QUESTION VIII. 91 Such are, or should be, the Westminster assembly's confession of faith, or that of the Savoy, and the two catechisms, which shew the faith and worship of the English dissenters : Such are, or should be, the confessions of the foreign reformed churches ; of all whichit may be said in general, they are very good sum- mariesof the christian religion, howeverthey may differ in lesser points and circumstances. All these have been unspeakable ad- vantages in the churches of Christ, not only to train up children and families in 'the knowledge of divine truths, but to hold forth to all the world upon what foundations the protestant churches are built, and to declare what their faith is, and what their practice. 1 would not be understood, as thou;h I thought such confessions of faith necessary to be drawn up. and kept in all churches for these ends ; for manyof the primitive churches for a hundred years or more, managed their affairs without any such formal confessions, at least without any so large ones, generally ap- proved and delivered down to posterity.- The constant preaching and praying in the churches, and mutual communication of chris- tians, did notify to their fellow-christians and fellow-churches, their consent in the most necessary and important articlesof faith and worship. But it is certain, that since churches are more multiplied, and errors more abundantly increased, there are many expediences that attend such a declared andpublic consent, or harmony of several churches, in the saine general points of doctrine and duty. I grant that there have been some great inconveniences at- tending these national confessions and articles, such as the nail- ing down certain degrees of retbrmation to everlasting'imperfec- tion, and the settling some mistakes for whole nations and future ages; we in Great Britain need not run tar to seek for instances of titis, whether we dwell in the north or south part of it. But these inconveniences may, be avoided, if we and our fathers had but observed two things :. 1. That such articles need not be drawn up in the strictest terms of any particular party, but with allowance of some just degrees of latitude for different senti- ments; nor let such articles descend into a determination of too many particulars in things that are of little moment in Christi- anity ; and 2. I would have it always secured,, that this precise form of words be never imposed on any person whatsoever as a test of Christianity, of communion, of ordination, &c. to be sub- scribed or acknowledged by assent or consent ; at least it ought never to be done without the allowance of such limitations, expli- cations, and exceptions which might secure the consciences of pious christians from all unnecessary bonds and fetters. SECT. M.The only way therefore that! knowofto secure the just christian liberty, both of churches and persons, is this, That every person who proposes himself to communion must
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