Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

( °5) of his ownwill, and is rfponfible for his `A&ions tb"God, at tl none of us are EpïfcopiEpifcoport%nä',, B.(hops;of Bilbòp`s. 13 t there is a Comrnui ionamong Pattòrs and churches: to be exerci- fed, and loan avoidingor rejecting fromCommunion : and this force call ( improperly ) a Government.. And in this, for my part, I fhould confent, where peace loth requreir, that we will not agree upon the rejeEling of any Paflor of our Affociation (no more then to the Accepting or Ordaining of thtm) without the Prefident, but in cafesof Neceffity : and that jut' on the terms expreft about Ordination. 3 I. Asfor infante, in aparticular Church, there is a Com- munion to be held among all the members, though none of them but the Officers are Governors of the Church. -And in many cafes where the Peoples Confent is needful, its common to land to a Major vote : and fo great a(refs is laid on this, that by ma- ny of the Congregational way the Government of the Church is laid to be in the Major vote of the people : and yet I . This is indeed no Government that belongs to them ; but Confent to Communion or Excrufson ; and 2. No Scripture do:h require a Minor pare to stand in all cafes to the decifion of a Major vote, nor give a Major vote any Ruleover the Confciences of the Mi- nor part ( thew us this voting power in Set- pturc) And yet 3. All agree, that upon natural Reafons ald General Rules of Scripture, the Churches are allowed , ye obliged, in lawful things, for maintaining Vnity and ;"e. ce, to fated to the judge- ment of a Major vote, ( in Cafes that belong to them to vote in) though therebe no particular word for it in the Scripture: Even fo Afrociate Paforo have not a proper Government of one another, neither by Prefidents or Major votes, ( though over the people theyhave,) but are all under the Government of Godand the Magiisateonly. And yet theymay in of s of .Con- feat about Communion or Non communion with one another, prudentially agree, to take the ('onfent of the Prefident, or of the Major vote of Pafforr, or of bo: h, where Peace, or Order, orEdification requireth it : except in cafes of Necefhty. 4. 3 2. Quell. But what willyou take for 4 Cafe of Necefty.i' which you will except ? Anfw. I. If the President be dead. 2. Or lick, or abfent and cannot come. 3 Or if he be malignant, and wilfully refufe to Confeut that the Church be well provided for, Ir or

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