It has been injurious to those of the Congregational Persuasion, that the Name of Bro•nists has been undeservedly imposed upon them, from whom they differ essentially. The Brownists make the Community to be Rulers; whereas those of the Congregational Discipline, although they believe that Privilege, and in that respect Power belongs to the Fraternity, yet that Rule and Government is peculiar to the Presbytery; and that there cannot be a Valid Church Act without the Consent of the Brotherhood, nor without the Concurrence of the Eldership, •n an Organic Church. Brownists disown all Churches besides their own, renouncing all the Parish Churches in ⟨p. v⟩England, and the Reformed Churches in other Nations also, as no true Churches of Christ. It deserves a Remark, that Robert Brown, the Father of those called (e)Brownists, after he had maintained, that there was no Church in England, did himself become a Conformist, and Parson of a Parish in Northamptonshire, called A Church. Congregationalists are of another Spirit and Principle. They are the genuine Posterity of the good Old Puritan Nonconformists. There was long since an admirable little Book, (little in bulk, but great in worth) Printed with that Title, Puritanismus Anglicanus, which Dr. Ames has honoured with a Preface, whence he has been supposed to be the Composer of it. But a Learned (f)Professor in the University of Leiden, has informed us, that not Dr. Ames, but Mr. Bradshaw, an Eminent Nonconformist Minister, (whose Life has been written by Learned Mr. Gataker, and published by Mr. Clark) was the Author of that Judicious ⟨p. vi⟩Script. It is perfect Congregationalism. The Principles of those, who are for the Congregational Discipline, are such as these. 1. That a Particular Church, as to the Matter of it, ought to consist of such as are in the Judgment of rational Charity, Saints, and faithful Brethren in Christ. Of such were the Churches planted by the Apostles. 2. That the Form of a Church, or that which does essentiate and distinguish it from all other Societies, is a Covenant or Agreement to walk together in the Observation of all the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ; which Covenant, tho' only implicit, gives Being to a Church; nevertheless, that an explicit Covenant is most eligible. 3. That a Particular Church, has Power given to them from the Lord Christ, to Choose their own Officers, viz.
It has been injurious to those of the Congregational Persuasion, that the Name of Bro•nists has been undeservedly imposed upon them, from whom they differ essentially. The Brownists make the Community to be Rulers; whereas those of the Congregational Discipline, although they believe that Priviledge, and in that respect Power belongs to the Fraternity, yet that Rule and Government is peculiar to the Presbytery; and that there cannot be a Valid Church Act without the Consent of the Brotherhood, nor without the Concurrence of the Eldership, •n an Organick Church. Brownists disown all Churches besides their own, renouncing all the Parish Churches in ⟨p. v⟩England, and the Reformed Churches in other Nations also, as no true Churches of Christ. It deserves a Remark, that Robert Brown, the Father of those called (e)Brownists, after he had maintained, that there was no Church in England, did himself become a Conformist, and Parson of a Parish in Northamptonsshire, called A Church. Congregationalists are of another Spirit and Principle. They are the genuine Posterity of the good Old Puritan Nonconformists. There was long since an admirable little Book, (little in bulk, but great in worth) Printed with that Title, Puritanismus Anglicanus, which Dr. Ames has honoured with a Preface, whence he has been supposed to be the Composer of it. But a Learned (f)Professor in the University of Leyden, has informed us, that not Dr. Ames, but Mr. Bradshaw, an Eminent Nonconformist Minister, (whose Life has been written by Learned Mr. Gataker, and published by Mr. Clark) was the Author of that Judicious ⟨p. vi⟩Script. It is perfect Congregationalism. The Principles of those, who are for the Congregational Discipline, are such as these. 1. That a Particular Church, as to the Matter of it, ought to consist of such as are in the Judgment of rational Charity, Saints, and faithful Brethren in Christ. Of such were the Churches planted by the Apostles. 2. That the Form of a Church, or that which does essentiate and disti•guish it from all other Societies, is a Covenant or Agreement to walk together in the Observation of all the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ; which Covenant, tho' only implicit, gives Being to a Church; nevertheless, that an explicit Covenant is most eligible. 3. That a Particular Church, has Power given to them from the Lord Christ, to Choose their own Officers, viz.
- (e)Pagit. Haeresiography. p. 67.
- (f)Hornbeck Epist▪ ad Durium. p. 27.
