instruct and advise the churches and people as circumstances required. This particularly was the practice in Connecticut.

THE venerable Mr. Hooker was a great friend to the meeting and consociation of ministers and churches, as a grand mean of promoting purity, union, and brotherly affection, among the ministers and churches. During his life the ministers, in the vicinity of Hartford, had frequent meetings at his house. About a week before his death, he observed, with great earnestness," We must agree upon con"stant meetings of ministers, and settle the "consociation of churches, or else we are un"done." Soon after his decease, ministers, in various parts of New-England, and especially in Connecticut, began to establish constant meetings, or associations, in particular vicinities, and agreed on the business to be done, and the manner in which they would proceed.

THEY did not however all adopt the same mode. Some of the meetings, or associations, fasted and prayed, and discussed questions of importance for mutual instruction and edifica tion. A moderator was chosen to conduct the business of the meetings with order and decency, to receive all communications which might be made from the churches, or other similar meetings, and to call the associated brethren together on particular emergencies. These meetings were always opened and concluded with prayer.

SOME of the associations were very formal and particular in covenanting together, in fixin the business which should be transacted by them. They covenanted to submit to the counsels, reproofs, and censures of the associa ted brotherhood; and that they would not forsake the association, nor neglect the appointed meetings, without sufficient reasons. They engaged, that in the meetings they would debate questions immediately respecting themselves and their conduct: That they would hear and consider all cases proposed to them from neighbouring churches or individuals; answer letters directed to them from particular churches or persons; and discuss any question, which had been proposed at a preceding meeting. In some of these associations, it was agreed to meet statedly once in six weeks or two months.* As the design was for their own mutual improvement and the advancement of christianity in general, the associations attended a lecture in the parishes in which they convened for the instruction and edification of the people. In Connecticut, after the resolution of the assembly, in 1680, the ministers had county meetings every week.

BUT these associations and meetings were merely voluntary, countenanced by no ecclesiastical constitution, attended only by such ministers, in one place and another, as were willing

Magnalia B. V. p. 58.

to associate, and could bind none but themselves. The churches might advise with them if they chose it, or neglect it at pleasure. There was no regular way of introducing candidates to the improvement of the churches, by the general consent either of themselves or the elders. When they had finished their collegiate studies, if they imagined themselves qualified, and could find some friendly gentleman in the ministry to introduce them, they began to preach without an examination or recommendation from any body of ministers or churches, If they studied a time with any particular minister or ministers, after they had received the honours of college, that minister, or those ministers introduced them into the pulpit at pleasure, without the general consent and approbation of their brethren. Many judged this to be too loose a practice, in a matter of such immense importance to the divine honour, the reputation of the ministry, and the peace and edification of the churches. Degrees at college were esteemed no sufficient evidence of men's piety, knowledge of theology, or ministerial gifts and qualifications.

BESIDES, it was generally conceded, that the state of the churches was lamentable, with respect to their general order, government, and discipline. That for the want of a more general and energetick government, many churches ran into confusion; that councils were not sufficient to relieve the aggrieved and restore peace.

As there was no general rule for the calling of councils, council was called against council, and opposite results were given upon the same cases, to the reproach of councils and the wounding of religion. Aggrieved churches and brethren were discouraged, as in this way their case seemed to be without remedy. There was no such thing, in this way, as bringing their difficulties to a final issue.*

FOR the relieving of these inconveniences, there were many, in the New-England churches, not only among the clergy but other gentlemen of principle, characters who earnestly wished for a nearer union among the churches. A great majority of the legislature and clergy in Connecticut were for the association of ministers and the consociation of churches. The synod, in 1662, had given their opinion fully in favour of the consociation of churches. The heads of agreement drawn up and assented to by the united ministers, in England, called presbyterian and congregational, in 1692, had made their appearance on this side of the Atlantic; and, in general, were highly approved. The VII. article of agreement, under the head of the ministry makes express provision for the regular introduction of candidates for the ministry. The united brethren say, "It is expedient, that "they who enter on the work of

* Wise's vindication, p 165-Boston edition

i preaching the gospel, be not only qualified "for the communion of saints; but also, that "except in cases extraordinary, they give proof "of their gifts and fitness for the said work, "unto the pastors of the churches of known "abilities to discern and judge of their qualifi"cations; that they may be sent forth with "solemn approbation and prayer; which we "judge needful, that no doubt may remain "concerning their being called unto the work; "and for preventing, as much as in us lieth, "ignorant and rash intruders." In these arti"cles, it is also agreed, that in so great and Co weighty a matter as the calling and choosing a pastor, we judge it ordinarily requisite, that every such church consult and advise with the "pastors of the neighbouring congregations.

In this state of the churches, the legislature passed an act, at their session in May 1708, requiring the ministers and churches to meet and form an ecclesiastical constitution. The apprehensions and wishes of the assembly will, in the best mannner, be discovered by their own act, which is in the words following.

"This assembly from their own observation, "and the complaint of many others, being made "sensible of the defects of the discipline of the "churches of this government, arising from "the want of a more explicit asserting of the "rules given for that end in the holy scriptures; "from which would arise a permanent estab"lishment among ourselves, a good and regular M