Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

to help the younger Ministers by some profitable Exercises, and to help one another by common Advice, especially in cases of great difficulty. In general it shall be for Union and Communion of Churches and Pastors, and for the Benefits that come by both. Being all agreed on this much, if any think that such Synods are also for Direct Government of particular Pastors and Churches, as a higher governing Order or Power, such shall keep that Opinion to themselves, and not impose it on others as necessary to our Agreement or Communion. Or if those that hold Synods to have a direct ruling Power over particular Pastors and Churches, and those that hold them to have only an agreeing Power in order to Communion: Or any of these shall think that they are bound in Conscience to declare their Principles in associating and assembling, they shall all have Liberty to declare and register it, so they will after go peaceably on in their Association; though we desire rather that the Principles were silenced. 15. But as we are agreed that it belongeth to these Conventions to discern and judge what particular Churches, Ministers, or other Persons are fit or unfit for their common Communion when the Cognizance of it is necessary, and this extended Communion is a thing to be valued and sought, so consequently in order to such Ends, it is the Duty of particular Churches, Pastors, or other Persons to render an account of their Doctrines and Practices to these Assemblies, when upon considerable Accusations, or other just Cause it is desired. 16. If these Assemblies in order to Unity or the Progress of Religion, shall agree in the Determination of some Circumstance, not expressly determined in Scripture, supposing that the Determination is needful and agreeable to the general Rules of Scripture, every Church and Pastor ought to stand to this Agreement, for the sake of Concord, if they do not judge it to be a Sin that is agreed to, though they see not the necessity. E. g. The Time and Place of their Convention must be agreed on by them, and the lesser part must yield to the greater; or else by dissent, no time or place may ever be agreed on: So that if the greater part agree on one Translation of the Bible, to be used in all the associated Churches or on one Version of the Singing Psalms, it will tend much to Edification, and agrees with the Scripture Commands of Unity.

to help the younger Ministers by some profitable Exercises, and to help one another by common Advice, especially in cases of great difficulty. In general it shall be for Union and Communion of Churches and Pastors, and for the Benefits that come by both. Being all agreed on this much, if any think that such Synods are also for Direct Government of particular Pastors and Churches, as a higher governing Order or Power, such shall keep that Opinion to themselves, and not impose it on others as necessary to our Agreement or Communion. Or if those that hold Synods to have a direct ruling Power over particular Pastors and Churches, and those that hold them to have only an agreeing Power in order to Communion: Or any of these shall think that they are bound in Conscience to declare their Principles in associating and assembling, they shall all have Liberty to declare and register it, so they will after go peaceably on in their Association; though we desire rather that the Principles were silenced. 15. But as we are agreed that it belongeth to these Conventions to discern and judge what particular Churches, Ministers, or other Persons are fit or unfit for their common Communion when the Cognizance of it is necessary, and this extended Communion is a thing to be valued and sought, so consequently in order to such Ends, it is the Duty of particular Churches, Pastors, or other Persons to render an account of their Doctrines and Practices to these Assemblies, when upon considerable Accusations, or other just Cause it is desired. 16. If these Assemblies in order to Unity or the Progress of Religion, shall agree in the Determination of some Circumstance, not expresly determined in Scripture, supposing that the Determination is needful and agreeable to the general Rules of Scripture, every Church and Pastor ought to stand to this Agreement, for the sake of Concord, if they do not judge it to be a Sin that is agreed to, though they see not the necessity. E. g. The Time and Place of their Convention must be agreed on by them, and the lesser part must yield to the greater; or else by diffent, no time or place may ever be agreed on: So that if the greater part agree on one Translation of the Bible, to be used in all the associated Churches or on one Version of the Singing Psalms, it will tend much to Edification, and agrees with the Scripture Commands of Unity.