A briefe narration of some church courses held in opinion and practise in the churches lately erected in New England.: Collected out of sundry of their own printed papers and manuscripts with other good intelligences. Together with some short hints (given by the way) of their correspondence with the like tenents and practises of the separatists churches. And some short animadversions upon some principall passages for the benefit of the vulgar reader. Presented to publike view for the good of the church of God by W. R.

CHAP. V.

Of the manner of their first erecting of a visible Church.

1.k 1.1 ANy small number (almost) of persons (so fitted as before) they hold, may lawfully unite themselves

into a Church body, by entring into the Church covenant aforesaid; and so may constitute themselves a true visible Church of Christ, without any authoritative consent of the Christian Magistrate (supposing there be one) or of the neighbouring Churches or their Ministers. R.M. to W.R. Ans. to 32. q. p. 43.

Robins. justif. p. 181, 182.

2. Yet al 1.2 Law is made in their generall Court (civill) that no Church shall be there set up, without the knowledge of the Magistrate, and neighbour Churches. R.M. to W.R. yea, as M^r H.P. informeth us, not without the consent of five or six of the neighbouring Churches at the least.

3. Them 1.3 persons intending to enter into Church estate, doe before hand often meet privately amongst themselves to be inwardly acquainted with each others spirits, by con∣ferring, praying together, and mutually examining each other, untill they have approved themselves to one anothers consciences in the sight of God: Which when they have throughly done in private, then they agree together to enter into a church estate. R.M. to W.R. | H.W. to M^r B.

4. Which before they doe, notice is given thereof to the Magistrate, and neighbouring Churches, that so such as please may be present at the time and place thereunto appointed. R.M. to W.R. | H.W. to M^r B. | J.W. to T.S.

5. The number wherewith they usually begin at the first constitution of every Church, is about 7.8. or 9. Ibid.

6. Notice being given, the Magistrate and Churches send

theirn 1.4 Messengers or Deputies to see how things are carried, and to give them advice, direction, approbation, or disappro∣bation, as they shall see cause. Ibid.

7. The day appointed is kept with fasting and prayer, and sometimes (if not alwayes) preaching of the Word, which is performed by some of the persons that now come to be combined into this Church-societie. In the latter end of the day, each of those persons now to be churched (if I may so say) maketh publike profession of his faith, thereby shewing his knowledge, and opinion in the Grounds and Principles of Religion, and declaring from point to point the work of God upon his soule in his Conversion. And all this in an ex∣temporarie (at least) conceived speech, i. e. not in any set forme. Ibid.

8. Which when the Messengers of the Magistrate and Churches have heard and considered, if they be unsatisfied, (or any stander by) they make their objections, or propound further questions, as they thinke fit, untill they beo 1.5 satisfied, if it may be. Ibid.

9. If in the end the said Messengers be not satisfied, then they or so many of them, as concerning whom they are not satisfied, either in point of knowledge or grace, are forbidden to enter into Church estate, and so remaine still, as before, out of the pale of the Church. Ibid.

10. If at length they be fully satisfied, and all doubts clea∣red, then the said persons proceed to enter into Church-co∣venant, which being written one of them reads, and all of them subscribe it, and so they are become a truep 1.6 constitu∣ted visible Church, as they say. Ibid.

11. Which being done the said Messengers of the other Churches give them the right hand of fellowship, and owne them for a sister Church. And so returning backe doe make report to the Churches that sent them, of all things done, and declare to them that they are to account of them as of a true Church of Christ. Ibid.

Notes

• k 1.1

  The Reader may perhaps think (in rea∣ding these two first articles) some fault to be in the collectour, that so foule a contradiction should be held; but if there be any fault, it must be none but their owne, either in holding and practising things in themselves so contra∣dictory, or else in reporting to us such things as they neither hold nor practise: But this contra∣diction will yet appeare more foule, when we consider what will after follow, that they hold it not only lawfull to do it without their consent, but also sometimes necessary to do it against their consent: of which see Chap. 15.
• l 1.2

  The law doubtlesse is good, as from the Magistrate: but how doth this agree with that opinion (which too many of them amongst us that run the same Church-courses with these brethren hold) that the Magistrate hath nothing to doe with the first Table, unlesse the publike peace be broken, he is to force no man against his conscience too or fro, but leave every man to follow his own light and religion? Also as it is an agreement of the Churches and Ministers, I the rather like it, because it seemes to amount to little lesse in substance then a compound Presbyterie set up amongst them; the rather, if we adde what the same H.P. tels us, that they have also agreed amongst themselves that no man shall preach or vent any new or uncouth tenents, untill he have first communicated them with the neighbouring ministers. A very good Canon, especially for these times wherein men run a madding after novelties, and niceties, under the false pretence of a new light, and new truthes.
• m 1.3

  Here is another Ec∣clesiasticall canon in act, though not in rule. If this be need∣full at the first erecti∣on of a Church, that each should try and know others spirits, why not also after at the admission of eve∣ry member, he to try and know their spirits as well as they his?
• n 1.4

  Here then Churches use messengers or de∣puties to represent themselves, and to act in their roome, why not in a Synod as well? And if they may trust their power with their messengers for approving or disapproving whole Churches, much more of particular members at their admission.
• o 1.5

  Its an hard taske to satisfie all commers touching these things, questioning and obje∣cting what they please, and harder for a man to be stayed perhaps for some differences about Church Discipline, or suppose some objection be made against his life, it must here be present∣ly, and openly declared, and scanned before all the countrey. This is little wisedome, lesse charitie.
• p 1.6

  If so much time and so many encumstan∣ces be needful to joyn 7. or 8. together into one church, how much time would be requisite to joyn 3000. together. But our brethren will acknowledge the Apostles went a shorter way to work. Discourse of Cov. p. 29, 30. the reason whereof they render, because the Church was not then subject to so many hypocrites: which is more then any man knowes, when Christ saith, Many are called, few chosen. Many seeke, but few sinde. Besides, this course is used by our brethren not to ordinary Christians only, but to the most godly and best approved. I beleeve therefore it was rather, because the Holy Ghost had given them no such direction, nor was this manner of church constitution then hatcht.