             some
             other
             pl●…ce
             ;
             great
             care
             is
             to
             be
             had
             ,
             that
             Christ
             may
             go
             with
             them
             that
             go
             ,
             and
             that
             Christ
             may
             tarry
             ,
             and
             not
             depart
             from
             them
             that
             tarry
             :
             The
             care
             of
             the
             holy
             and
             ●…oving
             management
             of
             such
             a
             design
             ,
             doth
             much
             concern
             ,
             and
             well
             become
             the
             holy
             care
             of
             the
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Councils
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               VI.
            
             Concerning
             the
             particular
             works
             of
             all
             the
             Orders
             of
             Councils
             :
             and
             first
             of
             the
             
               First
               Order
               .
            
          
           
             WHen
             a
             Council
             of
             the
             
               First
               Order
            
             is
             met
             at
             the
             
               stated
               time
               ,
            
             and
             in
             the
             
               Place
            
             agreed
             on
             ,
             and
             have
             compleated
             themselves
             by
             chusing
             
               Moderator
            
             and
             
               Notáries
               ,
            
             and
             have
             commended
             their
             work
             ,
             their
             Churches
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Government
             ,
             Civil
             and
             Ecclesiastical
             ,
             &c.
             unto
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ;
             then
          
           
             I.
             The
             
               Moderator
               ,
            
             with
             the
             Co-attestation
             of
             his
             Associate
             
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             doth
             first
             declare
             the
             present
             state
             of
             the
             Church
             where
             they
             do
             minister
             ,
             and
             who
             have
             sent
             them
             ,
             to
             act
             
               Communion
               of
               Councils
            
             with
             the
             sister-Churches
             here
             represented
             ,
             in
             this
             Council
             .
          
           
             The
             present
             state
             of
             the
             Church
             he
             doth
             declare
             ,
             in
             these
             five
             Points
             ,
             in
             answering
             to
             these
             five
             Questions
             :
          
           
             
               1.
               
               Whether
               they
               walk
               together
               in
               Truth
               and
               Love
               ?
               truthing
               it
               in
               love
               ,
               
                 Eph.
                 4.
                 15.
                 
              
            
             
               2.
               
               Whether
               Peace
               ruleth
               in
               their
               hearts
               ,
               and
               braves
               it
               among
               them
               ?
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               
                 Col.
                 3.
                 15.
                 
              
            
             
               3.
               
               Whether
               they
               walk
               in
               holiness
               of
               Life
               ,
               Evangelically
               unblameable
               ?
               
                 Luk.
                 1.
                 6.
                 
              
            
             
               4.
               
               Whether
               the
               Lambs
               of
               the
               Flock
               be
               diligently
               ●…ed
               ,
               and
               trained
               up
               for
               Christ
               ,
               in
               the
               nurture
               and
               admonition
               of
               the
               Lord
               ?
               
                 Joh.
                 21.
                 15.
                 
              
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               My
               little
               Lambs
               .
               
                 The
                 care
                 of
                 the
              
               Lambs
               ,
               
                 is
              
               one
               third
               part
               
                 of
                 the
                 charge
                 over
                 the
                 Flock
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               5.
               
               Whether
               the
               Lords-day
               be
               reverently
               ,
               religiously
               and
               strictly
               observed
               by
               all
               ?
               
                 Rev.
                 1.
                 10.
                 
                 Isai.
                 58.
                 13.
                 
              
            
          
           
             The
             Affirmative
             of
             these
             Questions
             ,
             (
             in
             Gospel
             Measure
             ,
             and
             Endeavour
             ,
             though
             not
             without
             infirmities
             )
             declared
             by
             him
             ,
             and
             co-attested
             by
             his
             Associate
             
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             is
             to
             be
             accepted
             ,
             with
             all
             thankfulness
             unto
             God
             ,
             for
             the
             present
             good
             estate
             in
             Christ
             ,
             of
             that
             Church
             ;
             and
             the
             
               Notary
            
             is
             to
             record
             the
             same
             to
             the
             praise
             of
             Christ
             Jesus
             .
          
           
             II.
             The
             
               Moderator
            
             is
             to
             call
             upon
             all
             the
             Elder●…
             in
             order
             ,
             to
             declare
             ,
             with
             the
             co-attestation
             of
             their
             Associate
             
               ●…uling
               Elders
               ,
            
             the
             state
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             ,
             touching
             the
             same
             five
             
               Questions
               .
            
             All
             whose
             
               Reports
            
             are
             distinctly
             to
             be
             recorded
             ,
             as
             the
             present
             good
             estate
             ,
             in
             Christ
             ,
             of
             all
             those
             
             Churches
             ,
             to
             stand
             as
             a
             monument
             of
             Gods
             mercy
             to
             future
             ages
             :
             and
             to
             be
             presented
             upon
             record
             unto
             the
             
               Provincial
            
             and
             
               National
               Councils
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             If
             all
             the
             Churches
             walk
             in
             an
             Evangelical
             measure
             of
             Truth
             ,
             Peace
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             and
             have
             no
             cause
             that
             laboureth
             among
             them
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             Help●…d
             ●…d
             
               Counsel
               ;
            
             then
             the
             
               Moderator
            
             is
             to
             declare
             to
             ●…e
             praise
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             the
             work
             of
             this
             present
             Session
             ,
             as
             touching
             their
             own
             Churches
             ,
             is
             finished
             .
          
           
             IV.
             But
             if
             there
             be
             any
             
               difference
               ▪
            
             or
             
               strife
               ,
            
             or
             any
             
               difficul●…
               case
            
             in
             any
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             there
             opened
             by
             the
             
               Elders
               :
            
             The
             matter
             is
             first
             to
             be
             put
             ,
             and
             resolved
             into
             a
             
               Question
            
             or
             
               Questions
               ,
            
             according
             as
             the
             state
             of
             the
             case
             doth
             require
             :
             and
             those
             
               Questions
            
             recorded
             ,
             as
             matter
             for
             the
             Council
             to
             give
             
               advice
            
             in
             ,
             unto
             that
             Church
             from
             whence
             they
             came
             .
             Also
             it
             must
             be
             provided
             ,
             that
             the
             party
             ,
             or
             parties
             concerned
             in
             the
             case
             ,
             or
             cases
             ,
             be
             present
             ,
             both
             at
             the
             
               ●…ating
            
             of
             the
             
               Questions
               ,
            
             and
             
               discussion
            
             thereof
             ,
             and
             at
             the
             
               Application
            
             thereof
             unto
             the
             particular
             case
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             or
             they
             have
             competent
             liberty
             to
             
               Discuss
               ,
               Argue
               ,
               Answer
               ,
            
             or
             wha●…
             ever
             is
             requisite
             ,
             to
             finde
             out
             and
             clear
             up
             the
             truth
             .
             The
             
               Answer
            
             to
             the
             
               Questions
               ,
            
             and
             the
             
               Application
            
             thereof
             (
             so
             far
             as
             may
             stand
             with
             due
             reverence
             to
             the
             Church
             and
             glory
             of
             Christ
             )
             are
             to
             be
             recorded
             .
          
           
             V.
             If
             there
             be
             any
             case
             which
             the
             
               Elders
            
             see
             cause
             not
             to
             produce
             themselves
             ,
             or
             do
             refuse
             ,
             th●…
             any
             
               Broth●…r
            
             concerned
             may
             ,
             yea
             though
             it
             reflect
             upon
             the
             Elders
             themselves
             .
             Or
             in
             case
             of
             Male-administration
             :
             or
             if
             any
             already
             censured
             appeal
             for
             further
             
               Light
            
             and
             
               Conviction
               :
            
             or
             if
             any
             
               deserving
               Ce●…sure
               ,
            
             do
             appeal
             from
             the
             Church
             for
             
               cle●…er
               conviction
               ,
            
             and
             the
             Church
             seeth
             cause
             to
             defer
             proceeding
             unto
             
               Censure
               ,
            
             (
             as
             sometimes
             it
             may
             be
             )
             upon
             his
             appeal
             :
             Or
             whatsoever
             the
             case
             or
             trouble
             be
             ;
             only
             all
             such
             
               proposals
            
             by
             any
             of
             the
             ●…ernity
             ,
             must
             be
             with
             due
             reverence
             ,
             humility
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             fear
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             VI.
             If
             any
             other
             person
             or
             persons
             whatever
             ,
             have
             any
             
               Question
            
             or
             
               Case
               ,
            
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             propose
             unto
             the
             Council
             ,
             they
             in
             the
             next
             place
             may
             have
             liberty
             in
             a
             reverent
             and
             orderly
             manner
             ,
             to
             propose
             the
             same
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             to
             be
             
               Considered
            
             and
             
               Answered
               .
            
             Also
             any
             other
             matter
             concerning
             the
             publick
             good
             of
             the
             Churches
             ,
             and
             promotion
             of
             Religion
             ,
             may
             be
             discussed
             and
             ordered
             ,
             as
             
               Fastings
               ,
               Feastings
               ●…ropagation
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
            
             and
             the
             like
             .
          
           
             VII
             .
             If
             business
             so
             multiply
             ,
             that
             one
             day
             sufficeth
             not
             to
             fi●…ish
             the
             work
             ,
             the
             Council
             have
             liberty
             to
             appoint
             other
             
             times
             ,
             so
             of●…
             a●…
             they
             need
             ,
             within
             the
             moneth
             :
             and
             if
             they
             finish
             not
             in
             that
             moneth
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             left
             on
             record
             how
             the
             case
             standeth
             ,
             and
             so
             to
             be
             presented
             to
             the
             Council
             that
             shall
             be
             chosen
             for
             the
             next
             moneth
             ,
             which
             ordinarily
             ,
             in
             this
             order
             ,
             will
             be
             the
             same
             persons
             ,
             or
             (
             at
             least
             )
             most
             of
             them
             .
          
           
             VIII
             .
             If
             any
             
               Case
            
             prove
             too
             hard
             for
             them
             to
             resolve
             ,
             or
             if
             they
             be
             con●…iderably
             divided
             in
             judgement
             ,
             then
             the
             
               Case
            
             is
             to
             be
             transmitted
             to
             the
             next
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ,
            
             and
             ●…ecorded
             so
             to
             be
             ,
             with
             the
             
               Reasons
            
             of
             transmitting
             the
             sa●…
             .
          
           
             IX
             .
             If
             they
             agree
             in
             Counsel
             about
             any
             case
             or
             point
             of
             Religion
             ,
             in
             
               Faith
            
             or
             
               Order
               :
            
             and
             if
             any
             person
             or
             persons
             ,
             or
             Church
             concerned
             therein
             ,
             do
             not
             
               accept
            
             of
             their
             counsel
             and
             judgement
             ;
             he
             ,
             or
             they
             ,
             have
             liberty
             to
             appeal
             to
             the
             next
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ;
            
             provided
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Council
             advise
             the
             Church
             to
             proceed
             to
             
               Ce●…re
               ,
            
             they
             are
             to
             follow
             that
             counsel
             ,
             notwithstanding
             his
             appeal
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             〈◊〉
             sin
             to
             ly
             upon
             their
             brother
             ;
             for
             if
             it
             were
             in
             the
             appeala●…
             power
             to
             stop
             the
             clear
             process
             of
             a
             Gospel-medicine
             to
             his
             soul
             in
             gross
             scandals
             ,
             some
             would
             never
             come
             under
             the
             Soul-medicine
             of
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             or
             not
             so
             soon
             as
             were
             meet
             :
             but
             he
             may
             appeal
             higher
             ,
             for
             all
             actions
             of
             the
             Churches
             and
             Councils
             ,
             are
             ●…ble
             to
             a
             
               Review
               ,
            
             until
             it
             come
             unto
             the
             highest
             .
             And
             his
             
               Appeal
               ▪
            
             with
             the
             
               Reasons
            
             and
             manner
             thereof
             ,
             are
             to
             be
             recorded
             .
          
           
             X.
             Every
             first
             Council
             ,
             in
             the
             Sessions
             immediately
             foregoing
             the
             quarterly
             time
             of
             the
             Provincial
             Councils
             meeting
             ,
             must
             chuse
             from
             among
             themselves
             ,
             at
             least
             
               one
               Teaching
               Elder
            
             and
             
               one
               Ruling
               Elder
               ,
            
             to
             be
             sent
             unto
             the
             
               Provincial
               Synod
               ,
            
             as
             Members
             of
             the
             same
             ,
             there
             to
             represent
             the
             
               first
               Councils
            
             (
             who
             chose
             and
             sent
             them
             )
             and
             all
             the
             Churches
             with
             them
             combined
             :
             and
             to
             carry
             on
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             
               Counsel
            
             among
             them
             ,
             according
             to
             due
             Order
             .
          
           
             XI
             .
             Unto
             these
             thus
             chosen
             for
             the
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ,
            
             are
             to
             be
             delivered
             in
             writing
             ,
             first
             ,
             a
             
               Note
            
             of
             the
             present
             state
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             combined
             with
             them
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             a
             
               Note
            
             of
             such
             
               Cases
            
             as
             are
             transmi●…ed
             to
             the
             
               Provincial
               Council
               ,
            
             if
             any
             such
             be
             .
             And
             thirdly
             ,
             a
             
               Note
            
             of
             such
             
               Appeals
            
             as
             are
             made
             unto
             them
             ,
             if
             any
             such
             be
             :
             all
             these
             ,
             being
             first
             read
             ,
             are
             then
             delivered
             unto
             them
             .
             And
             thus
             they
             are
             sent
             with
             their
             Prayers
             and
             Blessing
             .
          
           
             XII
             .
             When
             all
             these
             Elders
             do
             return
             to
             their
             
               own
               Churches
               ,
            
             they
             ●…re
             (
             so
             far
             as
             in
             prudence
             is
             meet
             )
             to
             relate
             the
             
               particular
               state
            
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             ,
             the
             acts
             of
             the
             Council
             ,
             the
             
               persons
               chos●…n
            
             for
             the
             Provincial
             Council
             ,
             the
             
             
               cases
               transmitted
               ,
            
             and
             
               Appeales
               ;
            
             or
             so
             much
             as
             may
             give
             them
             a
             general
             view
             of
             the
             publick
             state
             of
             the
             Churches
             and
             Affaires
             of
             Christ
             ,
             as
             matter
             of
             continual
             Prayers
             ,
             Praises
             and
             Obedience
             in
             all
             the
             Churches
             .
          
           
             
               The
               Particular
               works
               of
               the
               Provincial
               Council
               ,
               the
               second
               Order
               of
               
                 Councils
                 .
              
            
             
               THe
               
                 Provincial
                 Council
              
               being
               met
               at
               the
               
                 stated
                 time
                 ,
              
               and
               in
               the
               
                 place
              
               agreed
               on
               ,
               
                 Moderators
              
               and
               
                 Notaries
              
               chosen
               ,
               the
               
                 work
              
               blessed
               ,
               as
               in
               the
               Council
               of
               the
               
                 first
                 Order
                 ;
              
               then
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               
                 Moderator
                 ,
              
               with
               the
               co-attestation
               of
               his
               Associate
               
                 Ruling
                 El●…er
                 ,
              
               declareth
               the
               present
               state
               of
               the
               
                 first
                 Council
              
               that
               sent
               them
               ;
               as
               also
               the
               present
               state
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               combined
               in
               that
               Council
               ,
               which
               he
               delivereth
               in
               writing
               ,
               and
               may
               be
               now
               read
               in
               this
               Council
               .
               Then
               he
               delivereth
               in
               writing
               such
               
                 Cases
              
               as
               are
               transmitted
               to
               them
               ,
               and
               such
               
                 Appeales
              
               as
               are
               made
               unto
               them
               ,
               if
               any
               such
               be
               ;
               these
               being
               also
               read
               in
               the
               Council
               ,
               are
               kept
               in
               order
               by
               the
               
                 Notaries
              
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               
                 Notaries
              
               are
               to
               record
               the
               present
               state
               of
               that
               Council
               ,
               and
               the
               general
               good
               estate
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               ,
               referring
               unto
               the
               Records
               thereof
               now
               presented
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               
                 Moderator
              
               is
               to
               call
               upon
               all
               the
               Elders
               ,
               in
               order
               ,
               with
               their
               Associates
               ,
               delegated
               from
               all
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               who
               are
               all
               to
               do
               as
               the
               
                 Moderator
              
               did
               ,
               declaring
               the
               
                 state
              
               of
               the
               Councils
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Churches
               ,
               delivering
               their
               Writings
               to
               the
               
                 Notaries
                 ,
              
               which
               are
               all
               read
               ,
               and
               recorded
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               The
               
                 Notaries
              
               are
               to
               produce
               ,
               when
               called
               for
               ,
               all
               the
               
                 Papers
              
               which
               present
               any
               Business
               or
               Work
               unto
               the
               Council
               ,
               either
               by
               
                 Transmission
                 ,
              
               or
               by
               
                 Appeals
                 :
              
               which
               are
               orderly
               to
               be
               discussed
               .
               Care
               being
               taken
               ,
               that
               all
               persons
               concerned
               be
               present
               ,
               and
               have
               free
               and
               competent
               liberty
               to
               
                 argue
                 ,
                 answer
                 ,
                 object
                 ,
                 dispute
                 ,
              
               or
               what
               else
               may
               be
               requisite
               for
               finding
               out
               of
               the
               Truth
               .
            
             
               5.
               
               If
               there
               be
               no
               
                 Cases
                 transmitted
                 ,
              
               nor
               
                 Appeals
              
               from
               any
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               then
               the
               business
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               touching
               all
               their
               Churches
               ,
               is
               (
               with
               glory
               and
               praise
               to
               Christ
               )
               so
               soon
               finished
               as
               mentioned
               .
            
             
               6.
               
               If
               any
               person
               or
               persons
               whatsoever
               ,
               have
               any
               
                 Questions
              
               or
               
                 Cases
              
               concerning
               Religion
               ,
               &
               Ecclesiastical
               affairs
               of
               Christ
               ,
               now
               they
               have
               liberty
               ,
               in
               due
               reverence
               and
               order
               ,
               to
               propose
               the
               same
               to
               be
               discussed
               and
               answered
               .
               And
               if
               work
               multiply
               ,
               the
               Council
               may
               either
               tarry
               together
               ,
               or
               multiply
               their
               Sessions
               ,
               so
               oft
               as
               they
               see
               cause
               ,
               in
               their
               
                 Quarter
                 .
              
               And
               what
               
                 Cases
              
               they
               have
               unfinished
               ,
               they
               are
               to
               
               leave
               them
               upon
               
                 Record
              
               for
               the
               next
               Council
               .
            
             
               7.
               
               If
               there
               be
               any
               case
               
                 too
                 difficult
              
               for
               them
               ,
               or
               that
               they
               be
               
                 considerably
              
               divided
               in
               judgement
               in
               ,
               then
               that
               Case
               is
               to
               transmitted
               to
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 .
              
               The
               Notary
               is
               to
               
                 Record
              
               it
               ,
               with
               the
               
                 Reasons
              
               thereof
               .
            
             
               8.
               
               If
               any
               
                 counsel
              
               or
               
                 judgement
              
               agreed
               on
               by
               this
               
                 Council
                 ,
              
               be
               not
               accepted
               or
               acquiesced
               in
               ,
               by
               the
               party
               or
               parties
               concerned
               ▪
               he
               or
               they
               may
               
                 Appeal
              
               unto
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 ,
              
               for
               further
               light
               ;
               and
               the
               
                 Notaries
              
               are
               to
               record
               it
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Reasons
              
               thereof
               .
               Provided
               ,
               that
               if
               this
               Council
               advise
               the
               Church
               to
               proceed
               to
               
                 Censure
                 ,
              
               they
               may
               so
               do
               ,
               if
               they
               see
               cause
               ,
               notwithstanding
               his
               
                 Appeal
                 .
              
            
             
               9.
               
               Those
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
              
               which
               do
               immediately
               forego
               the
               
                 stated
                 time
              
               of
               the
               
                 National
                 Councils
              
               meeting
               ,
               are
               each
               of
               them
               to
               chuse
               ,
               at
               least
               ,
               
                 one
                 Teaching
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 one
                 Ruling
                 Elder
                 ,
              
               according
               to
               the
               manner
               aforesaid
               ,
               who
               are
               to
               be
               
                 Representatives
              
               of
               these
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               and
               of
               all
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               and
               Churches
               with
               them
               combined
               ,
               in
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 ;
              
               who
               are
               chosen
               to
               carry
               on
               the
               Ordinance
               of
               
                 Counsel
              
               in
               that
               Order
               .
            
             
               10.
               
               The
               
                 Notaries
              
               are
               publickly
               in
               the
               presence
               of
               every
               Council
               ,
               to
               deliver
               in
               writing
               unto
               them
               who
               are
               chosen
               for
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 ,
              
               1.
               
               The
               
                 present
                 state
              
               of
               all
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               and
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               combined
               with
               them
               .
               2.
               
               All
               the
               
                 Causes
              
               that
               are
               transmitted
               by
               them
               unto
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 .
              
               3.
               
               The
               
                 Appeals
                 ,
              
               if
               any
               such
               be
               .
               All
               these
               ,
               being
               first
               read
               ,
               are
               delivered
               to
               them
               :
               and
               so
               they
               are
               sent
               with
               their
               prayers
               and
               blessing
               .
            
             
               11.
               
               If
               these
               
                 Councils
              
               foresee
               any
               future
               Sessions
               this
               
                 quarter
                 ,
              
               they
               may
               now
               agree
               upon
               the
               same
               :
               if
               any
               
                 Fasts
              
               or
               
                 Feasts
              
               are
               to
               be
               kept
               by
               all
               their
               Churches
               ,
               they
               may
               now
               agree
               upon
               it
               ,
               and
               propose
               the
               
                 Causes
              
               thereof
               .
            
             
               12.
               
               When
               these
               Elders
               do
               next
               meet
               in
               their
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               they
               must
               prudently
               and
               faithfully
               report
               the
               
                 good
                 state
              
               of
               all
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
              
               in
               the
               Province
               ,
               and
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               combined
               with
               them
               ,
               and
               all
               other
               
                 weighty
                 affairs
              
               fitting
               to
               be
               communicated
               ,
               that
               so
               they
               may
               
                 relate
              
               them
               to
               their
               
                 Churches
                 ,
              
               that
               these
               things
               may
               be
               
                 mutter
                 of
                 joy
                 ,
                 praise
                 thanksgiving
                 ,
                 prayer
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 obedience
              
               in
               all
               the
               Churches
               .
            
          
           
             
               The
               particular
               Works
               of
               the
               National
               and
               highest
               Ecclesiastical
               Council
               within
               the
               Nation
               .
            
             
               THe
               
                 National
                 Council
              
               being
               met
               at
               the
               
                 stated
                 time
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 place
              
               agreed
               on
               ,
               
                 compleated
              
               and
               
                 blessed
                 ;
              
               then
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               
                 Moderator
                 ,
              
               with
               the
               co
               attestation
               of
               the
               
                 Ruling
              
               
               
                 Elder
              
               his
               Associate
               ,
               is
               to
               declare
               unto
               them
               the
               present
               good
               estate
               of
               that
               
                 Provincial
                 Council
              
               which
               sent
               them
               ,
               as
               also
               the
               state
               of
               all
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 particular
                 Churches
              
               with
               them
               combined
               ▪
               Also
               he
               declareth
               such
               cases●…s
               ●…s
               are
               
                 transmitted
              
               by
               them
               unto
               this
               Council
               ;
               and
               such
               
                 Appeals
              
               as
               are
               made
               unto
               them
               ,
               as
               part
               of
               the
               
                 present●…
                 business
              
               of
               this
               Council
               .
               All
               these
               things
               to
               be
               delivered
               in
               writing
               distinctly
               ,
               unto
               the
               
                 Notaries
                 ,
              
               who
               reade
               them
               all
               ,
               and
               then
               record
               the
               present
               good
               estate
               of
               that
               Province
               ,
               and
               all
               the
               Councils
               and
               Churches
               therein
               combined
               ;
               as
               also
               the
               matters
               that
               are
               from
               them
               dilated
               unto
               the
               present
               Council
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               
                 Moderator
              
               calleth
               all
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Representatives
              
               in
               order
               ,
               who
               are
               to
               make
               the
               like
               declaration
               ●…s
               the
               
                 Moderator
              
               hath
               done
               ,
               with
               the
               co-attestation
               of
               their
               Associate
               
                 Ruling
                 Elders
                 .
              
               All
               their
               
                 Papers
              
               are
               to
               be
               delivered
               to
               the
               
                 Notaries
                 ,
              
               who
               are
               to
               reade
               ,
               and
               then
               record
               them
               distinctly
               ,
               with
               the
               present
               
                 Ecclesiastical
                 state
              
               of
               all
               the
               Provinces
               in
               the
               Nation
               ,
               whose
               
                 Representatives
              
               do
               there
               appear
               ,
               &
               make
               declaration
               thereof
               before
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 .
              
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               
                 Notaries
              
               are
               orderly
               to
               propose
               all
               the
               
                 matters
                 ▪
              
               presented
               by
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               when
               the
               
                 Moderator
              
               requireth
               the
               same
               .
               Care
               being
               had
               ,
               that
               the
               persons
               concerned
               be
               present
               ,
               and
               have
               free
               and
               competent
               liberty
               to
               
                 argue
                 ,
                 answer
                 ,
                 object
                 ,
              
               in
               due
               ,
               reverent
               ,
               and
               modest
               manner
               ,
               and
               to
               do
               what
               may
               be
               necessary
               for
               the
               finding
               out
               of
               the
               truth
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               If
               there
               be
               no
               
                 Cases
                 transmitted
              
               to
               them
               ,
               nor
               
                 Appeals
                 ,
              
               the
               affairs
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               in
               the
               Nation
               are
               presently
               issued
               ,
               with
               glory
               and
               praise
               to
               the
               
                 Lord
                 Iesus
                 ,
                 the
                 King
                 of
                 Peace
                 .
              
            
             
               5.
               
               If
               any
               other
               person
               or
               persons
               within
               the
               Nation
               ,
               or
               of
               any
               other
               Nation
               ,
               have
               any
               
                 Cases
              
               or
               
                 Questions
              
               about
               Religion
               ,
               they
               may
               now
               have
               liberty
               of
               proposing
               the
               same
               ,
               to
               receive
               an
               answer
               .
            
             
               6.
               
               If
               any
               
                 Cases
                 of
                 difficulty
              
               be
               such
               ,
               as
               that
               they
               cannot
               obtain
               an
               
                 issue
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 resolution
                 satisfactory
                 ,
              
               then
               the
               Case
               must
               be
               recorded
               ,
               and
               stay
               untill
               by
               further
               consideration
               and
               discussion
               ,
               God
               shall
               please
               to
               reveal
               further
               light
               therein
               ,
               because
               there
               is
               no
               
                 Higher
                 Council
              
               to
               appeal
               unto
               for
               light
               ,
               within
               the
               Nation
               .
               And
               in
               such
               casés
               ,
               so
               the
               Apostles
               did
               walk
               ,
               and
               teach
               the
               Churches
               to
               walk
               ,
               
                 Phil
              
               3.
               15
               ,
               16.
               
               
                 Let
                 us
                 therefore
                 as
                 many
                 as
                 be
                 perfect
                 ,
                 be
                 thus
                 minded
                 :
                 and
                 if
                 in
                 any
                 thing
                 ye
                 be
                 otherwise
                 minded
                 ,
                 God
                 shall
                 reveal
                 even
                 this
                 unto
                 you
                 .
                 Nevertheless
                 ,
                 whereunto
                 we
                 have
                 already
                 attained
                 ,
                 let
                 us
                 walk
                 by
                 the
                 same
                 rule
                 ▪
                 let
                 us
                 minde
                 the
                 same
                 things
                 .
              
            
             
               But
               if
               the
               matter
               be
               of
               due
               weight
               and
               worth
               ,
               then
               either
               
               by
               
                 Transmission
              
               or
               
                 Appeal
                 ,
              
               it
               may
               ascend
               unto
               an
               
                 Occumenical
                 Council
                 .
              
            
             
               7.
               
               If
               any
               person
               or
               persons
               ,
               whose
               opinion
               or
               practice
               receiveth
               
                 a
                 judgement
                 ,
              
               with
               counsel
               and
               advice
               in
               reference
               to
               the
               person
               or
               persons
               concerned
               ,
               and
               he
               or
               they
               rest
               not
               therein
               ,
               as
               to
               Peace
               and
               Order
               ;
               then
               if
               he
               or
               they
               (
               be
               they
               many
               or
               few
               )
               be
               not
               already
               under
               
                 Church
                 ▪
                 Censure
                 ;
              
               the
               Church
               to
               which
               they
               belong
               ,
               are
               to
               proceed
               (
               according
               to
               the
               determination
               of
               this
               Council
               in
               the
               case
               )
               unto
               their
               
                 Censure
                 ,
              
               as
               the
               Church
               of
               
                 Corinth
              
               did
               upon
               the
               advice
               of
               
                 Paul
                 ,
              
               1
               
                 Cor.
              
               5.
               4
               ,
               5.
               for
               the
               healing
               of
               their
               soules
               ,
               and
               bringing
               of
               them
               unto
               repentance
               ,
               and
               good
               order
               .
               Which
               being
               effected
               ,
               the
               end
               of
               all
               this
               acting
               ,
               both
               in
               
                 Conviction
              
               and
               
                 Correction
                 ,
              
               is
               attended
               .
               And
               thus
               ,
               within
               the
               compass
               of
               
                 one
                 year
                 ,
              
               the
               whole
               Order
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               Discipline
               hath
               its
               course
               ,
               and
               that
               in
               a
               most
               difficult
               case
               .
            
             
               8.
               
               But
               yet
               if
               he
               or
               they
               rest
               not
               ,
               such
               are
               
                 high
                 disturbers
                 ,
              
               and
               must
               be
               suppressed
               by
               civil
               Power
               .
            
             
               And
               in
               
                 civil
                 Order
                 ,
              
               he
               that
               doth
               not
               submit
               unto
               and
               rest
               in
               (
               as
               to
               peace
               and
               order
               )
               the
               sentence
               of
               the
               
                 Supreme
                 Power
                 ,
              
               is
               guilty
               of
               a
               
                 Capital
                 Offence
                 ,
              
               and
               ought
               to
               be
               put
               to
               death
               ,
               by
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ,
               
                 Deut.
              
               17.
               10
               ,
               11
               ,
               12
               ,
               13.
               and
               the
               reason
               is
               ;
               because
               
                 Order
              
               is
               better
               then
               any
               of
               our
               lives
               .
               It
               is
               a
               greater
               good
               to
               preserve
               
                 Order
                 ,
              
               then
               to
               preserve
               the
               lives
               of
               the
               wilfull
               and
               obstinate
               violaters
               thereof
               .
               And
               the
               loss
               of
               
                 Order
              
               and
               
                 Peace
              
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               Government
               ,
               in
               the
               way
               of
               the
               Churches
               ,
               is
               of
               greater
               consequence
               ,
               then
               the
               loss
               of
               their
               lives
               .
               
                 Zec.
              
               13.
               3
               ,
               6.
               
            
             
               9.
               
               All
               things
               that
               are
               to
               be
               commended
               or
               committed
               to
               
                 Civil
                 Authority
                 ,
              
               either
               from
               the
               Churches
               ,
               or
               in
               behalf
               of
               the
               Churches
               ,
               and
               Religion
               ,
               are
               to
               be
               resolved
               ,
               and
               acted
               by
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 .
              
               Where
               great
               care
               is
               to
               be
               had
               ,
               to
               keep
               a
               clear
               distinction
               ,
               betwixt
               
                 Civil
              
               and
               
                 Ecclesiastical
                 Power
                 ,
              
               and
               not
               to
               meddle
               ,
               or
               in
               the
               least
               ,
               intrude
               or
               intrench
               upon
               
                 Civil
                 Authority
                 .
              
               The
               usurpation
               of
               
                 Antichrist
              
               upon
               the
               
                 Civil
                 Authority
                 ,
              
               must
               ever
               keep
               the
               Ecclesiastical
               Councils
               in
               a
               vigilant
               fear
               of
               that
               aspiring
               pride
               :
               a
               worm
               too
               apt
               to
               breed
               and
               grow
               in
               the
               breasts
               of
               learned
               ,
               and
               eminently
               gifted
               men
               ,
               if
               there
               be
               not
               a
               vigilant
               spirit
               of
               mortification
               ,
               and
               humble
               subjection
               unto
               Order
               .
            
             
               10
               It
               will
               be
               necessary
               that
               an
               appointed
               
                 Committee
              
               of
               this
               
                 National
                 Council
              
               be
               alwayes
               (
               some
               or
               other
               of
               them
               )
               resident
               near
               unto
               the
               
                 Supream
                 Civil
                 Authority
                 ;
              
               that
               they
               may
               speedily
               have
               notice
               of
               all
               occurrences
               ,
               that
               may
               have
               respect
               unto
               ,
               or
               concern
               the
               Ecclesiastical
               affaires
               of
               the
               
               Churches
               :
               and
               may
               receive
               
                 Commands
              
               from
               Authority
               ,
               about
               
                 Fastings
              
               or
               
                 Feastings
                 ,
              
               according
               to
               the
               well
               or
               ill
               being
               of
               the
               affaires
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               or
               the
               Churches
               ,
               either
               at
               home
               or
               abroad
               ;
               and
               may
               call
               together
               the
               
                 whole
                 Council
                 ,
              
               if
               there
               be
               any
               cause
               that
               it
               should
               be
               so
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               11.
               
               Such
               
                 publick
                 Fasts
              
               and
               
                 Feasts
              
               as
               concern
               all
               the
               Churches
               in
               the
               Nation
               to
               solemnize
               ,
               which
               are
               not
               first
               commanded
               by
               civil
               Authority
               ,
               why
               may
               they
               not
               be
               appointed
               and
               agreed
               on
               by
               the
               
                 National
                 Council●…
              
               such
               
                 publick
                 sins
              
               as
               are
               to
               be
               bewailed
               ;
               such
               
                 mercies
              
               as
               are
               to
               be
               i●…plored
               for
               our
               Churches
               ,
               or
               for
               the
               Nation
               ,
               or
               for
               forreign
               Churches
               and
               Nations
               ;
               such
               
                 motions
              
               and
               
                 designes
              
               of
               spreading
               and
               propagating
               religion
               as
               are
               in
               hand
               ,
               &c.
               
               These
               are
               to
               be
               presented
               to
               all
               the
               Churches
               as
               matter
               of
               
                 Prayer
                 ,
              
               both
               ordinary
               and
               extraordinary
               .
            
             
               12.
               
               When
               these
               Members
               of
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
              
               return
               unto
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               whose
               delegates
               they
               (
               immediately
               )
               are
               ,
               they
               are
               to
               report
               unto
               them
               the
               state
               and
               affaires
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               in
               the
               Nation
               ,
               and
               in
               forreign
               Nations
               also
               And
               they
               are
               to
               report
               them
               to
               all
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 .
              
               and
               they
               unto
               all
               the
               
                 Churches
                 ,
              
               as
               matters
               of
               prai●…e
               ,
               and
               prayer
               to
               God
               ,
               and
               of
               incouragement
               to
               obedience
               unto
               government
               .
            
             
               And
               that
               this
               communication
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               affaires
               may
               be
               the
               more
               readily
               expedited
               :
            
             
               1.
               
               All
               the
               
                 first
                 Councils
                 ,
              
               or
               some
               one
               of
               every
               Council
               ,
               may
               meet
               that
               day
               seven
               night
               after
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
              
               meeting
               to
               hear
               the
               affaires
               of
               all
               the
               
                 Province
                 .
              
               And
               some
               of
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Council
              
               may
               be
               there
               ,
               to
               declare
               the
               affaires
               of
               all
               the
               Churches
               in
               the
               Province
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               So
               likewise
               the
               
                 Provincial
                 Councils
              
               (
               or
               some
               of
               every
               
                 Provincial
                 Council
              
               )
               may
               meet
               that
               day
               seven-night
               after
               the
               Session
               of
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
                 ,
              
               to
               hear
               the
               affaires
               of
               the
               whole
               Nation
               ,
               and
               some
               of
               the
               
                 National
                 Council
              
               may
               be
               there
               to
               give
               information
               of
               all
               things
               ●…ing
               to
               be
               communic●…ted
               .
               But
               experience
               will
               put
               men
               upon
               the
               best
               w●…y
               of
               Order
               in
               these
               things
               .
            
             
               The
               p●…rticular
               duties
               of
               the
               
                 Oecumeni●…al
                 Council
              
               I
               pass
               in
               silence
               ;
               I
               leave
               them
               to
               their
               consideration
               ,
               whose
               happy
               〈◊〉
               it
               shall
               be
               ,
               to
               see
               those
               
                 gl●…rious
                 times
                 ,
              
               when
               such
               Councils
               shall
               be
               called
               .
            
             
               Notwithstanding
               these
               publick
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ,
               it
               is
               lawful
               for
               any
               person
               ,
               or
               parties
               ,
               or
               Church
               ,
               to
               take
               any
               private
               
                 ●…unsel
                 ,
              
               that
               he
               or
               they
               will
               or
               c●…n
               obtain
               ,
               according
               to
               God
               ,
               〈◊〉
               they
               ●…ay
               have
               occ●…sion
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               VII
               .
            
             Concerning
             the
             way
             to
             bring
             every
             Christian
             Parishional
             Congregation
             to
             be
             an
             explicite
             Reforming
             Congregational
             Church
             .
          
           
             I.
             EVery
             
               Parishional
               Congregation
               ,
            
             who
             solemnly
             renouncing
             all
             their
             
               sins
            
             and
             
               evils
               ,
            
             both
             personal
             and
             ●…cclesiastical
             ,
             shall
             willingly
             (
             by
             what
             wayes
             ,
             means
             ,
             or
             motives
             soever
             thereunto
             induced
             )
             
               submit
            
             themselves
             and
             their
             children
             to
             the
             
               Government
               of
               Christ
               ,
            
             in
             Gospel-Order
             ;
             and
             particularly
             to
             be
             guided
             in
             the
             
               common
               concernments
               of
               Religion
               ,
            
             by
             the
             holy
             advice
             of
             the
             forenamed
             
               Orders
               of
               Councils
               ;
            
             and
             do
             (
             by
             their
             pious
             and
             prudent
             
               counsel
            
             and
             
               concurrence
            
             )
             orderly
             
               elect
               all
               Officers
               ,
            
             both
             
               Elders
            
             and
             
               Deacons
               ,
            
             among
             themselves
             ,
             and
             promise
             for
             
               themselves
            
             and
             their
             
               households
               ,
            
             to
             walk
             in
             the
             Christian
             exercise
             of
             all
             Gods
             Ordinances
             ,
             according
             to
             Rule
             ,
             in
             the
             
               Faith
               and
               Order
               of
               the
               Gospel
               :
            
             That
             
               Parish
               ,
            
             or
             so
             many
             of
             them
             as
             shall
             herein
             concurre
             .
             is
             to
             be
             owned
             
               a
               particular
               Reforming
               Congregational
               Church
               ;
            
             and
             is
             to
             be
             received
             into
             the
             
               Communion
               of
               the
               Churches
            
             in
             this
             Order
             of
             Government
             .
             They
             delivering
             this
             act
             of
             theirs
             
               in
               writing
               ,
            
             unto
             that
             
               first
               Council
            
             with
             whom
             they
             associate
             ,
             there
             to
             be
             recorded
             .
          
           
             II.
             It
             may
             ,
             by
             the
             good
             blessing
             of
             God
             ,
             greatly
             
               promote
               Rel●…gion
               ,
            
             and
             the
             
               Reformation
            
             of
             
               particular
               Churches
               ,
            
             if
             such
             of
             the
             
               godly
               Gentry
            
             of
             the
             Land
             ,
             who
             are
             not
             in
             Civil
             Authority
             ,
             would
             please
             to
             do
             that
             honour
             to
             Christ
             ,
             to
             
               subject
               themselves
            
             to
             his
             service
             ,
             in
             accepting
             of
             the
             Offices
             of
             
               Ruling
               Elders
            
             and
             
               Deacons
               ,
            
             in
             the
             ●…urches
             of
             Jesus
             Christ.
             It
             would
             much
             strengthen
             the
             hands
             of
             
               Church-government
               ,
            
             and
             be
             no
             small
             honour
             to
             themselves
             ;
             and
             they
             will
             hereby
             render
             themselves
             
               great
               in
               the
               Kingdome
               of
               Heaven
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             By
             the
             Ordinance
             o●…
             
               〈◊〉
            
             prudentl●…
             exercised
             ,
             both
             
               publickly
            
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             in
             
               private
            
             houses
             ,
             all
             t●…
             Church
             are
             to
             be
             trained
             up
             unto
             a
             competency
             of
             knowledge
             in
             Jesus
             Christ.
             
          
           
             IV.
             Special
             ●…are
             is
             to
             be
             had
             in
             the
             
               training
               up
               of
               Youth
            
             in
             the
             good
             knowledge
             of
             God
             ,
             made
             manifest
             to
             the
             
               Church
            
             by
             their
             publick
             account
             ,
             answer
             ,
             or
             confession
             thereof
             ;
             a●…d
             unto
             an
             explicite
             acknowledgement
             of
             Christ
             ,
             with
             sub●…
             and
             engagement
             of
             themselves
             unto
             the
             C●…urch
             ,
             
             wherein
             they
             
               give
               up
               themselves
               and
               their
               children
               unto
               God
               ,
            
             to
             be
             ruled
             by
             Religion
             ,
             in
             the
             
               Faith
               and
               Order
               of
               the
               Gospel
               .
            
             Which
             done
             ,
             their
             Children
             are
             to
             be
             baptized
             .
          
           
             V.
             Upon
             the
             due
             evidence
             of
             some
             hopeful
             
               reall
               work
            
             and
             
               change
               of
               heart
               by
               Faith
               and
               Repentance
               ,
            
             duely
             manifested
             to
             the
             Church
             ,
             whereby
             the
             persons
             concerned
             may
             be
             in
             Charity
             conceived
             
               able
               to
               examine
               themselves
               ,
               &
               ●…o
               discern
               the
               Lords
               body
            
             in
             the
             Sacrament
             ,
             and
             spiritually
             to
             
               judge
            
             of
             a
             
               spiritual
               cause
               ,
            
             such
             ought
             ,
             by
             the
             Church
             ,
             to
             be
             received
             unto
             Communion
             in
             the
             Sacrament
             of
             the
             Lords
             Supper
             ,
             and
             such
             Males
             unto
             
               Voting
            
             in
             the
             Church
             ;
             because
             ordinarily
             ,
             such
             as
             are
             
               able
               to
               discern
               Christ
            
             in
             the
             Sacrament
             ,
             are
             also
             able
             
               spiritually
               to
               discern
               of
               a
               spiritual
               cause
               ,
            
             and
             thereby
             capable
             to
             
               Vote
               ,
            
             in
             such
             cases
             wherein
             the
             Fraternity
             is
             called
             to
             
               Voting
            
             in
             the
             Church
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               CHAP.
               VIII
               .
            
             Touching
             the
             Maintenance
             of
             these
             Councils
             .
          
           
             I.
             THough
             it
             be
             meet
             that
             all
             their
             
               necessary
               Charges
            
             be
             born
             for
             them
             ;
             for
             
               who
               goeth
               on
               a
               warfare
               at
               his
               own
               charge
               ?
            
             yet
             it
             is
             in
             no
             wise
             meet
             that
             any
             Profits
             or
             Revenues
             should
             be
             annexed
             unto
             any
             of
             the
             
               Councils
               ,
            
             from
             the
             lowest
             unto
             the
             highest
             .
             Worldly
             Profit
             ,
             Power
             and
             Splendor
             ,
             are
             beneath
             the
             spirit
             and
             aim
             of
             the
             Gospel
             of
             Jesus
             Christ.
             Onely
             the
             
               Notaries
               Place
               ,
            
             being
             a
             service
             of
             much
             ●…bour
             ,
             pains
             and
             diligence
             ,
             it
             is
             me●…t
             that
             some
             consideration
             be
             had
             for
             some
             convenient
             
               recompence
            
             for
             their
             
               labour
               .
            
          
           
             II.
             If
             any
             godly
             minded
             Christian
             ,
             out
             of
             a
             love
             unto
             ,
             and
             zeal
             for
             the
             honour
             of
             the
             Kingdome
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             should
             desire
             to
             give
             ,
             and
             annex
             
               Maintenance
            
             unto
             any
             of
             these
             forenamed
             Councils
             ,
             more
             then
             conveniently
             to
             bear
             their
             Charges
             (
             as
             Noble
             
               Constantine
            
             did
             for
             the
             worldly
             splendor
             of
             the
             
               Bishops
            
             )
             it
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             
               permitted
               ,
            
             but
             religiously
             opposed
             :
             for
             it
             will
             certainly
             prove
             an
             
               Inlet
            
             of
             great
             Corruption
             ,
             Ambition
             ,
             Avarice
             ,
             and
             Strife
             ,
             unworthy
             and
             unfit
             persons
             will
             endeavour
             to
             
               Br●…be
               themselves
            
             into
             Places
             ,
             more
             for
             the
             
               Wages
               ,
            
             then
             for
             the
             
               Work.
               
            
          
           
             III.
             The
             
               honour
            
             of
             the
             Service
             ,
             and
             the
             
               glory
            
             of
             Christ
             that
             is
             upon
             the
             
               Messengers
               of
               the
               Churches
               ,
            
             these
             are
             i●…separable
             from
             the
             
               Work
               ,
            
             and
             are
             as
             much
             as
             
               flesh
               and
               blood
            
             (
             we
             being
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             and
             state
             militant
             )
             will
             be
             able
             
             to
             
               weather
               ,
            
             and
             keep
             from
             running
             
               ●…ground
            
             upon
             .
          
           
             But
             
               Revenue
            
             and
             
               Profit
            
             are
             separable
             from
             the
             
               Work
               ,
            
             ●…d
             must
             be
             religiously
             and
             earnestly
             ▪
             kept
             off
             ▪
             It
             being
             a
             
               Wor●…
            
             that
             will
             surely
             ▪
             corrupt
             ●
             this
             blessed
             Work
             ,
             and
             glorious
             Service
             of
             
               Iesur
               Christ.
               
            
          
           
             IV.
             A
             small
             
               Revenue
            
             will
             maintain
             the
             government
             of
             Churches
             by
             Councils
             ,
             even
             in
             a
             great
             Nation
             ,
             in
             comparison
             of
             the
             vast
             revenues
             which
             the
             
               Antichristian
               Hierarchy
            
             hav●…
             fa●…ed
             and
             inriched
             themselves
             withall
             :
             which
             also
             hath
             advantaged
             them
             to
             arrogate
             unto
             themselves
             ,
             and
             〈◊〉
             civil
             Authority
             .
             And
             by
             these
             
               carnal
               〈◊〉
            
             unto
             the
             Church
             ,
             Religion
             hath
             been
             
               corrupted
               ,
            
             most
             men
             have
             been
             
               damned
               ,
            
             and
             
               ●…ew
               saved
               .
            
             Therefore
             the
             Church
             ought
             now
             ,
             in
             our
             reformation
             and
             res●…rection
             ,
             
               to
               despise
               the
               World
               ,
            
             and
             ▪
             not
             to
             suffer
             great
             revenues
             to
             be
             annexed
             unto
             this
             part
             of
             the
             kingdome
             of
             Christ
             especially
             .
          
           
             V.
             The
             religious
             meetings
             of
             Councils
             ,
             must
             be
             〈◊〉
             of
             all
             meetings
             of
             all
             men
             ,
             throughout
             the
             Nation
             :
             for
             they
             are
             many
             
               shining
               Lights
            
             met
             together
             ,
             and
             all
             men
             will
             mark
             what
             they
             do
             ,
             and
             one
             
               Inch
            
             of
             ex●…ss
             in
             them
             who
             a●…e
             the
             Center
             ,
             will
             be
             an
             
               Ell
            
             in
             the
             people
             .
          
           
             Hence
             they
             must
             strive
             to
             be
             patterns
             to
             all
             men
             .
          
           
             
               1.
               
               In
               
                 Gravity
                 :
              
               not
               full
               of
               Mi●…th
               ,
               Laughter
               and
               Jesting
               .
               ●…
               .
               In
               
                 Sobriety
                 :
              
               no
               excess
               in
               drinking
               wine
               and
               strong
               drink
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               In
               
                 Moderation
              
               of
               diet
               ,
               Ornaments
               ,
               or
               any
               Pomp.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               In
               
                 Sedu●…ity
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 Diligence
                 :
              
               it
               is
               the
               Lords
               work
               ,
               and
               
                 Cursed
                 be
                 he
                 that
                 doth
                 the
                 work
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 negtigently
                 .
              
            
             
               5.
               
               In
               
                 all
                 Holiness
                 of
                 Discourse
              
               and
               
                 Behaviour
                 .
              
            
             
               6.
               
               In
               
                 Patience
              
               and
               
                 Meekne●…
                 of
                 Spirit
                 ,
              
               in
               all
               matters
               .
            
             
               7.
               
               In
               
                 Care
                 for
                 the
                 publick
                 Cause
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 and
                 welfare
                 of
                 〈◊〉
                 the
                 Churches
                 ,
              
               the
               chief
               care
               of
               all
               which
               doth
               firstly
               and
               chiefly
               ly
               upon
               the
               Moderators
               .
            
          
           
             VI.
             Great
             care
             is
             to
             be
             had
             of
             the
             
               first
               Councils
               ,
            
             that
             there
             may
             be
             some
             
               grave
            
             and
             
               exemplar
               E●…ers
            
             in
             every
             one
             of
             them
             ,
             because
             according
             to
             ou●…
             custom
             ,
             there
             may
             be
             sundry
             that
             are
             young
             ,
             raw
             ,
             and
             weak
             ,
             and
             need
             to
             be
             trained
             up
             unto
             the
             gravity
             ,
             prudence
             ,
             and
             holiness
             of
             the
             affaires
             of
             Christ
             his
             Ecclesiastical
             kingdome
             .
          
           
             Care
             is
             also
             to
             be
             had
             ,
             that
             
               Grave
               ,
               Sober
               ,
            
             and
             
               Pruden●…
               Ruling
               Elders
            
             may
             be
             sent
             ,
             such
             as
             may
             be
             an
             awe
             unto
             gr●…en
             and
             young
             Schollars
             ,
             where
             need
             may
             be
             .
          
           
             Care
             is
             also
             to
             be
             had
             ,
             that
             they
             stay
             no
             longer
             then
             necessary
             business
             ,
             and
             just
             imployment
             holdeth
             them
             ,
             that
             there
             may
             be
             no
             temptations
             like
             company-keeping
             in
             vanity
             ,
             and
             smoaking
             away
             their
             precious
             time
             .
          
           
           
             VII
             .
             Their
             entertainment
             may
             be
             8
             
               d.
               Ordinary
            
             at
             ●…oon
             ,
             and
             6
             
               d.
            
             at
             night
             ,
             provided
             they
             be
             necessita●…ed
             to
             tar●…y
             ●…ll
             night
             ,
             otherwise
             their
             charges
             are
             but
             their
             dinner
             and
             horse
             ▪
             mea●…
             .
          
           
             For
             the
             defr●…ying
             of
             which
             charge
             ,
             the
             
               Deacons
            
             of
             that
             Church
             where
             they
             meet
             ,
             may
             be
             authorized
             so
             to
             order
             the
             matte●…
             with
             the
             
               Deacons
            
             of
             all
             the
             Churches
             in
             that
             combination
             ,
             as
             that
             the
             charge
             shall
             be
             by
             them
             defrayed
             ,
             and
             not
             put
             to
             the
             accompt
             of
             any
             of
             the
             Elders
             .
             And
             by
             the
             same
             hands
             some
             recompence
             may
             be
             given
             to
             the
             
               Notaries
               ,
            
             for
             their
             labour
             and
             service
             .
          
           
             For
             the
             supply
             of
             which
             charge
             ,
             the
             
               voluntary
               Contributions
            
             of
             every
             Church
             will
             be
             such
             a
             treasury
             ,
             as
             will
             never
             know
             want
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             Religion
             ,
             and
             love
             to
             Christ
             remain
             and
             rule
             among
             them
             .
          
           
             VIII
             .
             The
             
               Provincial
               Councils
            
             will
             be
             more
             choice
             and
             grave
             assemblies
             ,
             and
             their
             treatment
             must
             be
             with
             more
             respect
             and
             reverence
             :
             but
             their
             expences
             with
             the
             like
             moderation
             and
             sobriety
             .
             It
             is
             to
             be
             supposed
             that
             these
             dwell
             more
             remote
             ,
             are
             fuller
             of
             work
             ,
             and
             must
             tarry
             longer
             .
          
           
             If
             the
             
               State
            
             entertain
             these
             ,
             and
             allow
             them
             10
             
               li.
            
             a
             Session
             for
             their
             four
             stated
             Sessions
             in
             a
             year
             ;
             and
             5
             
               li.
            
             for
             the
             
               Notaries
               ,
            
             it
             will
             not
             be
             a
             great
             charge
             .
          
           
             And
             if
             the
             
               National
               Council
            
             have
             100
             li.
             
               per
               annum
            
             for
             their
             
               Attendance
            
             and
             
               Notaries
               .
            
          
           
             One
             thousand
             pound
             
               per
               annum
            
             will
             suffice
             for
             a
             great
             Nation
             where
             they
             may
             be
             in
             twenty
             Ecclesiastical
             Provinces
             .
          
           
             And
             this
             charge
             will
             be
             less
             then
             the
             the
             revenues
             of
             some
             one
             Bishoprick
             .
             The
             design
             of
             
               Antichrist
            
             was
             to
             
               pamper
               the
               flesh
               ;
            
             the
             design
             of
             Christ
             is
             to
             morti●…ie
             it
             ,
             and
             to
             
               honour
               Grace
               .
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
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