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,

a more explicate asserting the rules of government sufficiently provided in the holy word hath been thought highly expedient-Wherefore,

The Honorable, the General Assembly of this Colony, out of a tender regard to the welfare of the Churches within the limits of their government, were pleased to appoint the several elders of each county, with messengers from their Churches to meet in council; in which they should endeavor to agree in some general rules conformable to the Word of God for a method of discipline to be practiced in our Churches. These several councils having met and drawn up some rules for Church government, did by their delegates meet and constitute one General Assembly of the Churches of this colony, at Saybrook, September 9th, 1708. Who, after a full consent and agreement unto the Confession of Faith assented unto by the Synod of Boston, did, being studious of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4: 3., agree that the Heads of Agreement assented to by the united brethren formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational in England, be observed by the Churches throughout this colony; which are herewith published and after consideration of the several draughts of the county councils, did, with a Christian condescension, and fraternal amicableness, unanimously agree to the Articles for the Administration of Church Discipline

now offered to public view, all which being presented, were allowed of and established by the General Assembly of this colony, as by their acts appears. For the better satisfaction of our people, we have undertaken a task, acceptable we trust unto many, though it escape not the exceptions of some, in subjoining Scriptures for confirmation of the Heads of Agreement, which we have not seen added thereunto. The aforesaid articles consist in two heads, The one holding forth the power of particular Churches in the management of Discipline confirmed by scriptures annexed.

The other serves to preserve, promote, or recover the peace and edification of the Churches by the means of a consociation of the Elders and Churches, or of an association of Elders: Both which we are agreed have countenance from the Scriptures, and the propositions in answer to the second question given by the Synod met at Boston, 1662. In both which having respect to the divine precepts of fraternal union, and that principle universally acknowledged, Quod tangit omnes debet tractari ab omnibus. The Scriptures are added for the illustration of the substance of the abovementioned articles, yet with an apprehension that there may be alterations made, and further condescensions agreed upon, which shall afterwards appear necessary for the order and edification of our Churches.

As we have labored in this affair to approve ourselves unto God, so we are cheerful with humble prayer for his blessing to recommend the Heads of Agreement, with the subsequent articles, unto the acceptance and observation of our people; hoping, till it please the Lord to send forth further light and truth in these more controversial matters, this method may be a blessed means of our better unanimity and success in our Lord's work for the gathering and edifying of the body of Christ; for which we bespeak the concurring prayers of all that fear the Lord,

HEADS OF AGREEMENT,

ASSENTED TO BY THE UNITED MINISTERS FORMERLY CALLED PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL.

I.

Of Churches and Church Members.

WE acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have one Catholic Church or Kingdom, comprehending all that are united to him, whether in heaven or earth. And do conceive the whole multitude of visible believers, and their infant seed, (commonly called the Catholic visible Church) to belong to Christ's spiritual kingdom in this world. But, for the notion of a Catholic visible Church here, as it signifies its having been collected into any formed society, under a visible common head on earth, whether one person singly, or many collectively, we, with the rest of Protestants, unanimously disclaim it.

Eph. 1: 10, 22, and 44; Eph. 5 : 27; 1 Cor. 12: 12, 13, Gen. 17: 7; Acts, 2: 39; Matt. 23: 7 to 10.

II. 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