not left in the power of any to alter, add, or diminish any thing therein; the necessary circumstances of which, as time and place, &c. are left to men, to be ordered unto edification, and not otherwise.

2. There is a catholick church visible, viz. the company of those that profess the christian faith, whether in church order or not; but there is no political catholick church, the state of the members of the visible church, since the coming of christ, being only congregational.

3. A congregational church, by the institution. of Christ, is a part of the visible church, consisting of a company of saints by calling, united into one body, by an holy covenant, for the publick worship of God, and the mutual edification one of another in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus, the matter of which, as to its qualifi cation, ought to be such, as have attained the knowledge of the principles of religion, free from gross scandals, and with the profession of their faith and repentance, walk in blameless obedience to the word of God. As to its quantity, it ought not to be of greater number than may ordinarily meet together conveniently in one place, nor fewer, than may conveniently carry on church work. The form of such a church is an agreement, consent, or visible covenant, whereby they give up themselves unto the Lord, to the observing the ordinances of Christ together in the same society.

4. The fraternity or brotherhood of such a church, is the first subject of all ordinary church power, which is either a power of office or of privilege. But the power of privilege is in the brethren, formally and immediately; the other is in them no otherwise, than in that they design the persons unto office, who only are to act and exercise that power.

5. The ordinary officers of the church are such, as concern their spiritual and moral, temporal and natural good; of the first sort, are pastors, teachers, ruling elders, I Tim. v. 17, in which latter sort, most of the churches in New England, as many of the congregational churches elsewhere, are not so well satisfied as formerly, accounting ruling elders should be able to teach.

6. It is in the power of the churches, to call their own officers and remove them from their office again, if there fall out just cause, yet so as the advice of neighbour churches, where it may conveniently be done, be first had, and they who are to officiate, ought to be tried and proved before they be elected. 1 Tim. v. 22.

7. Elders are to be ordained by imposition of hands, which is to be performed by the elders of the same church, if it be furnished with any, or those of neighbour churches, and may be done by some of the brethren deputed thereunto; which latter also is not disapproved by Dr. Hornbeck, the learned professor of divinity at Leyden, from Numb. viii, 10.

8. The power of government in a congregational church, ought to proceed after the manner of a mixt administration, for in an organick church, no act can be consummate without the consent both of the elders and the brethren; so as the power of government, or rule in the elders, prejudice not the power of privilege in the brethren, nor the power of privilege in them, prejudice the power of rule seated in the elders, seeing both may sweetly agree together.

9. For the maintenance of the ministers of the church, all that are taught are to communicate to him that teacheth in all good things; and in case of neglect, the magistrate ought to see that the ministry be duly provided for.

10. For the admission of members, those that have the weakest measure of faith, it ought to be accepted in them, that desire admission, either by a personal relation in publick, or by the elders acquainting the church, with what satisfaction they have received from the persons in private. The things wherein satisfaction is required, are faith and repentance, which ought to be found in all church members.

11. Where members of churches are called to remove from one church to another, it is convenient for order's sake, that it be done by letters of recommendation, or of dismission.

12. The censures of the church, which are for the

preventing, removing, or healing of offences, are excommunication or admonition, wherein the church ought to proceed according to the rule of Matthew xviii. 15, 16, 17, wherein the offence is to be brought to the church by the mouth of the elders.

13. Particular churches, although they are distinct, and so have not one power over another, yet because they are united unto Christ, not only as a mystical but as a political head, they ought to have communion one with another, by way of mutual care, consultation, admonition, and participation in the same ordinances.

14. Synods orderly assembled, and rightly proceeding according to the pattern of Acts xv. are the ordinance of Christ, and if not absolutely necessary to the being, yet necessary to the well being of churches, for the establishment of truth and peace therein. And many churches may, so assemble together by their messengers and elders; and their directions and determinations, so far as consonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission, not only for their agreement therewith, (without which they bind not at all,) but also for the power whereby they are made, as an ordinance of God, appointed thereunto in his word.

15. Church government and civil government may very well stand together, it being the duty of the magistrate to take care of matters of religion, and to improve his civil authority, for observing the duties commanded in the first, as well as in the second table; secing the end of their office is not only the quiet and peaceable life of the subject in matters of righteousness and honesty, but also in matters of godliness. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2.

In these propositions are summed up in brief the prin ciples of the congregational churches of New England as to church government, which is the only point wherein they differ from the rest of the reformed churches, whether English, Belgick, or Gallick. As for their confession of faith and doctrine in all other points of religion, they of New England vary not from the doctrine of the church of England, which generally is received in all the reformed churches of Christ in Europe.

In drawing the aforesaid platform, the hand of Mr. Thomas Hooker, the famous minister of Hartford, was wanting, who had been not a little helpful in the former synod, 1637, being July the 7th, 1647, called to his rest and to receive his crown amongst those who have turned many to righteousness, and to shine as the stars forever and ever. Of whose eminent worth the less may be said here, considering what is ascribed to him by a reverend brother of his own order, in this following epitaph, wherein there is enough, if some do not think too much said, for the setting forth his praise.

EPITAPHIUM IN OBITUM R MI FRATRIS

MRI. THO: HOOKERI.

America, although she doth not boast
Of all the gold and silver from this coast,
Lent to her sister Europe's need, or pride,

(For that's repaid her, and much more beside,

By one rich jewel, which th' heavens did thence afford,
As pious Herbert gave his honest word,)

Yet thinks she may into the catalogue come,
With Europe, Africk, Asia, for one tomb.*

Ez. ROGERS.

For piety, prudence, wisdom, zeal, and learning, and what else might make him serviceable in the time and place he lived in, he might be compared with those of greatest note. He needs no other praise than the fruits of his own labours in both Englands, which shall preserve an honourable and happy remembrance of him for

ever.

August 25, 1649, put a period to the days of that fervent and powerful preacher of the gospel, Mr. Thomas Shepard, the worthy pastor of the church of Christ at Cambridge. To him may be in his measure applied the words of David, "The zeal of thine house hath consumed me," for he died in the 44th year of his age. In whom was found the zeal, fervour, piety, and learning, of an eminent, worthy preacher of the gospel.

** VARIATIONS. [From Mather's Magnalia.] ED.

Line 4.

and much gain beside,

5. In one rich pearl, which heaven did thence afford.
7. Yet thinks, She in the catalogue may cons.

CHAP. LIX.

General affairs of the Massachusetts, in New England, from 1651 to 1656.

In the beginning of this lustre, viz. May the 7th, 1651, Mr. Endicot was again chosen governour, and Mr. Dudley deputy governour, which order in the election of the chief rulers of that colony was observed in the years 1652 and 1653.

In the general court of the year 1651, Boston growing populous, and many occasions thereby intervening, that required the administration of justice oftener than the stated courts of the county could well attend unto, the town was allowed the power of keeping a kind of corporation court by commissioners chosen by the inhabitants. And whereas the people, inhabiting upon the south side of Pascataqua river had resigned up their government to the Massachusetts, those on the other side in the Province of Maine were the same year, 1651, urged with the like necessity as the other were; for having run themselves aground in their government, and not well able to recover the stream again, they were willing to cast themselves upon the general court of the Massachusetts, who, upon several considerations, past an order and declaration about their right and title thereunto, and ordered Mr. Bradstreet, Maj. Denison, and Capt. Hathorne to treat with the gentlemen of the said province about the surrender thereof, as in their best judgments and discretions they should think meet. On which account all the towns eastward of the Pascataqua were, within the compass of the next two years, taken into the government of the Massachusetts in like manner.

In the year 1652, Mr. Bradstreet, Mr. Symonds, Capt. Wiggin, and Mr. Pendleton, were sent as commissioners to summon the inhabitants of Kittery to come in and own their subjection to the Massachusetts, as of right and proper interest belonging unto them. And being assembled together November 16, that year, they submitted thereunto, their submission being subscribed by