Reverend Sir,
I Have adventured, according to my Promise, to send you my Thoughts of the ready way of Agreement, between the Honest and Moderate of the Presbyterian, Congregational, yea, and Episcopal way. I purposely avoid the wording of a Form of Agreement, it being none of my Task, and such an Anticipation may do hurt; and therefore I shall give you only the Materials unpolished.
Prop. 1. About the Matter of particular Churches, as you express no Disagreement, so I find none in the printed Debates; and therefore take it for granted, that we are at one: That cohabiting Christians are the fit matter of such Churches; or visible Believers, visible Saints professing Believers and Saints, &c. which come all to one. As to the Execution there will be a Difference even among Congregational Men, or Presbyterians themselves; according to their several Tempers, some more Charitable, some more Censorious, some more Strict, and some more Remiss.
With the Anabaptists we are agreed of the Matter as to the Membra perfecta, (except with them that make re-baptising essential) but not as to Infants, who are Membra imperfecta.
2. We are agreed that every Christian (where such a Benefit may be had) should be or seek to be a Member of some particular Church, and know his own Overseers, and every overseer should endeavour to know all his Flock.
3. We are agreed that as some Discovery of Consent on both Parts (the Pastors and People) is necessary to the being of the Members of a political particular Church: So that the most express Declaration of that Consent, is the most plain and satisfactory Dealing, and most obliging, and likest to attain the Ends; and therefore caeteris paribus, where it may be had, is the best.
4. We are agreed that all fit means should be used, even in the Determination of Circumstances, to preserve the Union and Peace of Christians and Churches, and that ordinarily the bounding of Churches as to Habitation, is a meet means to these Ends, and that ordinarily Parishes are fit Bounds: Or at least we are agreed that these shall be ordinarily taken for the Bounds to avoid Inconveniences; not including all in the Parishes, but confining Churches to those Circuits ordinarily. Yet we agree that this ordinary Rule hath its Exceptions; as for Example, 1. If Parishes be so spacious that all the People are not Co-habitants capable of the Ends of Communion. 2.
Reverend Sir,
I Have adventured, according to my Promise, to send you my Thoughts of the ready way of Agreement, between the Honest and Moderate of the Presbyterian, Congregational, yea, and Episcopal way. I purposely avoid the wording of a Form of Agreement, it being none of my Task, and such an Anticipation may do hurt; and therefore I shall give you only the Materials unpolished.
Prop. 1. About the Matter of particular Churches, as you express no Disagreement, so I find none in the printed Debates; and therefore take it for granted, that we are at one: That cohabiting Christians are the fit matter of such Churches; or visible Believers, visible Saints professing Believers and Saints, &c. which come all to one. As to the Execution there will be a Difference even among Congregational Men, or Presbyterians themselves; according to their several Tempers, some more Charitable, some more Censorious, some more Strict, and some more Remiss.
With the Anabaptists we are agreed of the Matter as to the Membra perfecta, (except with them that make re-baptising essential) but not as to Infants, who are Membra imperfecta.
2. We are agreed that every Christian (where such a Benefit may be had) should be or seek to be a Member of some particular Church, and know his own Overs•ers, and every overseer should endeavour to know all his Flock.
3. We are agreed that as some Discovery of Consent on both Parts (the Pastors and People) is necessary to the being of the Members of a political particular Church: So that the most express Declaration of that Consent, is the most plain and satisfactory Dealing, and most obliging, and likest to attain the Ends; and therefore caeteris paribus, where it may be had, is the best.
4. We are agreed that all fit means should be used, even in the Determination of Circumstances, to preserve the Union and Peace of Christians and Churches, and that ordinarily the bounding of Churches as to Habitation, is a meet means to these Ends, and that ordinarily Parishes are fit Bounds: Or at least we are agreed that these shall be ordinarily taken for the Bounds to avoid Inconveniencies; not including all in the Parishes, but confineing Churches to those Circuits ordinarily. Yet we agree that this ordinary Rule hath its Exceptions; as for Example, 1. If Parishes be so spacious that all the People are not Co-habitants capable of the Ends of Communion. 2.
