And that the particular pastors and churches, within the respective counties in this government shall be one consociation (or more if they shall judge meet) for the end aforesaid. Psal.

cxxii, 3, 4, 5, and cxxxiii, i. Eccl. iv, 9 to 12. Acts xv, 2, 6, 22, 23. I Tim. iv, 14. I Cor. xvi, 1.

III. That all cases of Scandal that fall out within the circuit of any of the aforesaid consociations shall be brought to a council of the Elders, and also messengers of the churches within the said circuit, i. e. the churches of one consociation, if they see cause to send messengers, when there shall be need of a council for the determination of them. III John 9, 10. I Cor. xvi, 1, Gal. vi, 1, 2. II Cor. xiii, 2. Acts xv, 22. II Cor. viii, 23.

IV. That according to the common practice of our churches, nothing shall be deemed an act or judgment of any council, which hath not the major part of the Eiders present concurring, and such a number of the messengers present as makes the majority of the council: Provided that if any such church shall not see cause to send any messengers to the council, or the persons chosen by them shall not attend; neither of these shall be any obstruction to the proceedings of the council, or invalidate any of their acts. Acts xv, 23. I Cor. xiv. 32, 33.

V. That when any case is orderly brought before any council of the churches it shall there be heard and determined which (unless orderly removed from thence) shall be a final issue and all parties therein concerned shall sit down and be determined thereby. And the council, so hearing, and giving the result or final issue, in the said case as aforesaid, shall see their determination, or judgment duly executed and attended in such way or manner, as shall in their judgment be most suitable and agreeable to the word of God. Acts xv. I Cor. v, 5. II Cor. ii, 6, 11, and xiii, 2. Phil. iii, 15. Rom. xiv, 2, 3.

VI. That, if any Pastor and church doth obstinately refuse a due attendance and conformity to the determination of the council, that hath the cognisance of the case, and determineth it as above, after due patience used, they shall be reputed guilty of scandalous contempt and dealt with as the rule of God's word in such case doth provide, and the sentence of non-communion shall be declared against such Pastor and church. And the churches are to approve of the said sentence, by withdrawing from the communion of the Pastor and church which so refuseth to be healed. Rom. xvi, 17. Mat, xviii, 15, 16, 17, by proportion. Gal. ii, 11 to 14. II Thess. iii, 6, 14.

VII.

That in case any difficulties shall arise in any of the churches in this colony, which

cannot be issued without considerable disquiet, that church in which they arise (or that minister, or member aggrieved by them,) shall apply themselves to the councilof the consociated churches of the circuit, to which the said church belongs, who, if they see cause, shall thereupon convene, hear and determine such cases of difficulty, unless the matter brought before them, shall be judged so great in the nature of it, or so doubtful in the issue, or of such general concern, that the said council shall judge best that it be referred to a fuller council, consisting of the churches of the other consociation within the same county, (or of the next adjoining consociation of another county, if there be not two consociations in the county where the difficulty ariseth) who together with themselves shall hear, judge, determine and finally issue such case according to the word of God. Pro. xi, 14. I Cor. xiv, 33, and xiv, 24 by proportion.

VIII. That a particular church, in which any difficulty doth arise, may, if they see cause, call a council of the consociated churches of the circuit, to which the said church belongs, before they proceed to sentence therein, but there is not the same liberty to an offending brother to call the said council, before the church to which he belongs proceed to excommunication in the said case, unless with the con

sent of the church. Acts xv, 2. Mat. xviii, 15, 16, 17.

IX. That all the churches of the respective consociations shall chuse, if they see cause, one or two members of each church, to represent them in the councils of the said churches, as occasion may call for them, who shall stand in that capacity, till new be chosen for the same service, unless any church shall incline to chuse their messengers anew, upon the convening of such councils. Acts xv, 2, 4. II Cor viii, 23.

X. That the minister or ministers of the county towns, and where there are no ministers in such towns the two next ministers to the said town, shall as soon as conveniently may be, appoint a time and place, for the meeting of the Elders and messengers of the churches in the said county, in order to their forming themselves into one or more consociations and notify the said time and place to the Elders and churches of that county, who shall attend at the same, the Elders in their own persons, and the churches by their messengers, if they see cause to send them. Which Elders and messengers so assembled in council, as also any other council hereby allowed of, shall have power to adjourn themselves as need shall be, for the space of one year, after the beginning or first session of the said council, and no longer. And that minister who was chosen at the last

session of any council, to be moderator, shall with the advice and consent of two more Elders (or in case of the moderators death, any two Elders of the same consociation) call another council within the circuit, when they shall judge there is need thereof. And all councils may prescribe rules as occasion may require, and whatsoever they shall judge needful within their circuit, for the well performing, and orderly managing their several Acts, to be attended by them or matters that come under their cognizance. Phil. iv, 8. I Cor. xiv, 40. Phil. iii, 15, 16. Rom, xiv, 2, 3.

XI. That if any person or persons orderly complained of to a council, or that are witnes ses to such complaints, (having regular notification to appear) shall refuse or neglect so to do, in the place, and at the time specified in the warning given, except they or he give some satisfying reason thereof to the said council, they shall be judged guilty of scandalous contempt. Col. ii, 5. Heb. xiii, 17. I Thess. V,

14.

XII. That the teaching Elders of each county shall be one association (or more if they see cause) which association or associations shall assemble twice a year at least, at such time and place as they shall appoint, to consult the duties of their office, and the common interest of the churches, who shall consider and resolve