-soS "'.!be HISTORY of the PuRITANS, Vat. II. Oliver milies•. and agreed with the pre!byterians in the ufe of the afi"embly's Protelfor. h fi 6 8 catec 1 m. ~ At the end of the Savoy confeflion there is a chapter of difcipline, entitled, if the in)titution qf churches, and the order appointed in them by Jefus Chrfft; in which they affert, ·Of their dif- " That every particular fociety of vilible profeffors agreeing to walk ciplim. " together in the faith and order of the gofpel is a compleat church, and ~~def'nd;ncy " has full power within itfelf to elect and ordain all church officers, to 0 1 cmrcm. '' exclude all offenders, and to do all other aCl:s relating to the edification " and well-being of the church• .Ordination of " That the way of ordaining officers, that is, pqflors, teachers, or el– pajlors, &c. " den, is after their eleCl:ion, by the fuffrage of the church, to fet them " apart with fa fling and prayer, and impofition of the bands of the el der– " ibip of the church, though if there be no impofition of hands, they '' are neverthelefs rightly confl:ituted minit1ers of Chrit1; but they do " not allow that orclination to the work of the minit1:ry, though it be by " perfons rightly ordained, does convey any office-power, without a " previous eleCtion of the church. Their limited " That no perfons may adminifter the facrament but fuch as are or– jurifditlim. " dained and appointed thereunto. Nor are the pafl:ors of one church " obliged to adminifl:er the facramen ts to any other, than to the mem. " bers of that church to whom they t1:and related in that capacity. Nor " may any perfon be added to the church, as a private member, but by " the confent of the church, after a confeffion of his faith, declared by " himfelf, or otherwife manifefl:ed. d d " They difallow the power of all t1:ated fynods, pre!byteries, convoOfjj~o san ,, ~oun.,/s, cations, and affemblies of divines over particular churches, but admit; " that in cafes of difficulty, or difference relating to doCtrine or order, " churches may meet together by their meffengers in fynoJs or coun– " cils, to confider and give advice, but without exercifing any jurif~ « diCtion • .lfnd of occa- " And lafl:ly, they agree, that churches con filling of perfons found ji:nal commu-" in the faith, and of good converfation, ought not to refufe communion ~Jtm. " with each other, though they walk not in all things according to the " fame rule of- church order; and if they judge other churches to be true " churches, though lefs pure, they may receive to occafional communion " fuch members of thofe churches as are credibly te!l:ified to be god– " ly, and to live without offence. " Thefe opinions (fay they) may appear new to a great r.;any " people, becaufe they have not been openly and publicly profei1C:d " in the englijh nation, but we are able to trace the foott1:eps o~ an " mde-
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