The agreement of the associated ministers of the county of Essex: proposed to their particular congregations, and to all such of the county that love the churches peace; with a word of exhortation to brotherly union.

Government in particular.

1. WHereas we all agree, that every Minister of Christ is made by him a Ruler in that Congregation, or Church to which he is called: And many of us think according to Scripture, and the way of divers Reformed Churches, there should be some adjoyned to assist him in Government, called, Ru∣ling Elders: Yet divers of us also are dissatisfied, as touching such Elders, but all of us also conceive it meet, and a Ministers Wis∣dome, to see with more eyes than his own, and have the best help he can, both to acquaint him with the Conversation of his people, and to assist him in matters of concernment, that cannot so safely or conveniently be done by himself alone: Therefore we agree (as we shall see it feisable and fit, in respect of our people,) to de∣sire the assistance of some godly and discreet persons of our respe∣ctive Congregations, both for the acquainting us with the Con∣versations of our people, and to be present sometimes at least with us as witnesses of our due, and equal proceeding, both in deal∣ing with such as offer themselves to the Lords Supper: And like∣wise in case of some admonitions to be given to offensive walk∣ers; yet it shall be no hindrance to the work of Union, for any of us to do, as he is best perswaded in his own judgement, and may more conduce to peace and Edification.

2. We agree, that for the Exercise of Government in our par∣ticular Congregations, it is to be managed by those that rule o∣ver them in the Lord, and that therefore the Examination and Determination of things, in point of admissions to Ordinances, and refusals, together, with other Church acts, shall be per∣formed and mannaged by them; yet not without notice given to the people, of what in matters of general concernment and conse∣quence, is determined by them; that if any can upon grounds out of the Word object any thing, their satisfaction may be endea∣voured, or the matter forborn.

3. In these, and all such cases, wherewith the people are made acquainted, we agree, according to Scripture Rules, practice of the Churches, and all Societies rightly ordered, there must be one to govern the matter of speech, and silence, of which the Pastour or Minister is to take care that order be maintained.

4. We agree, that to heal offences, and remove scandals out of the Church, Christ hath provided the remedy of admonition of offenders, and other Church censures, to which there ought to be no proceeding, but in case of known offence, and such as cannot be healed without censure; and offences, being some of them pri∣vate, others publike, they require a proceeding according to their nature and quality.

5. In private offences, or scandals of one Brother against ano∣ther, known if to more than the brother, yet but to few, we agree, that as Christian Inspection, and watchfulness over each other, must not degenerate into imprudent, rash, and uncharitable prying into others failings, so Brotherly Admonition may not at any time become unadvised, and unwarrantable medling; therefore we are in proceedings of this sort to follow, as other Scripture Rules, so espcially that Rule, Mat. 18.15. If thy Brother, &c. which offence or trespass we understand, not to be meant by our Lord, of such humane infirmities, that all men, even the best Saints on earth, in this state of imperfection, continually fall into; nor of such smaller faults or injuries, which Christian prudence, love, and peaceableness, require an over-looking and passing by, but the of∣fence there grounding the admonition is a greater evil, endangering the soul of the doer, scandalizing the Brother seeing it, and lying as a stumbling stone in his Christian course, and such a sin, that for the nature of it, is fit, in case of insuccessefulness of admoni∣tion to be brought before the Church.

6. Besides this Ecclesiastical Admonition, we yeeld there may be other Charitative Admonitions, which must not proceed to Ec∣clesiastical censure.

7. Therefore for our own particulars, we shall be very tender and cautious, what either we our selves do, or encourage others unto in this case, but on such grounds as the Word will sufficiently warrant.

8. The offence or scandal against a Brother, being more than a meer humane infirmity; the offending Brother, by the Rule of Christ, ought to go to his Brother offended, and declare his Re∣pentance to him, who thereupon is to forgive him; but if the Offender neglect that duty, the Brother offended, is to go person∣ally to him, and tell him his fault between themselves alone; and if by that admonition the offence be healed, and the Brother gained, it is to be concealed for the future.

If he hear not this first admonition, the party offended is to take to him two or three witnesses, and if he then hear at the second admonition before witnesses, the matter ought to be kept secret by both the Admonisher, and the Witnesses; but if he again hear not before Witnesses, then the matter is to be told to the Church, which though some understand of Church Rulers, others of the Church of a particular Congregation, yet all do agree, that for order and decency, the accusation must not first be brought to the whole Congregation, but to the Rulers, or Over-seers; and therefore we resolve not to countenance the bringing of any such matter before the Congregation, till those that are set over them in the Lord, have first been acquainted with it, to whom belongs also the giving of all publike admonitions; if afterward the afore∣said party upon proof of sin be admonished by the Church, and he hear not the Church, but is obstinate in the sin, then he ought to be accounted as an Heathen man, and a Publican; and excluded the Church.