192 2he LIFE ofthe.-$ L;IS. I, by Letters and Meffengers; which Communion is to tie extended , even as far as our Natural Capacity extendeth, and the Edification or Prefervation òf the ` Churches (hall require it. ` And thus the Presbyterians and Congregational Men are agreed , if they are ` willing. If all will not, let thofe agree that have hearts , and not Ray for the `ree. And here you fee a Satisfaction to your two Demands. My Quefìion was, -.` What are the things that the Congregational waft have, and will ínfifi- on , the denial e whereof dotb hinder our Unity and Agreement. Your Anfwer was in these words, `[Tomanage all Church Affairs by the Elders and Brethren within themfelves and witb- ` out dependance, unled for Advice, on any other Ecclefeaflical Power. z. To take in Bab' ` as are qualified andfreely offer themselves to joyn, though ofother Paeefbes. Yetfe, a if ` a particular Church in that Parish, which for the Substance is gathered, according to the ` Order of theWei, and the Party a Member thereof an account is to begiven to the e Church or the Elders of it, of the Cause of bu removal, that it may be, if pofble, uiitb confens.] And this is all that hinders our Agreement it feems. Alas, a. For the firlt, it is granted you in termini', only in point of Ordination : yield but to be Ordained by Teaching Elders, which you cant-ell lawful, and others think necef- ' fary. And remember, r. That to depend on other Ecclefiaftical Power, even for Advice, is a great dependance. z. That to depend on them, not as a Superiour Power, but as a Link upon the Chain, for Union andCommunion , we can ne- e ver exempt you from, nor will you fire desire ir. There is a fourfold Advice; a. An AuthoratativeAdvice of Governours (as Parents, Schoolmafters, Pallors,) to their Inferiours, who are boundto obey them, on a double account, ration materia, & autboritati'. Thus the Paflorsin aSynod advife their Flocks conjunâly. :.The Authoratative Advice of envOfcer to another. And fo,as we preach to one another, I chink as Chrift's Minilters, we mull advife one another. 3. An . Ad- viceof -a Major part among Equals inOrder to Union and Concord, and this is the Principal to be refpeâed in theft Conventions. 4. An Advice of a private ` Perin, not authorized by Office, and this binds but ration materia, &c. a.Tò your lècond, you will grant (as I hope by the printed Debates) that ordinarily Parish-bounds, shall be the Rule for Limitation (alter Parilhesif they be amiss ) and that you'l not swerve from this Rule, butupon necelfary Caufe,andnot when it is to the apparent wrong of the Cause and Interest of Chrift, and you will ' yield to be refponfibleto theAffociation which you are a Member of, concerning the Cafe, when you are queftioned. And this Ihall agree us. Andwhy Ihould I not add twoPropositions for Peace with the Episcopal? That way, or the Person are not focontemptible (if you confider the Antiquity, the ` great Difficulty, their Number and Extent, and the Works ofmany of them) as to be refutedourCommunion, thoughon fome Abatements ro them. Prop. 39. Let therefore thefePresbyteries of particular Churches have oneto be ` the Rated Prefident, as long ashe is found fittest, and let all the Affociations (at lean where Episopalworthy Men require it) have such fixed Presidents, loam ` dia benefegefrint' ( as your Alfembly at Wefminfler had) by common Ccmfent. Ilifbop Hall and Usher fay, this will fatisfie, but it will not without thenext. Prop. au. Seeing the Presbyterians and Congregational fay,-That (except in ` cafe ofnecessity) it's lawful to forbear Ordination till the Prefident be there, And ' One, and to take him with you and theEpifeopal fay,That it'sof neceft ; there- . ` fore let theCafe of Necefty andthe Title be purpofely filenced, and left to each Man's Judgment ; but de fado, letyour Licet yield for Peace to their Oporto, at ` leali for tome years trial. And agree toOrdain none ( but in necessity) with'- ` out the Prefident, as he shall Ordain none without the Content of the Affociation, or at leaf} the Elders of the Church where he is Prefident , and where he Or- daineth (if there be any left). I fuppofe, as to a Parochial or Congregational Prefident, in one Elderlhip, you will grant this ! and whynot to the Prefident of the Affociation, for Peace ? when he that is Orda,'rned a Pastor of your particu- lar Church, is thereupon made an Officerin the Univerfal,thereforeothersfhould have f ane careof it, orelfe -- I'le let Obje&ions pats in flente, only define you, if thefttwo laft diflike you, not therefore prefemly to reje& the relt, but lay thief: by. 'Cn
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