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

We have endeavoured throughout, to hold to such Truths in this our Confession, as are more properly termed matters of Faith; and what is of Church-order, we dispose in certain Propositions by it self. To this course we are led by the Example of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, observing what was established, and what omitted by them in that Confession the Assembly presented to them. Who thought it not convenient to have matters of Discipline and Church-Government put into a Confession of Faith, especially such particulars thereof, as then were, and still are controverted and under dispute by men Orthodox and sound in Faith. The 30th cap. therefore of that Confession, as it was presented to them by the Assembly, which is of Church-Censures, their Use, Kinds, and in whom placed: As also cap. 31. of Synods and Councils, by whom to be called, of what force in their decrees and determinations. And the 4th paragr. of the 20th cap. which determines what opinions and practises disturb the peace of the Church, and how such disturbers ought to be proceeded against by the Censures of the Church, and punished by the Civil Magistrate. Also a great part of the 24th cap. of Marriage and Divorce. These were such doubtful assertions, and so unsuitable to a Confession of Faith, as the Honourable Houses in their great Wisdom thought fit to lay them aside: There being nothing that tends more to heighten dissentings among Brethren, ⟨image 12⟩then to determine and adopt the matter of their difference, under so high a title as to be an Article of our ••ith: So that there are two whole Chapters, and some Paragraphs in other Chapters in their Confession, that we have upon this account omitted and the rather do we give this notice, because that Copy of the Parliaments, followed by us,¹ is in few mens hands; the other as it came from the Assembly, being approved of in Scotland, was printed and hastened •nto the world before the Parliament had declared their Resolutions about it; which was not till June 20. 1648. and yet hath been, and continueth to be the Copy (ordinarily) only sold, printed and reprinted for these eleven years.

We have endeavored throughout, to hold to such Truths in this our Confession, as are more properly termed matters of Faith; and what is of Church-order, we dispose in certain Propositions by it self. To this course we are led by the Example of the Honorable Houses of Parliament, observing what was established, and what omitted by them in that Confession the Assembly presented to them. Who thought it not convenient to have matters of Discipline and Church-Government put into a Confession of Faith, especially such particulars thereof, as then were, and still are controverted and under dispute by men Orthodox and sound in Faith. The 30th cap. therefore of that Confession, as it was presented to them by the Assembly, which is of Church-Censures, their Use, Kindes, and in whom placed: As also cap. 31. of Synods and Councels, by whom to be called, of what force in their decrees and determinations. And the 4th paragr. of the 20th cap. which determines what opinions and practises disturb the peace of the Church, and how such disturbers ought to be proceeded against by the Censures of the Church, and punished by the Civil Magistrate. Also a great part of the 24th cap. of Marriage and Divorce. These were such doubtful assertions, and so unsutable to a Confession of Faith, as the Honorable Houses in their great Wisdom thought fit to lay them aside: There being nothing that tends more to heighten dissentings among Brethren,