The reasons presented by the Dissenting Brethren against certain propositions concerning presbyteriall government and the proofs of them voted by the Assembly of Divines, sitting by authority of Parliament, at Westminster : together with the Answer of the Assembly of Divines to those reasons of dissent.

This honourable Committee met according to the Order, Septemb. 20. following

THe appointment of the Order Being, That the differences of opinions, of the members of the Aſſembly, in point of Church Government be taken into conſideration. The honourable Committee appointed a SUB-COMMITTEE of ſix of the Members of the Aſſembly. Mr, Marſhall, Mr. Hearle, Maſter Vines, Dr. Temple, Mr. Goodwin, and Mr. Nye, (two of the diſſenting brethren) To conſider of the differences of opinions in the Aſſembly, in point of Church-Government: And to bring in what might be matter for that grand Committee to conſider of.

In purſuance of this, the ſaid ſub-Committee met, who ſtiled themſelves the ſub-Committee of AGREEMENTS. And after the Preface declaring their mutuall confidence to agree in one Confeſſion of Faith, and in One Directory of publique worſhip, &c. They prepared ſeverall Propoſitions, concerning the Government of particular Congregations, and Ordination, &c. Declaring how farre in practicall principles they did agree therein, together with the different practices, which each according to their principles, deſired.

October 11. 1644. The honourable Committee met againe, At which the ſub-Committee preſented the Propoſitions they had prepared, declaring they had further to bring in concerning Claſſes and Synods. And what might be the way of accommodation for the diſſenting brethren to enjoy Congregations amongſt us, according to their principles. All which (though they had met many dayes) was not as then perfected.

Therefore the honourable Committee did remit back to the ſaid ſub-Committee the Propoſitions then brought in, to be further explained, and as much, as might to be perfected againſt the next meeting, adjourning that Committee untill Tueſday October 15.

When theſe Propoſitions that follow, were brought in by the ſub-Committee, as containing both a fuller explication, and the beſt way to accommodate their own and their brethrens principles in a practique way (which was the end of that honourable Committee) both for Congregations, and Synods, and the government thereof.

October 15. 1644. The honourable Committee of Lords, Commons, Divines of the Aſſembly, with the Scotch-Commiſſioners met. And theſe Propoſitions were read by Maſter Vines who was the Chaire-man of that ſub-Committee.

A Vote was paſt in the Committee to take them into conſideration. But that debate was not entred upon, becauſe it was the earneſt deſire of ſome that the Rule ſhould firſt be made compleate by the Aſſembly and the Houſes.

And there was a Ceſſation put upon the honourable Committee herein, by the honourable Houſe of Commons untill their further pleaſure.

Let the Reader take notice, that in what particulàrs the diſſenting brethren do differ from the Propoſitions of the reſt of the SUB-COMMITTEE, or do expreſſe their deſires a part from them, there is a differing Character put in the Printing of them for the diſcerning thereof, and that in other things wherein they expreſſe not any difference or further explanation, they agreed to them.

The PROPOSITIONS were as followeth.

At the Sub-Committee of Agreements.

IN confidence that we ſhall jointly agree in one Confeſſion of Faith, and in one Directory of the Publick worſhip of God, with the help of a Preface, we come according to our order to points of Government, and therein do agree as followeth.

1. That a particular congregation having ſuch officers as the word of God holds out, both for preaching and governing, is a Church that hath power in all Eccleſiaſticall affairs, which do only concern it ſelfe.

2. That theſe forementioned officers are to be ſo many in numb,er in every ſuch congregation, as that three or two at the leaſt may agree together in every act of government. By two at the leaſt we mean preaching or governing officers. But ſome of the Committee do hold that a preaching Presbyter ſhould concurre in the ſentence of excommunication and ſuſpenſion.

3. That theſe officers have power in thoſe things which are voted by the Aſſembly to be due unto them, and in ſuſpenſion and excommunication: Some of the Committee meaning that the major part of the officers have power to do it, the congregation not oppoſing it, in which caſe of oppoſition they hold fit that the officers do ſuſpend the act. Others of the Committee ſaying that the Major part of the Officers have power to do it, if the Major part of the Brethren do conſent unto it by their Votes: ſo as the negative lies in the major part, either of the Officers or Brethren.

And as for Ordination, we all hōld, that where there are two preaching Presbyters at leaſt, ſuch a Presbytery may ordaine their own Elders. But ſome of the Committee do further ſay that where there are two ruling Elders at leaſt, they have power of ordaining Elders for that congregation, and in caſe there be no Elders (as at the firſt in Eccleſia conſtituenda) then the choice of Elders, by the people, with approbation of the neighbouring Miniſters with faſting and prayer, may ſuffice.

4. That the Elders of the congregation ſhall adviſe with the Claſſis in all caſes of Excommunication before they proceed to it, and the Claſſis hath power to heare and determine: yet ſo, as the power of the Congregation be not concluded thereby in matter of Excommunication. But ſome of the Committee do ſay that in whatſoever caſe they find difficult either in excommunication or in any other adminiſtration of their power, they ſhall firſt adviſe with ſome company or Claſſis of neighbour Miniſters, as at the end of the foure following Propoſitions afterwards.

5. For the aſſociating of Churches, let there be in every County of this Kingdome, a certain number of ſelect, godly and able Miniſters of the word, within that County, to he are and determine the cauſes and differences in every congregation within the ſame, and let there be a certain number of ſelect Church-governours aſſiſtant unto them: the firſt choyce of theſe to be made by the Parliament in ſuch a way as they ſhall determine, and ſuch number to have power of election from time to time of any Miniſter or Church-governour into any place among them, that is void by death or otherwiſe.

6. The Miniſters and Ruling-governors, of every congregation within that County ſo aſſociated, ſhall have power to debate and vote in that meeting from time to time in ſuch caſes as pertain to that particular congregation, except ſuch of them as are complained of, or are parties in queſtion.

7. A certain number of the aforeſaid Miniſters, and Ruling-governours as do dwell near together, in the ſame Deanery or diviſion of that County, and who may with conveniency more frequently meet together, ſhall have power to heare and determine the cauſes and differences within the ſeverall congregations of that precinct.

8. Let Nationall Aſſemblies of Miniſters and others, be choſen from time to time, according as ſhal be appointed by the Parliament, as the neceſſity of the Churches affairs ſhall require.

To the fifth, ſixth, ſeventh and eighth, the whole Committee doth aſcent; onely ſome of them doe deſire that the effect of that which hereafter followeth may for explanation ſake be inſerted. viz. That the Elders and Brethren of each Congregation in caſe they find any thing too hard for themſelves or have any controverſie among themſelves, may have liberty to adviſe with any of thoſe ſelect Elders, and others in the Province jointly or apart, or with the Elders of any other Churches, for the determining and compoſing the controverſie or reſolving of that difficulty, and in caſe they cannot be ſatisfied, then to have recourſe alſo to the advice and help of that Claſſis unto which they appertain, to ſolve and determine it.

9 That the members of particular congregations do cohabit and live together within certain bounds and precincts of a pariſh under preaching and governing Officers: unto which ſo far as it concerns the meer bounding of congregations ſome of the Committee do deſire that theſe proviſions may be added.

1. That they may have liberty to dwell in another Pariſh if the conſent of the Miniſter of that other pariſh be procured. 2. For Countrey villages that the limits be extended to take in from ſome one pariſh immediately adjoyning.

We having weighed our Brethrens Principles, do find no probability of accommodation for them, ordinarily to enjoy congregations, unleſſe when it ſhall happen in a pariſh that the Miniſter cannot adminiſter the Sacraments to all in the Pariſh, whom poſſibly the neighbour Miniſters or the Claſſis may judge fit to be admitted; ſuch perſons ſhall have power to procure to themſelves the Sacraments, either by the help of a neighbour Miniſter, or ſome other proviſion be made by a proportionable allowance out of the Tythes of the pariſh according to the wiſedome of the State.

Whereunto our Brethren adde as followeth.

Or otherwiſe if in a pariſh it happen that there be a conſiderable number of ſuch as cannot partake in the ordinances with the Miniſter and people there, they ſhall have liberty to diſpoſe of themſelves as a diſtinct Church, and to chooſe a Miniſter or Miniſters at their own charge to be maintained, to be their Paſtor.

If ſuch a liberty ſhall ſeem in the wiſedome of this honourable Committee to be prejudiciall to the peace of the Church, as not to be permitted, we humbly deſire the doctrinall principles wherein we differ about Church-government may be taken into ſerious confideration, and ſome other way of accommodation in practice thought upon, as ſhall ſeem fit to this honourable Committee.

Concerning Claſſes and Synods.

1. At theſe meetings, let them pray, expound ſcripture, reſolve difficult caſes of conſcience and preach the word.

2. They may dogmatically declare what the will of Chriſt is in ſuch caſes as are before them; And this judgment of theirs ought to be received with reverence, and obligation, as from an ordinance of Chriſt. Some of the Brethren (though aſſenting) yet are bold to adde hereunto, that the judgment of any other, of thoſe Elders in the province, or elſewhere, adviſed with, they doe in like manner looke at as the ordinance of Chriſt, and to have the like obligation in them.

3. If the doctrine or practiſe of any particular congregation be erroneous, hurtfull or deſtructive to holineſſe or the peace of that or other congregations, they are bound to give account thereof to the Claſſis or Synod. Some of the Brethren adde to this, That the ground of this obligation to give account to the Claſſis or Synod is their being offended, or their Churches ſcandalized thereat.

4. The Claſſis or Synod may examine, admoniſh, and in caſe of obſtinacy declare againſt that congregation or any particular member in it, as the nature and degree of that offence ſhall require. Some of the Brethren aſſent to ſuch proceedings as towards a Church offending and ſcandalizing of them: but adde, That no ſuch examination, admonition in any Claſſis or Aſſembly be extended to any particular perſon in that Church, but unto the Church it ſelfe, for not putting forth the power that Chriſt hath given them for reforming him.

5. The Claſſis or Synod may judge touching any perſon who deſerves excommunication, and may charge the ſeverall congregationall Presbyteries whom it concernes to do it.

6. We conceive that in caſe the particular Elderſhip refuſe to doe their duty, the Claſſis, may and ought not onely to withdraw communion from them, but alſo when need is, exerciſe the ſentence of excommunication themſelves. Inſtead of this ſixth Propoſition, ſome of the Brethren do inſert this, In caſe the aforeſaid particular Churches and Elderſhips offending ſhall refuſe to ſubmit to this courſe, that then the Claſſis or Synod are to acquaint their congregations reſpectively, and ſo withdraw from them, denying Church-Communion and fellowſhip with them.

7. In caſe of appeale if it appeare to the Claſſis that the ſentence was unjuſt, they may judge that the particular Presbytery ought to reverſe it: and in caſe they obſtinately refuſe to do it, the Claſſis may reverſe it. Others of the Brethren only ſay that they are to proceed as in the former Article.

8. The Claſſis or Synod have power to ordaine Miniſters for ſuch congregations as have not a ſufficient presbytery in them, and let all congregations aſſociated, firſt adviſe with the Claſſis, and take their aſſiſtance before they ordain a Miniſter. Some of the Brethren do referre themſelves for this, to the last clauſe in the third Propoſition delivered in.