which he is to be set, and he accepting, be duly ordained, and set apart to his Office over them; wherein 'tis ordinarily requisite, That the Pastors of Neighbouring Congregations concur with the Preaching-Elder, or Elders, if such there be.

6. That whereas such Ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office; If any judge, that in the case also of the removal of one formerly Ordained, to a new Station or Pastoral Charge, there ought to be a like Solemn recommending him and his Labours to the Grace and Blessing of God; no different Sentiments or Practice herein, shall be any occasion of Contention or Breach of Communion among us.

7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the work of Preaching the Gospel, be not only qualified for1 Communion of Saints; but also that, except in cases extraordinary, they give proof of their Gifts and fitness [8] for the said work, unto the Pastors of Churches, of known abilities to discern and judge of their qualifications; That they may be sent forth with Solemn Approbation and Prayer; which we judge needful, that no doubt may remain concerning their being Called to the work; and for preventing (as much as in us lieth) Ignorant and rash Intruders.

III. Of Censures.

1. As it cannot be avoided, but that in the Purest Churches on Earth, there will sometimes Offences and Scandals arise by reason of Hypoerisie and prevailing corruption; so Christ hath made it the Duty of every Church, to reform it self by Spiritual Remedies, appointed by him to be applied in all such cases; viz. Admonition, and Excommunication.

2. Admonition, being the rebuking of an Offending Member in order to convicti-[9]on, is in case of private offences to be performed according to the Rule in Mat. 18. v. 15, 16, 17. and in case of Publick offences, openly before the Church, as the Honour of the Gospel, and nature of the Scandal shall require: And if either of the Admonitions take place for the recovery of the fallen Person, all further proceedings in a way of censure, are thereon to cease, and satisfaction to be declared accordingly.

3. When all due means are used, according to the Order of the Gospel, for the restoring an offending and scandalous Brother; and he notwithstanding remains Impenitent, the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto; Wherein the Pastor and other

1 Saybrook inserts the.

2 Saybrook reads unto.

Elders (if there be such) are to lead, and go before the Church; and the Brotherhood to give their consent, in a way of obedience unto Christ, and unto1 the Elders, as over them in the Lord.

4. It may sometimes come to pass, [10J that a Church-Member, not otherwise Scandalous, may sinfully withdraw, and divide himself from the Communion of the Church to which he belongeth: In which case, when all due means for the reducing him, prove ineffectual, he having thereby cut himself off from that Churches Communion; the Church may justly esteem and declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him.

IV. Of Communion of Churches.

1. We Agree, that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate from each other, as not to have care and tenderness towards one another. But their Pastors ought to have frequent meetings together, that by mutual Advice, Support, Encouragement, and Brotherly intercourse, they may strengthen the hearts and hands of each other in the ways of the Lord.

[11] 2. That none of our particular Churches shall be subordinate to one another; each being endued with equality of Power from Jesus Christ. And that none of the said particular Churches, their Officer, or Officers, shall exercise any Power, or have any Superiority over any other Church, or their Officers.

3. That known Members of particular Churches, constituted as aforesaid, may have occasional Communion with one another in the Ordinances of the Gospel, viz. the Word, Prayer, Saeraments, Singing' Psalms, dispensed according to the mind of Christ: Unless that Church, with which they desire Communion, hath any just exception against them.

4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our respective Congregations, that hath joined himself to another, without endeavours of mutual Satisfaction of the Congregations concerned.

[12] 5. That one Church ought not to blame the Proceedings of another, until it hath heard what that Church charged, its Elders, or Messengers, can say in vindication of themselves from any charge of irregular or injurious Proceedings.

6. That we are most willing and ready to give an account of our Church Proceedings to each other, when desired; for preventing or removing any offences that may arise among us. Likewise we shall be ready to give the right hand of fellowship, and walk together according to the Gospel Rules of Communion of Churches.

1 Saybrook reads to.

3 Saybrook inserts of.

2 Saybrook reads Congregation.

V.

Of DEACONS and RULING ELDERS.

We agree, The Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment, and that it belongs to their Office to receive, lay out, and distribute the Churches Stock to its proper uses, by the direction of the Pastor, and Brethren if need be. And [13] whereas divers are of opinion, That there is also the Office of Ruling Elders, who labour not in word and doctrine; and others think otherwise; We agree, That this difference make no breach among us.

VI. Of Occasional Meetings1 of Ministers, &c.

1. We agree, That in order to concord, and in any other weighty and difficult cases, it is needful, and according to the mind of Christ, that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted and advised with about such matters.

2. That such Meetings may consist of smaller or greater Numbers, as the matter shall require.

3. That particular Churches, their respective Elders, and Members, ought to have a reverential regard to their judgment so given, and not dissent therefrom, without apparent grounds from the word of God.

[14]

VII. Of our Demeanour towards the Civil Magistrate.

1. We do reckon our selves obliged continually to pray for God's Protection, Guidance, and Blessing upon the Rulers set over

us.

2. That we ought to yield unto them not only subjection in the Lord, but support, according to our station and abilities.

3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasure to call together any Number of us, or require any account of our Affairs, and the state of our Congregations, we shall most readily express all dutiful regard to them herein.

VIII. Of a Confession of Faith.

As to what appertains to soundness of Judgment in matters of Faith, we esteem it sufficient, That a Church acknowledge the Seriptures to be the word of God, the perfect and only Rule of Faith and [15] Practice; and own either the Doctrinal part of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England, or the Con

1 Saybrook reads meeting.

2 Saybrook inserts the.

9 Saybrook reads an.

fession, or Catechisms, Shorter or Larger, compiled by the Assembly at Westminster, or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy, to be agreeable to the said Rule.

IX. Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in Communion with us.

1. We judge it our duty to bear a Christian Respect to all Christians, according to their several Ranks and Stations, that are not of our Persuasion or Communion.

2. As for such as may be ignorant of the Principles of the Christian Religion, or of vicious conversation, we shall in our respective Places, as they give us opportunity, endeavour to explain to them the Doctrine of Life and Salvation, and to our uttermost1 persuade them to be reconciled to God.

[16] 3. That such who appear to have the Essential Requisites to Church-Communion, we shall willingly receive them in the Lord, not troubling them with Disputes about lesser matters.

As we Assent to the forementioned Heads Of Agreement; So we Unanimously Resolve, as the Lord shall enable us, to Practice according to them.

FINIS.

1 Saybrook reads utmost.

XV

THE PROPOSALS OF 1705, AND THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM OF 1708

A. Proposals Of 1705

a. Full Text And Signatures

I. Question and Proposals: What Further Steps are to be taken, that the Councils may have due Constitution and Efficacy, etc. 12° [1705].1

II. In Minutes of the Proceedings of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper for 1814, pp. 5-9 (from a manuscript left by Cotton Mather); reprinted therefrom in the Panoplist, X: 322-324.

6. The Signatures Omitted

III. In Wise, The Churches Quarrel Espoused; or, a Reply in Satyre, to cer tain Proposals made, in Answer to this Question: What further Steps, etc., Boston, 1710; again in new editions of the same work in 1715, twice in 1772, and in i860, all at Boston.

Literature

John Wise, The Churches Quarrel Espoused (as above), Boston, 1710, etc. Wise, Vindication of the Government of New England Churches, etc., Boston, 1717; again twice in 1772, and in i860, all at Boston.' Cotton Mather, Ratio Disciplina, Boston, 1726, pp. 176-185. J. S. Clark, Historical Sketch of the Cong. Churches in Mass., Boston, 1858, pp. 115-121. Clark, Introductory Notice to i860 edition of Wise's works. M. C. Tyler, History of American Literature, New York, 1879, II: 105-110. Dexter, Congregationalism, as seen, etc.. New York, 1880, pp. 491-502. H. A. Hill, History of the Old South Church, Boston, 1890, 1: 331-334. A. P. Marvin, Life and Times of Cotton Mather, Boston. [1892], pp. 313, 314.

The Attempted Revival Of The Proposals In 1814

64

Minutes of the Proceedings of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, for 1814-16; reprinted also in the Panoplist, Boston, X: 316-328; XI: 357-379; XII: 369. Articles in Panoplist, XI: 507-518, 537-545; XII: 489-495. Theophilus [Samuel Spring], Essay on the Discipline of Christ's House; containing Remarks on the Plan of Ecclesiastical Order," which the General Association has presented for Publick Consideration, Newburyport, 1816. [John Lowell], Inquiry into the Right to change the Ecclesiastical Constitution of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts, Boston, 1816. Clark, Historical Sketch of the Congregational Churches in Massachusetts, pp. 252-254. Dexter, Congregationalism, as seen, etc., pp. 512, 513. H. A. Hill, History of the Old South Church, II: 381, 382.

1 I have never seen this pamphlet ; but it is clearly the original of the copy given by Wise. 2 A re-statement of Congregational principles, called forth by the discussion aroused by the Proposals, rather than a direct reply to them.