A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches…

OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHURCHES, AND THE ORDER Appointed in them by JESUS CHRIST.

I. BY the appointment of the Father all Power for the Calling, Institution, Order or Government of the Church, is invested in a Supreme and Sovereign manner in the Lord Jesus Christ, as King and Head thereof. II. In the execution of this Power wherewith he is so entrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto communion with himself, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his Word. ⟨p. 56⟩III. Those thus called (through the Ministry of the Word by his Spirit) he commandeth to walk together in particular Societies or Churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public Worship, which he requireth of them in this world. IV. To each of these Churches thus gathered, according unto his mind declared in his Word, he hath given all that Power and Authority, which is any way needful for their carrying on that Order in Worship and Discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe with Commands and Rules, for the due and right exerting and executing of that Power. V. These particular Churches thus appointed by the Authority of Christ, and entrusted with power from him for the ends before expressed, are each of them as unto those ends, the seat of that Power which he is pleased to communicate to his Saints or Subjects in this world, so that as such they receive it immediately from himself. VI. Besides these particular Churches, there is not instituted by Christ any Church more extensive or Catholic entrusted with power for the administration of his Ordinances, or the execution of any authority in his name. ⟨p. 57⟩VII. A particular Church gathered and completed according to the mind of Christ, consists of Officers and Members: The Lord Christ having given to his called ones (united according to his appointment in Church-order) Liberty and Power to choose Persons fitted by the holy Ghost for that purpose, to be over them and to minister to them in the Lord. VII.