1.WE Acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have One Catholick Church, or Kingdom, comprehending all that are united to Him, whether in Hea­ven or Earth. And do conceive the [Page 2] whole multitude of visible Believers, and their Infant-Seed (commonly called the Catholick Visible Church) to belong to Christ's Spiritual Kingdom in this world: But for the notion of a Catholick Visible Church here, as it signifies its having been collected into any formed Society, under a Visible human Head on Earth, whether one Person singly, or many collectively, We, with the rest of Protestants, unani­mously disclaim it.

2. We agree, That particular Socie­ties of Visible Saints, who under Christ their Head, are statedly joined together for ordinary Communion with one ano­ther, in all the Ordinances of Christ, are particular Churches, and are to be owned by each other, as Instituted Churches of Christ, tho differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things.

3. That none shall be admitted as Members, in order to Communion in all [Page 3] the special Ordinances of the Gospel, but such persons as are knowing and sound in the fundamental Doctrines of the Christi­an Religion, without Scandal in their Lives; and to a Judgment regulated by the Word of God, are persons of visible Godliness and Honesty; credibly profes­sing cordial subjection to Jesus Christ.

4. A competent Number of such visi­ble Saints (as before described) do be­come the capable Subjects of stated Com­munion in all the special Ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual declared consent and agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule. In which de­claration, different degrees of Explicite­ness, shall no way hinder such Churches from owning each other, as Instituted Churches.

5. Tho Parochial Bounds be not of Divine Right, yet for common Edificati­on, the Members of a particular Church [Page 4] ought (as much as conveniently may be) to live near one another.

6. That each particular Church hath Right to chuse their own Officers; and being furnished with such as are duly qua­lified and ordained according to the Go­spel Rule, hath Authority from Christ for exercising Government, and of en­joying all the Ordinances of Worship with­in it self.

7. In the Administration of Church Power, it belongs to the Pastors and other Elders of every particular Church (if such there be) to Rule and Govern: and to the Brotherhood to Consent, accord­ing to the Rule of the Gospel.

8. That all Professors as before descri­bed, are bound in duty, as they have op­portunity, to join themselves as fixed Members of some particular Church; their thus joining, being part of their pro­fessed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, [Page 5] and an instituted means of their Establish­ment and Edification; whereby they are under the Pastoral Care, and in case of scandalous or offensive walking, may be Authoritatively Admonished or Censured for their recovery, and for vindication of the Truth, and the Church professing it.

9. That a visible Professor thus joined to a particular Church, ought to conti­nue stedfastly with the said Church; and not forsake the Ministry and Ordinances there dispensed, without an orderly seeking a recommendation unto another Church. Which ought to be given, when the case of the person apparently requires it.

1. WE agree, That the Ministerial Of­fice is instituted by Jesus Christ, for the Gathering, Guiding, Edifying, and Governing of his Church; and to con­tinue to the end of the world.

[Page 6]2. They who are called to this Office, ought to be endued with competent Learning, and Ministerial Gifts, as also with the Grace of God, found in Judg­ment, not Novices in the Faith and Knowledg of the Gospel; without scan­dal, of holy Conversation, and such as devote themselves to the Work and Service thereof.

3. That ordinarily none shall be Or­dained to the work of this Ministry, but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church.

4. That in so great and weighty a mat­ter, as the calling and chusing a Pastor, we judg it ordinarily requisite, That eve­ry such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of Neighbouring Congrega­tions.

5: That after such Advice, the Person consulted about, being chosen by the Bro­therhood of that particular Church over [Page 7] which he is to be set, and he accepting, be duly ordained, and set apart to his Office over them; wherein tis ordinarily requisite, That the Pastors of Neighbouring Con­gregations concur with the Preaching-El­der, or Elders, if such there be.

6. That whereas such Ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office; If any judge, that in the case also of the removal of one formerly Ordained, to a new Station or Pastoral Charge, there ought to be a like Solemn recommending him and his Labours to the Grace and Blessing of God; no diffe­rent Sentiments or Practice herein, shall be any occasion of Contention or Breach of Communion among us.

7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the work of Preaching the Gospel, be not only qualified for Communion of Saints; but also that, except in cases extraordinary, they give proof of their Gifts and fitness [Page 8] for the said work, unto the Pastors of Churches of known abilites to discern and judge of their qualifications; That they may be sent forth with Solemn Approbation and Prayer; which we judge needful, that no doubt may remain concerning their being Called to the work; and for preventing (as much as in us lieth) Igno­rant and rash Intruders.

1. AS it cannot be avoided, but that in the Purest Churches on Earth, there will sometimes Offences and Scandals arise by reason of Hypocrisie and prevailing corruption; so Christ hath made it the Du­ty of every Church, to reform it self by Spiritual Remedies, appointed by him to be applied in all such cases; viz. Admoni­tion, and Excommunication.

2. Admonition, being the rebuking of an Offending Member in order to convicti­on, [Page 9] is in case of private offences to be per­formed according to the Rule in Mat. 18. v. 15, 16, 17. and in case of Publick offences, openly before the Church, as the Honour of the Gospel, and nature of the Scandal shall re­quire: And if either of the Admonitions take place for the recovery of the fallen Person, all further proceedings in a way of censure, are thereon to cease, and satisfacti­on to be declared accordingly.

3. When all due means are used, accord­ing to the Order of the Gospel, for the re­storing an offending and scandalous Brother; and he notwithstanding remains Impeni­tent, the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto; Wherein the Pastor and other Elders (if there be such) are to lead, and go before the Church; and the Brotherhood to give their consent, in a way of obedience unto Christ, and unto the Elders, as over them in the Lord.

4. It may sometimes come to pass, [Page 10] that a Church-Member, not otherwise Scan­dalous, may sinfully withdraw, and divide himself from the Communion of the Church to which he belongeth: In which case, when all due means for the reducing him, prove ineffectual, he having hereby cut himself off from that Churches Communion; the Church may justly esteem and declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him.

1. WE Agree, that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate from each other, as not to have care and tenderness towards one a­nother. But their Pastors ought to have frequent meetings together, that by mu­tual Advice, Support, Encouragement, and Brotherly intercourse, they may strengthen the hearts and hands of each o­ther in the ways of the Lord.

[Page 11]2. That none of our particular Churches shall be subordinate to one another; each being endued with equality of Power from Jesus Christ. And that none of the said particular Churches, their Officer, or Of­ficers, shall exercise any Power, or have any Superiority over any other Church, or their Officers.

3. That known Members of particu­lar Churches, constituted as aforesaid, may have occasional Communion with one another in the Ordinances of the Gospel, viz. the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Singing Psalms, dispensed according to the mind of Christ: Unless that Church with which they desire Communion, hath any just exception against them.

4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our respective Congregations, that hath joined himself to another, without endeavours of mutual Satisfaction of the Congregations concerned.

[Page 12]5. That one Church ought not to blame the Proceedings of another, until it hath heard what that Church charged, its El­ders, or Messengers, can say in vindicati­on of themselves from any charge of ir­regular or injurious Proceedings.

6. That we are most willing and ready to give an account of our Church Proceed­ings to each other, when desired; for pre­venting or removing any offences that may arise among us. Likewise we shall be ready to give the right hand of fellow­ship, and walk together according to the Gospel Rules of Communion of Churches.

WE agree, The Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment, and that it belongs to their Office to receive, lay out, and distribute the Churches Stock to its proper uses, by the direction of the Pastor, and the Brethren if need be. And [Page 13] whereas divers are of opinion, That there is also the Office of Ruling Elders, who la­bour not in word and doctrine; and others think otherwise; We agree, That this diffe­rence make no breach among us.

1. WE agree, That in order to concord, and in any other weighty and difficult cases, it is needful, and according to the mind of Christ, that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted and advi­sed with about such matters.

2. That such Meetings may consist of smaller or greater Numbers, as the matter shall require.

3. That particular Churches, their re­spective Elders, and Members, ought to have a reverential regard to their judgment so given, and not dissent therefrom, without apparent grounds from the word of God.

1. WE do reckon our selves obliged continually to pray for God's Protection, Guidance, and Blessing upon the Rulers set over us.

2. That we ought to yield unto them not only subjection in the Lord, but support, according to our station and abilities.

3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasure to call together any Number of us, or require any account of our Affairs, and the state of our Congregations, we shall most readily express all dutiful regard to them herein.

AS to what appertains to soundness of Judgment in matters of Faith, we esteem it sufficient, That a Church ac­knowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God, the perfect and only Rule of Faith and [Page 15] Practice; and own either the Doctrinal part of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England, or the Confession, or Catechisms, Shorter or Larger, compiled by the Assembly at Westminster, or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy, to be agreeable to the said Rule.

1. WE judge it our duty to bear a Christian Respect to all Chri­stians, according to their several Ranks and Stations, that are not of our Persuasion or Communion.

2. As for such as may be ignorant of the Principles of the Christian Religion, or of vicious conversation, we shall in our re­spective Places, as they give us opportuni­ty, endeavour to explain to them the Do­ctrine of Life and Salvation, and to our ut­termost persuade them to be reconciled to God.

[Page 16]3. That such who appear to have the Essential Requisites to Church-Communion, we shall willingly receive them in the Lord, not troubling them with Disputes about lesser matters.

As we Assent to the forementioned HEADS of AGREEMENT; So we Unanimously Resolve, as the Lord shall enable us, to Practice ac­cording to them.