CONTENTS.

Pago

PREFACE,

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF SAYBROOK PLAT.

FORM,

Notes to Historical Account,

11

53

CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM,

73

Preface,

75

Of the form of church government: and that it is one, immu-

table, and prescribed in the word,

95

Of the nature of the catholic church in general, and in spe-

cial of a particular visible church,

97

Of the matter of the visible church, both in respect of qual-

ity and quantity, .

99

Of the form of a visible church, and of church covenant, 102

Of the first subject of church power, or, to whom church

power doth first belong,

106

Of the officers of the church, and especially of pastors and

teachers,

107

Of ruling elders and deacons,

110

Of the election of church officers,

113

Of ordination, and imposition of hands,

116

Of the power of the church, and its presbytery,

Of the maintenance of church officers,

124

Of the admission of members into the church,

126

Of church members; their removal from one church to ano-

ther, and of recommendation and dismission,

131

Of excommunication and other censures,

134

Of communion of churches one with another,

139

.

118

.

.

.

Of synods,

Of the civil magistrates' power in matters ecclesiastical,

Page

145

148

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

SAYBROOK CONFESSION OF FAITH,

153

Preface,

155

Of the Holy Scriptures,

165

Of God, and the Holy Trinity,

170

Of God's eternal decrees,

173

Of Creation,

176

Of Providence,

177

Of the fall of man, of sin, and of the punishment thereof, 180

Of God's covenant with Man,

182

Of Christ the Mediator,

184

Of Free Will,

189

Of Effectual Calling,

190

Of Justification,

193

Of Adoption,

195

Of Sanctification,

196

Of Saving Faith,

198

Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation,

199

Of Good Works,

202

Of the Perseverance of the Saints,

205

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation,

207

Of the Law of God,

210

Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof, 213

or Christian Liberty, and liberty of Conscience,

216

Of Religious Worship, and of the Sabbath-day,

218

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows,

222

Of the civil Magistrate,

224

Of Marriage,

227

Of the Church,

228

Of the Communion of Saints,

231

Of the Sacraments,

232

Of Baptism,

234

Of the Lord's Supper,

236

Of the state of Man aster Death and of the Resurrection of

the Dead,

240

Of the Last Judgment,

241

.

Page

HEADS OF AGREEMENT AND ARTICLES OF

DISCIPLINE, ADOPTED AT SAYBROOK, 1708. 243

Preface,

245

HEADS OF AGREEMENT,

251

Of Churches and Church Members,

251

Of the Ministry,

254

Of Censures,

256

or Communion of Churches,

258

Of Deacons and Ruling Elders,

260

Of occasional meetings of Ministers, &c.

260

Of our demeanor towards the civil Magistrate,

261

Of a Confession of Faith,

262

Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in

Communion with us,

262

ARTICLES OF DISCIPLINE, WITH NOTES,

264

.

.

.

DIGEST OF RULES AND USAGES,

287

PART FIRST.-OF CHURCHES,

289

I. The completeness of particular Churches,

289

II. The communion of Churches,

289

Part SECOND.-Of ConsoCIATIONS,

291

I. The matter of a Consociation,

291

II. The members of a Council of the Consociated

Churches,

291

III. The officers of a Consociation,

292

IV. Meetings of the Council,

293

V, Business belonging to the Council,

293

VI. The form of proceeding in cases of difficulty, 295

1. The case of an offending Pastor,

295

2. The case of an offending Church,

296

3. The Organ of Communication with the Council, 297

4. Citation,

297

5. Limitation of the right of appeal,

298

6. Censure of scandalous contempt,

299

VII. Method of voting in a Council,

299

VIII. Result, or decision of the Council,

300

IX. The right of parties to be heard by Counsel,

300

.

.

.

Page

X. The union of two Consociations,

301

XI. Proceedings when the Church refuses to abide by the

judgment of the Council,

302

XII. Select Councils,

303

PART THIRD.-OF PARTICULAR ASSOCIATIONS,

304

I. Membership in the Associations,

304

II. Duties of the Association,

305

III. Officers of the Association,

306

IV. Meetings of the Association,

306

V. The examination and recommendation of candidates for

the Ministry,

307

PART FOURTH.-OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATIONS, 311

L Its Constitution and Order of Proceedings,

311

System of Rules for the regulation of business before the

General Association,

. 313

II. Officers and Standing Committees,

. 315

III. The General Association as a Missionary Society, . 317

1. Constitution of the Missionary Society of Connecti-

cut, auxiliary to the Home Missionary Society, 317

2. Constitution of the Missionary Society of Conn., 320

APPENDIX,

GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS,

325

Rules of the Association,

326

By Laws,

330

GENERAL CONVENTION OF VERMONT,

332

Constitution,

332

By Laws and Permanent Regulations,

333

Recommendations,

335

Rules to be observed in transacting business,

337

GENERAL AssociaTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,

339

Standing Rules,

340

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF MAINE,

343

Constitution,

344

EVANGELICAL ConsoCIATION OF Rhode ISLAND, 346

GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK,

347

Constitution,

349

Articles of Faith,

350

.

.

.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

SAYBROOK PLATFORM.