III. In ecclesiastical matters. - They believed "That no church ought to consist of more members than can conveniently watch over one another, and usually meet and worship in one congregation."-That visible believers only should compose a church.-That such persons are to be embodied into a church " by some certain contract or covenant.”—“That being embodied they have a right of choosing all their officers."-That these are, " in some respects, of three sorts, in others but two, viz. (1.) Pastors or Teaching-Elders, who have the power of overseeing, teaching, administering the sacraments, and ruling too; and (2.) "Mere Ruling Elders, who are to help the pastors in overseeing and ruling." "That the elders of both sorts form the Presbytery of overseers and rulers, which should be in every particular church." ** 3. "Deacons, who are to take care of the poor, and of the church's treasure.' That these officers being chosen and ordained, have no lordly, arbitrary, or imposing power; but can only rule and minister with the consent of the brethren; who ought not in contempt to be called the laity, but to be treated as men and brethren in Christ, not as slaves or minors.". "That no churches or church officers, whatever, have any power over any other church or officers, to control or impose upon them; but are all equal in their rights and privileges, and ought to be independent in the exercise and enjoyment of them.”` IV. As to the sacraments and church administrations.— "They held that Baptism is a seal of the covenant of grace, and should be dispensed only to visible believers, with their unadult children." * *. "That the Lord's supper should be received as it was at first, even in Christ's immediate presence, in the table posture."-"That no set forms of prayer should be imposed.". "That excommunication should be wholly spiritual, a mere rejecting the scandalous from the communion of the church in the holy sacraments, and those other spiritual privileges which are peculiar to the faithful.". "They were very strict for the observation of the Lord's day; ** as also solemn fastings and thanksgivings, as the state of Providence requires; but all other times, not prescribed in Scripture, they utterly relinquished."-Finally. They utterly rejected and repudiated the authority of man to invent or impose any religious rites, ceremonies, or observances, upon the churches of Christ.* Such were the principles and doctrines of John Robinson and his execllent church. For the maintenance of these sentiments they were hunted down like wild beasts, and "hurried" out of the kingdom; not being allowed even the poor privilege of exiling themselves for Christ's sake, until persecution, and insult, and imprisonment had been heaped upon them. But that God who" seeth not as man seeth," saw the end from the beginning; and was wisely ordering these very things so as to accomplish his own. glorious purposes. He who hath "his way in the whirlwind and in the storm was directing the tempest of hierarchal wrath, so as to make it glorify Him. By all these trials, God was purifying this poor church, and rendering it more fit for the Master's use. When he had winnowed his wheat; when he had refined his gold; when he had fitted his people for the work which he had assigned them; then he put it into their hearts to seek a new world; where in a soil more friendly, and under a sky more propitious, they might plant and cherish the pure, simple, and scriptural principles of Congregational belief. I have chiefly followed the almost faultless Prince, in the above summary.-New Eng. Chron. Part II. Sec. 1. APPENDIX. No. I. 66 A TRUE DESCRIPTION, OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD, OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH."-1589. Written, probably, by Clyfton or Smyth, the predecessors of John Robinson in the church which finally emigra ted to New England. The Description runs thus: "As there is but ONE GOD and FATHER of all, one LORD over all, and one SPIRIT; so is there but one Truth, one Faith, one Salvation, one CHURCH,-called in one Hope, joined in one Profession, guided by one Rule-even the Word of the MOST HIGH.* "This CHURCH, as it is universally understood, containeth in it all the Elect of God that have been, are, or shall be: but being considered more particularly, as it is seen in this present world, it consisteth of a Company and Fellowship of faithful and holy people gathered in the Name of Christ Jesus their only King, Priest, and Prophet; worshipping Him aright, being peaceably and quietly governed by his Officers and Laws; keeping the unity of Faith in the bond of peace, and love unfeigned.† * Gen. i. 1; Exod. xx. 3; 1 Tim. ii. 4; Phil, i. 27; Eph. ii. 18; John viii. 41; Deut. vi. 25; Rom. x. 8; 2 Tim. iii. 15; John viii. 51; 1 John ii. 3, etc. f Gen. xvii; 1 Pet. i. 2; Rev. vii. 9; 1 Cor. x. 3; John xvii. 10, 20. Psal. cxi. 1; cxlix. 1; Isa. lxii. 12; Éph. i. 1; 1 Cor. i. 2; Deut. xiv. 2. Deut. xii. 5; John vi. 37; iii. 14; xii. 32; Luke xvii. 37; Gen. xliv. [xlix.] 10; Psalm xlv. 6; Zech. ix. 9; Heb. i. 8; Rom. viii. 34; John xvii; Heb. v. 9; viii. 1; iv. 14; Deut. xviii. 15 ; Matt. xvii. 5; Heb. i. 2; Gen. xiv. 18; Exod. xx. 4-8; Lev. x. 5; John iv. 23; Matt. xi. 29; 1 Cor. xi. 16; Mar. xiii. 34. Rev. xxii. 9; Eph. iv. 3; 1 Cor. i. 13; Mark ix. 50; John xiii. 34 ; 1 Cor. xiii. 4; 1 Pet. i. 22; 1 John iii. 18, "Most joyful, excellent, and glorious things, are everywhere in the Scriptures spoken of this CHURCH. It is called the city, house, temple, and mountain of the Eternal God; the chosen generation, the holy nation, the peculiar people, the vineyard, the garden enclosed, the spring shut up, the sealed fountain, the orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits, the heritage, the Kingdom of Christ; yea, his sister, his love, his spouse, his queen, and his body; the joy of the whole earth. To this Society are the covenant and all the promises made, of peace, of love, and of salvation; of the presence of God; of his graces, of his power, and of his protection.* "And, surely, if this CHURCH be considered in her parts, she shall appear most beautiful; yea, most wonderful, and even ravishing the senses to conceive, much more to behold; what then to enjoy so blessed communion! For behold, her King and Lord is the King of peace, and Lord himself of all glory. She enjoyeth most holy and heavenly Laws; most faithful and vigilant Pastors; most sincere and pure Teachers; most careful and upright Governors; most diligent and trusty Deacons; most loving and sober Relievers; and a most humble, meek, obedient, faithful, and loving People: every Stone living, elect, and precious; every Stone hath his beauty, his burden, and his order: all bound to edify one another, exhort, reprove, and comfort one another; lovingly as to their own members, faithfully as in the eyes of God.t "No Office, here, is ambitiously affected; no Law wrongfully wrested, or wilfully neglected; no Truth hid, Heb. iii. 6. 1 Cor. iii. 17. Isa. v. 1; Mic. v. 2; * Psal, lxxxvii; ibid.; 1 Tim. iii. 15; Isa. ii. 2; Mic. iv. 1; Zech. viii. 3. xxvii. 2; Sol. Song. iv. 12; Isa. li. 3. Matt. iii. 2; John iii. 5. Sol. Song. v. 2. Psal. xlv. 9. 1 Cor. xii. 27; Eph. i. 2, 3. Gal. iv. 28; Rom. ix. 4. Psal. cxlvii. 14; 2 Thess. iii, 16. Isa. xlvi. 13; Zech. xiv. 17. Isa. lx; Ezek. xlvii; Zech. iv. 12. Ezek. xlviii. 35; Matt. xxviii. 20; Isa. lxii. t Sol. Song. vi. 4, 9. Isa. lxii. 11; John xii. 15; Matt. xi. 30; 1 John v. 3. Eph. iv. 11; Acts xx. 1 Cor. xii. 28; Rom. xii. 8. Acts vi. Rom. xii. 8. Ezek. xxxvi. 38; Isa. lx. 8; Deut. xviii. 9-13. 1 Kings vii. 9; Zech. xiv. 21. Gal. vi. 2. 1 Cor. 3. &c. Heb. x. 24. Lev. xix. 17; 1 Thess. iv. 9. 1 John iii. 20. Heb. ii. 7, 8. Rom. xii. 7. Matt. v. 5; 1 Pet. ii. 5; xii. Rom. xii. Col. iii. 23; or perverted: every one, here, hath freedom and powernot disturbing the peaceable order of the Church-to utter his complaints and griefs, and freely to reprove the transgression and errours of any, without exception of persons.* "Here, is no intrusion, or climbing up another way into the Sheepfold, than by the holy and free election of the Lord's holy and free People; and that, according to the Lord's Ordinance; humbling themselves by fasting and prayer before the Lord; craving the direction of his Holy Spirit, for the trial and approving of gifts, etc.† "Thus, they orderly proceed to Ordination, by fasting and prayer; in which action the Apostles used laying on of hands. Thus, hath every one of the People interest in the election and ordination of their Officers; as also, in the administration of Offices, upon the transgression, offence, abuse, etc.; having an especial care unto the inviolable order of the Church, as is aforesaid.‡ "Likewise, in this CHURCH, they have holy Laws, as limits and bonds, which it is lawful at no hand to transgress: they have laws to direct them in the choice of every Officer, what kind of men the Lord will have. Their Pastor must be apt to teach; no young scholar; able to divide the Word aright; holding fast that faithful Word, according to doctrine, that he may be able also to exhort, rebuke, improve, with wholesome doctrine, and to convince them that say against it. He must be a man that loveth goodness: he must be wise, righteous, holy, temperate; he must be of life unreprovable, as God's Steward; he must be generally well reported of, and one that ruleth his own household under obedience with all honesty; he must be modest, humble, meek, gentle, and loving; he must be a man of great patience, compassion, labour, and diligence; he must always be careful and watchful over the Flock whereof the Lord hath made him Overseer, with all willingness and cheerfulness; not holding his office in respect of * 2 Cor. ii. 17; 3 John 9. 1 Tim. iv. 2, 3; v. 21; vi. 14. Gal. vi. 12. 1 Cor v. Jer. xxiii. 28; 1 Tim. iii. 15. 1 Cor. vi; xiv. 30; Col. iv. 17. John x. 1. Acts i. 23; vi. 3; xiv. 23. 1 Tim. iv. 14; v. 22. Luke xvii. 3. Rom. xvi. 17; Col, iv. 17. |