THE

HEADS OF AGREEMENT,

ASSENTED TO BY THE UNITED MINISTERS,

FORMERLY CALLED

PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL:

AND ALSO,

ARTICLES,

FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF

CHURCH DISCIPLINE,

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON, AND CONSENTED TO, BY THE ELDERS AND MESSENGERS OF THE CHURCHES IN THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, IN NEW ENGLAND, ASSEMBLED BY DELEGATION, AT SAYBROOK, SEPT. 9TH,

1708.

Phil. 3: 5. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be otherw 'se minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Eph. 4: 3. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

NEW LONDON, CONN., PRINTED, 1710.

PREFACE.

THERE is no Constitution on earth, hath ever been established on such sure foundation, nor so fully provided for its subsistence, as the Church of God-It being built on the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Hence, therefore, it hath from its holy hill beheld the ruins of the greatest States and most flourishing Empires; hav ing continued in safety, free from the fatal accidents of time, and triumphed not only over the rage of men, but also the repeated insults of the gates of hell. And though it hath been often straitened as to its extent, and lessened to its number, yet hath remained firm on its own basis: Yea, when most reduced, it hath forever made good that motto, Depressa Resurgo: and so it shall continue to the end of the world. But, to the shame of its offenders, the church hath suffered most from the wounds, which she hath received in the house of her friends, from those wolves that have come to her in sheep's clothing. Damnable errors and heresies have arisen from within her, whereby she hath some

as

times been cast into horrible shades of darkness, as Rev. 9: 2, When the bottomless pit was opened, the smoke ascending darkened the sun and air. Yet when thus grievously blackened, a comeliness remained still. Otherwhiles she is seen bleeding with the wounds of schism and contention, offensive and hurtful to her sacred head and members, for the undivided head rejoiceth in an undivided body. His undefiled is but one. Cant. 69. As she becomes divided, she becomes defiled-and hereby also the mutual offices of the respective members of this undefiled one, are interrupted to the prejudice of the whole Whence follow great dis orders, as when the eye will not see for the hand, nor the head take care of the feet, nor our union to Christ be acknowledged a sufficient bond to establish a relation between members in particular. 1 Cor. 12: 27. God's Providence forever bears the upper hand in these events, who suffers the corrupt minds of men to run into errors and divisions, that the approved may be made manifest. 1 Cor. 11: 19. Such ill-minded persons being threatened with a wo, that are the authors or promoters of such offences. The Atheist endeavors to overthrow the whole constitution of religion: The Deist to take away all that part of it that promiseth sinners any safety from the wrath to come, and retain no more than what is enough to condemn him, and take away all excuse for his disobedience.

Rom. 1: 20. The church of Christ hath also been a great sufferer from the immoralities and disorderly walking of those that are related to her, whose leaven hath sometimes hazarded the whole lump. 1 Cor. 5:6. Whose unseemly practices have given advantage to enemies to speak evil of the ways of God, and to question the truth of our holy religion, and the sincerity of the professors thereof. These must be acknowledged to be spots and blemishes. 2 Pet. 2:13. The wisdom of our Lawgiver, King, and Judge; who alone hath the original sovereignty of giving being to, and laying the foundations of the church, and whose only is the legislative power therein; hath given such ample rights and privileges to the church, and such excellent rules for its government, as are inviting to strangers, like a city set on a hill. Matt. 5 14. And hath lodged the executive power in approved hands; that those who love the church may be in peace, and her enemies may find her terrible as an army with banners ; and that she might yield seasonable edification to those that walk regularly within her limits, and be able to discharge herself of impenitent and incorrigible offenders. Many of the forementioned mischiefs have to our sorrow afflicted the churches within this government, and by degrees we have fallen under much decayWhereupon, our difficulties have been of a long time troublesome, for the healing our wounds,.