194. The HISTORY of the PaxtTANS. Chap. V. ,7!een " jeet to thefe congregations feparating themfelves, refifteth the ordinance. Eizabed,, ' of God. 15 " We affirm, that the church of God is a company or congrega. " tion of the faithful, called and gathered out of the world, by the " preaching of the gofpel, united in the true faith, and refolving to form. " their lives, government, order, and ceremonies, according to the word " , of God. " We hold, that there ought tobe joined to the pafiors-of the church. " elders and deacons, for the bridling of vices, and providing for the " poor :. That no pallor ought to ufurp dominion over another ;. nor no `° church exercife lordfhip, or rule over another. °` We believe, that the paftor fhould be chofen by the congregation,. " and being chofen, fhould be confirmed in his vocation by the elders, " with publick prayer and impofition of hands. " Concerning ceremonies we hold, that they ought to be few, and " fuch as have no Phew of evil, but manifeftly tend to decency and good " order. We rejedt therefore all the popifh ceremonies and apparel. . " We hold, that churches may differ in order and ceremonies, and yet " keep the unity of the faith ; and therefore we condemn not other " churches, that have ceremonies different from ours. -- Concerning. " publick worfhip; we hold, that there ought to be places appointed: " for this purpofe, and that there may be a prceJcript formofprayer,. °° and fèrvice in the known tongue, becaufe all have not the gift of. " prayer, but we would not have it patched out of the pope's portuifes e: " But be the form of prayer never fo good, we affirm that miniflers " may not think themfelves difcharged when they have laid it over, " for they are not fent to fay /èrvice, but to preach deliverance through.. " Chrift Preaching thereforemull not be thruft out of doors for reading. " Neither ought the miniller fo to be tied to a prmJiript form, that at all times he mutt be hound of neceffity to ufe it ; for who can draw a `° form of prayer, neceffary for all times, and fit for all congregations. We " ° deny not, but it is well that there be variotss manners of prayers, but we " ° mull take heed that they be not long and tedious; wherefore preaching, " ° as it is the chief part of a rninüuler'a office, fo all other things-muft give place to it. " Concerning finging of pfalms, we allow of the people's joining with " one voice in a plain tune, but not of tolling the pfalms from one fide to " the other, with the intermingling of organs. Touching holidays we fay, That religion is tied to no time; nor is " one day more holy than another ; but becaufe timemuft he had to bean " the word of God, and to adminifler the holy facraments, therefore' we. O keep the Lord's day as we are commanded, but without all jewi/h fa- perdition.
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