HEADS OF AGREEMENT ASSENTED TO BY THE UNITED MINISTERS IN AND ABOUT LONDON, FORMERLY CALLED PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL.*

PREFACE TO THE READER.

Endeavours for an Agreement among Christians will be grievous to none who desire the flourishing state of Christianity itself. The success of these attempts among us, must be ascribed to a presence of God so signal as not to be concealed, and seems a hopeful pledge of further blessings.

The favour of our rulers, in the present established liberty, we most thankfully acknowledge; and to them we are studious to approve ourselves in the whole of this affair. Therefore, we declare against intermeddling with the National Church Form. Imposing these terms of agreement on others is disclaimed. All pretence to coercive power is as unsuitable to our principles as to our circumstances: excommunication itself, in our respective churches, being no other than a declaring such scandalous members as are irreclaimable, to be incapable of communion with us in things peculiar to visible believers. And in all, we expressly determine our purpose, to the maintaining of harmony and love among ourselves, and preventing the inconveniences which human weakness may expose to, in our use of this liberty.

The general concurrence of ministers and people in this city, and the great disposition thereto in other places, persuade us this happy work is undertaken in a season designed for such Divine influence as will overcome all impediments to peace, and convince of that agreement which has been always among us in a good degree, though neither to ourselves nor others so evident as hereby it is now acknowledged,

Need there any arguments to recommend this Union? Is not this what we have all prayed for, and Providence, by the directest indications, hath been long calling and disposing us to? Can either zeal for God or prudent regards to ourselves remissly suggest it? seeing the blessings thereof are so important, and when it's become, in so many respects, even absolutely necessary; especially as it may conduce to the preservation of the Protestant religion, and the kingdom's weal; a subserviency whereto shall always govern our united abilities, with the same disposition to a concurrence with all others who are duly concerned for those national blessings.

As these considerations render this Agreement desirable, so they equally urge a watchful care against all attempts of Satan to dissolve it, or frustrate the good effects thereof, so manifestly destructive to his kingdom. Therefore, it's incumbent on us to forbear condemning and disputing those different sentiments and practices we have expressly allowed for; to reduce all distinguishing names to that of UNITED BRE

* Printed in 4to. for Tho. Cockerill, at the Three Legs, and John Dunton, at the Raven, in the Poultry, MDCXCI.-pp. 16. Preface pp. iv.

THREN; to admit no uncharitable jealousies, or censorious speeches; much less any debates whether party seems most favoured by this Agreement. Such carnal regards are of small moment with us, who herein have used words less accurate, that neither side might in their various conceptions about lesser matters be contradicted, when in all substantials we are fully of one mind; and from this time hope more perfectly to rejoice in the honour, gifts, and success of each other, as our common good.

That we, as United, may contribute our utmost to the great concernments of our Redeemer, it 's mutually resolved we will assist each other with our labours, and meet and consult, without the least shadow of separate or distinct parties: whence we joyfully expect great improvements in light and love, through the more abundant supplies of the Spirit; being well assured we herein serve that Prince of peace, of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end. This Agreement is already assented to by above fourscore ministers, and the Preface approved of.

The following Heads of Agreement have been resolved upon, by the United Ministers in and about London, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational; not as a measure for any national constitution, but for the preservation of order in our congregations that cannot come up to the common rule by law established.

I. OF CHURCHES AND CHURCH MEMBERS.

1. We acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have one catholic church, or kingdom, comprehending all that are united to him, whether in heaven or earth; and do conceive the whole multitude of visible believers, and their infant seed, (commonly called the catholic visible church,) to belong to Christ's spiritual kingdom in this world. But for the notion of a catholic visible church here, as it signifies it's having been collected into any formed society, under a visible human head on earth, whether one person singly, or many collectively, we, with the rest of Protestants, unanimously disclaim it.

2. We agree, that particular societies of visible saints, who, under Christ their head, are statedly joined together for ordinary communion with one another, in all the ordinances of Christ, are particular churches, and are to be owned by each other as instituted churches of Christ, though differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things.

3. That none shall be admitted as members in order to communion in all the special ordinances of the Gospel, but such persons as are knowing and sound in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, without scandal in their lives; and to a judgment regulated by the word of God, are persons of visible godliness and honesty; credibly professing cordial subjection to Jesus Christ.

4. A competent number of such visible saints (as before described) do become the capable subjects of stated communion in all the special ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual declared consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel rule. In which declaration,

different degrees of explicitness shall no way hinder such churches from owning each other as instituted churches.

5. Though parochial bounds be not of Divine right, yet for common edification, the members of a particular church ought (as much as conveniently may be) to live near one another.

6. That every particular church hath right to choose their own officers; and, being furnished with such as are duly qualified and ordained according to the Gospel rule, hath authority from Christ for exercising government, and of enjoying all the ordinances of worship within itself.

7. In the administration of church power, it belongs to the pastors and other elders of every particular church (if such there be) to rule and govern; and to the brotherhood to consent, according to the rule of the Gospel.

8. That all professors, as before described, are bound in duty, as they have opportunity, to join themselves as fixed members of some particular church; their thus joining being part of their professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, and an instituted means of their establishment and edification; whereby they are under the pastoral care, and in case of scandalous or offensive walking, may be authoritatively admonished or censured for their recovery, and for vindication of the truth and the church professing it.

9. That a visible professor thus joined to a particular church ought to continue stedfastly with the said church, and not forsake the ministry and ordinances there dispensed, without an orderly seeking a recommendation unto another church, which ought to be given, when the case of the person apparently requires it.

II. OF THE MINISTRY.

1. We agree, that the ministerial office is instituted by Jesus Christ, for the gathering, guiding, edifying, and governing of his church; and to continue to the end of the world.

2. They who are called to this office ought to be endued with competent learning and ministerial gifts, as also with the grace of God, sound in judgment, not novices in the faith and knowledge of the Gospel, without scandal, of holy conversation, and such as devote themselves to the work and service thereof.

3. That ordinarily none shall be ordained to the work of this ministry, but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular church. 4. That in so great and weighty a matter as the calling and choosing a pastor, we judge it ordinarily requisite, that every such church consult and advise with the pastors of neighbouring congregations.

5. That after such advice, the person consulted about, being chosen by the brotherhood of that particular church over which he is to be set, and he accepting, be duly ordained and set apart to his office over them;

wherein 'tis ordinarily requisite, that the pastors of neighbouring congregations concur with the preaching elder or elders, if such there be.

6. That whereas such ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the ministerial office, if any judge that in the case also of the removal of one formerly ordained, to a new station or pastoral charge, there ought to be a like solemn recommending him and his labours to the grace and blessing of God, no different sentiments or practice herein shall be any occasion of contention or breach of communion among us.

7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the work of preaching the Gospel be not only qualified for communion of saints, but also, that, except in cases extraordinary, they give proof of their gifts and fitness for the said work, unto the pastors of churches of known abilities to discern and judge of their qualifications; that they may be sent forth with solemn approbation and prayer; which we judge needful, that no doubt may remain concerning their being called to the work, and for preventing (as much as in us lieth) ignorant and rash intruders.

III.OF CENSURES.

1. As it cannot be avoided, but that in the purest churches on earth, there will sometimes offences and scandals arise, by reason of hypocrisy and prevailing corruption; so Christ hath made it the duty of every church to reform itself by spiritual remedies, appointed by him to be applied in all such cases; viz. admonition and excommunication.

2. Admonition, being the rebuking of an offending member in order to conviction, is in case of private offences to be performed according to the rule in Matthew xviii. verses 15, 16, 17, and in case of public offences, openly before the church, as the honour of the Gospel and the nature of the scandal shall require; and if either of the admonitions take place for the recovery of the fallen person, all further proceedings in a way of censure are thereon to cease, and satisfaction to be declared

accordingly.

3. When all due means are used, according to the order of the Gospel, for the restoring an offending and scandalous brother, and he, notwithstanding, remains impenitent, the censure of excommunication is to be proceeded unto; wherein the pastor and other elders (if there be such) are to lead and go before the church, and the brotherhood to give their consent, in a way of obedience unto Christ and unto the elders as over them in the Lord.

4. It may sometimes come to pass, that a church-member, not otherwise scandalous, may sinfully withdraw and divide himself from the communion of the church to which he belongeth; in which case, when all due means for the reducing him prove ineffectual, he having thereby cut himself off from that church's communion, the church may justly esteem and declare itself discharged of any further inspection over him.

IV. OF COMMUNION OF CHURCHES.

1. We agree, that particular churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate from each other, as not to have care and tenderness towards one another: but their pastors ought to have frequent meetings together, that by mutual advice, support, encouragement, and brotherly intercourse, they may strengthen the hearts and hands of each other in the ways of the Lord.

2. That none of our particular churches shall be subordinate to one another, each being endued with equality of power from Jesus Christ; and that none of the said particular churches, their officer or officers, shall exercise any power, or have any superiority, over any other church, or their officers.

3. That known members of particular churches constituted as aforesaid, may have occasional communion with one another in the ordinances of the Gospel, viz., the word, prayer, sacraments, singing psalms, dispensed according to the mind of Christ; unless that church with which they desire communion hath any just exception against them.

4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a member of our respective congregations, that hath joined himself to another, without endeavours of mutual satisfaction of the congregations concerned.

5. That one church ought not to blame the proceedings of another, until it hath heard what that church charged, its elders or messengers, can say in vindication of themselves from any charge of irregular or injurious proceedings.

6. That we are most willing and ready to give an account of our church proceedings to each other, when desired, for preventing or removing any offences that may arise among us. Likewise, we shall be ready to give the right hand of fellowship, and walk together according to the Gospel rules of communion of churches.

VI.-OF DEACONS AND RULING ELDERS.

We agree, [that] the office of a Deacon is of divine appointment, and that it belongs to their office to receive, lay out, and distribute the church's stock to its proper uses, by the direction of the pastor, and the brethren, if need be. And whereas divers are of opinion, that there is also the office of Ruling Elders, who labour not in word and doctrine, and others think otherwise, we agree, that this difference make no breach among us.

VI.-OF OCCASIonal Meetings OF MINISTERS, &c.

1. We agree, that in order to concord, and in any other weighty and difficult cases, it is needful, and according to the mind of Christ, that the ministers of several churches be consulted and advised with about such matters.

2. That such Meetings may consist of smaller or greater numbers, as the matter shall require.