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

What we have laid down and asserted about CHURCHES and their Government, we humbly conceive to be the Order which Christ himself hath appointed to be observed, we have endeavoured to follow Scripture-light; and those also that went before us according to that Rule, desirous of nearest uniformity with reforming Churches, as with our Brethren in New England, so with others, that differ from them and us.

What we have laid down and asserted about CHURCHES and their Government, we humbly conceive to be the Order which Christ himself hath appointed to be observed, we have endeavored to follow Scripture-light; and those also that went before us according to that Rule, desirous of nearest uniformity with reforming Churches, as with our Brethren in New England, so with others, that differ from them and us.

The Models and Platforms of this subject laid down by learned men, and practised by Churches, are various: We do not judge it brotherly, or grateful, to insist upon comparisons as some have done; but this experience teacheth, That the variety, and possibly the disputes and emulations arising thence, have much strengthened, if not fixed, this unhappy persuasion in the minds of some learned and good men, namely, That there is no settled Order laid down in Scripture; but it's left to the prudence of the Christian Magistrate, to compose or make choice of such a Form as is most suitable and consistent with their Civil Government. Where this opinion is entertained in the persuasion of Governors, there, Churches asserting their Power and Order to be jure divino, and the appointment of Jesus Christ, can have no better nor more honourable entertainment, then a Toleration or Permission.

The Models and Platforms of this subject laid down by learned men, and practised by Churches, are various: We do not judge it brotherly, or grateful, to insist upon comparisons as some have done; but this experience teacheth, That the variety, and possibly the disputes and emulations arising thence, have much strengthened, if not fixed, this unhapy perswasion in the mindes of some learned and good men, namely, That there is no settled Order laid down in Scripture; but it's left to the prudence of the Christian Magistrate, to compose or make choice of such a Form as is most sutable and consistent with their Civil Government. Where this opinion is entertained in the perswasion of Governors, there, Churches asserting their Power and Order to be jure divino, and the appointment of Jesus Christ, can have no better nor more honorable entertainment, then a Toleration or Permission.