A seasonable testimony to good order in the churches of the faithful. Particularly declaring…

In case any particular Church shall walk pertinaciously, either in the profession of Error, or sinful practice, and will not hear their counsel, they may and should renounce the right hand of fellowship with them. Dr. Owen, in several of his Treatises does advance Positions of the same Aspect on the Necessity & Authority of Regular Councils, for the welfare of particular Churches. In one of his former, [Catech. p. 224.] he says, Churches ought to preserve a Mutual Holy communion, and Exercise it in making use of the Advice of one another. And in case any Church give offence to other Churches, other Churches may require an Account from them. Admonish them of their Faults, & withhold Communion from them, in case they persist in the Error of their way; and that because in their Difficulties, and before their Miscarriages, they were bound to have desired the Advice of other Churches; which being neglected by them, the other are to recover the End of it unto the ⟨p. 14⟩utmost of their Ability. Thus Dr. Owen. And in one of his last, he has these Memorable words. [Nat. of Church. part 2. p. 251.] No Church is so Independent, as that it can always, and in all cases observe the Duties it owes unto the Lord CHRIST, and the Church Catholic by all those Powers, which it is able to act in it self distinctly, without Conjunction with others. And the Church that confines its Duty unto the Acts of its own Assemblies, cuts it self off from the External Communion of the Church Catholic: nor will it be safe for any Man to commit the conduct of his Soul to such a Church.— Every Particular Church which Extends not its Duty, beyond its own Assemblies and Members, is fallen off from the principal End of its Institution. And every Principle, Opinion, or Persuasion, that inclines any Church to confine its Care & Duty unto its own Edification only; — is Schismatical. But Great has been the Army of them that have Published such Truths as these, whereof something may be further seen in, The first Principles of New-England, Printed in the Year 1675. Unto all which we may add, what our celebrated Norton, has in his Last Sermons; Particularly, that passage, Let us acknowledge the Order of the Eldership in out ⟨p. 15⟩Churches, in their Way, and the Order of Councils in their Way, duly backed & Encouraged; without which, Experience will witness that these Churches cannot long consist.