The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

IN all these transactions of Church proceedings, when we say we do this or that with common consent, our meaning is, we do not carry on matters, either by the over-ruling power of the Presbytery, or by the consent of the major part of the Church, but by the general and joint consent of all the members of the Church; for we read in the Acts of the Apostles, the Primitive Church (which is a pattern for succeeding ages) carried all their administrations, [Greek or Hebrew], that is, with one accord, Acts 2.46. as becometh the Church of God; which ought to be of one heart, and one soul, of one mind, and one judgement, and all to speak the same thing, Act. 4.32. ⟨p. 95⟩1 Cor. 1.10. Phil. 2.2, 3. But if it so fall out, that any difference do arise, (as sometime there doth, through the remaining darkness of our minds, seeing we all know but in part) then such as do dissent from their Brethren, are required to propound the grounds of their dissent; which if they be weighty, and held forth from the light of the Word, all the rest do submit, and yield thereunto, not as to the voice of their Brethren only, but as to the voice of Christ; whose voice alone must rule in the Church, and all the sheep of Christ will hear it; and all the upright in heart will follow it; thus Paphnutius is said to turn about the whole general Council of Nice, in the point of Ministers marriage. But if the grounds of such as do dissent, do upon due consideration appear to have little or no weight in them, the officers of the Church, or some other of the Brethren, do declare unto them the invalidity thereof: If they be satisfied, the matter in hand doth then proceed with the common consent of all; if they be not satisfied yet, it is either through want of light, (and so through weakness of judgement) or through strength of pride, and so through stiffness of will. If the former be the let, they take further pains, lovingly to inform them, and patiently bear with them, till matters be further cleared; so that at length, they come either to consent, to go along with their Brethren, or at least to be content to refer the matter to the judgements of their Brethren; and for their part to sit still, and to make no further dealings with the Churches proceedings;