promise in the strength of Christ and in the presence of our Royal Husband to profess our Allegiance to him as King of Nations and to * The asserting of the Kingly Power of Christ over Nations does assert also the Rights and Authority of Kings and these Magistrates that Reign under him maintain his Rights and Prerogatives as the King thereof to whom the Kingdoms of the World belong with our Lives and all dear to us every manner of way as his Word Spirit and Divine Providence shall from time to time call us thereunto And in all those things we in the Grace that is in our dear Lord shall endeavour to walk according to his Word and the Explication of this our Covenant which is annexed thereto To the only Wise God be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen AN EXPLANATION OF THE COVENANT WE the Covenanted People and Church of God being greatly humbled that in our former and latter Covenanting we were so ignorant and legal and that it came to pass thence that we have been guilty of so many Breaches thereof both we and our Officers now in the steadfast believing Views that all those Breaches are blotted out and Transgressions pardoned in him and for his sake who is our constant a 1 John 2.1 Advocate at the Father's Right hand Jesus Christ the Righteous and being constrained by the Sense of the boundless Love of the Father and the Son and the past and present Testimonies thereof to our Souls do professedly and publickly b Deut. 26.17 this day avouch again solemnly the Lord Jesus to be our c Isa 33.22 Judge and King and Lawgiver and d John 8.36 compar'd with Rom. 6.8.22 profess our selves his Subjects according to the Tenour of his blessed Word and our former Covenant And for as much as many of us if not all of us were then more or less ignorant how extensive our former Covenant was when we engaged to obey e Exod. 19.8 all his Voice f Heb. 12.25 that speaks from Heaven g Rev. 19.10 in his House and because since through Grace we are more enlighten'd by his Spirit from his Word concerning our Generation-work We think it highly Necessary now to declare our Sense of those several particular h Ezek. â—3 10 Ordinances Laws and Judgments that we now are engag'd to maintain and to perform by the Bowels of his tender Mercies his holy Word and our consent thereto in our former Covenanting And First We do judge that our then solemn Covenanting as a Church was a publick Declaration and i Rom. 1.9.10 Confession with our Mouths that we had by Faith with our Hearts laid hold of Christ Jesus as k Rev. 22.16 1 Cor. 15.45 our Root l Heb. 7.22 Surety and m Rom. 5.12 c. Representative The Grace of Election as being from Eternity fixed on a certain number of n Ep. 1.4.5 Persons and that those determinate number of Persons for the most part should be of a Race Kindreds Families and Fatherhoods not excluding the Seed of Strangers in all Ages but especially in the latter Age of the World when the Partition-Wall was to be broken down between Jew and Gentile This is abundantly witness'd to by the Word of God Deut. 4.37 c. 10.15 which words though they speak literally of literal Israel and of the Election of their Seed to suceed in their then Church yet Israel and their Seed was typical inclusive and expressive of the whole Election Rom. 9.6 and the Election and Separation of the Seed of Abraham out of the World was to prove and exemplifie God's Eternal predestinating a certain number for himself to the Adoption of Children This Truth also was attested to by the series of Divine Providence in all Ages chiefly causing Electing Grace to run through Godly Families and filling up the Old and New Testament Church with their Seed yet never excluding the Seed of Strangers We likewise judge that in our Covenant we profess that by Faith we laid hold of the Eternal Compact made with our Lord the Redeemer as our Root Surety and Representative and with us in him and ours too that were of the true Israel Isa 59.21 which words though they be spoken by God the Father to our Lord Jesus the Surety and Dispensator of the New-Covenant and Testament to his Seed and Seeds Seed in him yet he therein is also the Messenger or Angel of the Eternal Compact And the New-Covenant it self in its most glorious Administration is but a fuller Copy thereof promulgated and publish'd We professed then and now do also to lay hold of this Eternal Compact as promulgated in a more comprehensive way in the Old and New Testament as running with Noah Abraham the Patriarchs David the Righteous the Godly the Church and their Seed Rom. 4.16 compar'd Gal. 3.8 Gen. 17.17 compar'd 2 Cor. 6.18 with Acts 2.39 1 Cor. 7.14 Gen. 12. 7.13.15.15 compar'd with Heb. 14.8 with Rom. 11.17 2 Kings 8.19 1 Kings 2.4.8.25 Psal 132.12 Psal 25.13.112.2 1 Kings 1.2.33 Psal 37.25 26 89.28 29.36 2 Sam. 7.11.19.29 Deut. 1.8.11.9.10.15.4.37 Psal 22.30.69.36.102.28 Num. 24.7 Deut. 30.6 ver 19. Psal 105.6 Deut. 4.10 Prov. 11 21. Psal 25.13.112.2.127.3 4 5.128.3.6 John 5.25 Isa 22.24.65.23 Psal 72.4.103.17 Prov. 14.25 26.20.7 Gen. 17.13 Deut. 7.9 Psal 122.28 Isa 6.13.43.5.44.3 4 5.54.3.61.9.65.23 59.21.66.22 Joel 2.28 Heb. 8.10.11 compar'd with ult pars 11. Rom. 11.16 17. Acts 2.16 17. vers 39. 1 Cor. 17.14 Matth. 10.12 13. Luke 10.5 6. Luke 19.9 Acts 16.31 Matth. 19.14 Mark 10.14 Luke 18.16 Being therefore convinc'd that in our first believing we laid hold on the Covenant in the most comprehensive extent of the Grace thereof for us and ours And filled with joy and wonder at the Manifestations of this Covenant-blessings and Privileges declar'd in the Gospel as we have in our former Covenanting so in this our Renewal do now again publickly and solemnly give up our selves and ours to the Lord Jesus our Royal Head and Husband to be his for ever now again publickly declaring that he is our Lord a Psal 45.11 and we will Worship him We likewise do judge that in our former Covenant with the Lord we being b Pet. 18. Col. 1.13 Chosen and Redeem'd by him c Mat. 19.27 28 translated into his Kingdom by his Spirit at Effectual Calling gave up our selves to follow him in the Works of our day to be Assertors of his Spiritual Ecclesiastical and Temporal Interest in the World and to be witnesses of this threefold Interest of his against all Oppositions or Opposers whatsoever And now considering we are not our own but bought a 1 Pet. 18.19 with a price and redeemed from a vain and fruitless Conversation to serve him Mov'd with a sense of his unspeakable Love to us ward being greatly humbled and filled with self-Abhorrence that we and our Fathers have too much declined and forsook the Cause
Souls as they that must give an Account that they may do it with joy and not with grief l 〈◊〉 13.7 8.17.18 〈◊〉 5.12 and also pray for them m 〈◊〉 4.3 1 Thes â— 25 2 Thes 3.1 We do now in the presence and Grace of our dearest Lord that hath redeem'd us likewise engage as a Church of Christ in all respects to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace n Eph. 4.3 unfeignedly loving the Persons of one another without dissimulation o Râ—m 12.11 1 Pet. 22. even when we bear the greatest Testimony against their sin and as the effects of that endeared brotherly Love to watch p Thes 5.15 over our Brethren and Sisters that they do not decline in their acts of Faith or turn aside from the Faith of the Gospel considering and getting down into one anothers Hearts continually that we may mutually provoke one another to love and to good Works not forsaking the assembling our selves together any manner of way for this good end and purpose q Heb. 10.24.25 Likewise with the assistance of the Spirit of Grace we shall endeavour to be very tender of one anothers good Names a Psal 15.3 Bodies Health Lives b Mat. 5.38.39 and outward Estate c 1 Câ—r 1. ad 11 â—ev 19.17 We shall be ready to assist one another herein to the utmost being concern'd for the particular welfare of each other therein as for our own We no less judge it our Duty not to suffer the least Sin and the least appearance of evil to rest on one another d 1 John 1.6 〈◊〉 10.17 Mâ—t. 18.17 as knowing that Sin resting on a Brother or Sister will mar their present Communion with the Lord Jesus a 1 Joh. 1.6 If the fault be secret we shall with great Secrecy admonish a Brother or Sister and out of due regard to their Reputation forbearing to reveal it to our most intimate Bosom Friend b Mat. 18.15 unless it be to some Officer if the Case be dubious provided we can but gain by our Loving Admonition But if not we shall in the Strength of the Lord take two or three more c Mat. 18.16 as Witnesses and Associates with us farther to warn and beseech them in the Bowels and tender Mercies of God in Christ to repent of their evil yet not presume to publish their Faults to any but those we take with us and if any among us publish the Miscarriage of any Brother or Sister unless it be with a design to take the Parties with them as Witnesses we shall faithfully admonish them for breaking the Rules of Christ in so doing In all the discharge of our Duties hitherto we shall carefully watch against any Prejudice to their Persons by acting and dwelling in the Bowels of Christ and considering them as cloath'd with his Righteousness and clean in God's sight d Cant. 4.6 We also leaning on Christ's Strength to assist us shall endeavour to discharge our Duty with great Faithfulness to them as well as Tenderness contentedly bearing Oppositions from themselves and others in hard Thoughts Speeches Frowns and sinister Constructions out of sincere love to Christ's Glory and the good of their Souls And if we cannot reclaim them by these methods of Mercy and loving Kindness for the Prevention of the farther spreading of their evil without delay acquaint the Church with it e Mat. 18 1â— We with him on Thrones of Judgment in his Name and Power in his Presence and Might and in his render Bowels shall admonish any Brother or Sister thus brought before us f 1 Thes 5.14 or any whose Faults are in their own nature publick g 1 Tim. 5.20 publickly backing our Admonition from his Word and Authority and his Sovereign Grace committed to us If we see one Admonition begin to take place we shall wait for their thorough Repentance till we see occasion And when ever we see our Administration blest for their thorough Humiliation and our Endeavours used in a Spirit of h Gal. 6.1 Meekness succeed we shall be most ready to receive them into the Bosom of our Lord and his Church testifying in his Name his and our declar'd Forgiveness to them Forgiving them with all Readiness and Chearfulness as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us i Eph. 4 32. no Man daring to upbraid them in the least whilst they walk with us in Love and the Laws of Christ But if to the dishonour of the Name of Christ the wounding and hard'ning of their own Souls and our Grief and Shame they continue obstinate and impenitent we having mourned first over them shall in the Name and Power of Christ our King with enflamed Zeal for his Name Rule and House in Tenderness Love and Faithfulness to their Souls cut them off and deliver them to Satan for the Destruction of the Proud Flesh that their Spirit may be saved in the Day of Christ a Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.2 3 4 5 1 Tim. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.5 Tit. 3.10 2 Thes 3.14 and this will we do with the Lord's help in Faith that this Ordinance shall be blest for their recovery in God's time b 1 Cor. 5.5 if they belong to the Election of Grace Nevertheless we shall continue to love their Persons and pray for their recovery not counting them as Enemies but warning them as those that yet may approve themselves to he Brethren c 2 Thes 3.14 when ever we meet them by charging their Evils on them And yet will notwithstanding withdraw all manner of familiarity or Communion with them d 2 Thes 3.5 even that what may be us'd with the most profligate Sinners most conscientiously abstaining from Eating and Drinking with them e 1 Cor. 5.10.11 All this we shall do in the Exercise of the greatest love to their Persons firmly believing these are the greatest Testimonies of love that can be shown them under such Circumstances being assur'd that such Carriages towards them conscientiously practised in Faith and Love will be blest in time to shame reclaim and re-instate them into Fellowship with the Father and the Son and his Children In the conscientious discharge of this Duty towards them as a Church and as Members thereof in our respective private Stations We shall not be affraid of Anger Revilings nor Persecutions from them from Churches Professors or the World but willingly and cheerfully submit to all manner of Sufferings f Luke 17.3.4 2 Cor. 2.7.8.10 upon this Account for Christ's sake When ever God gives them true Repentance we shall with great readiness cheerfulness and tenderheartedness forgive them in the Person Name and Spirit of Christ receiving of them to Communion with the Lord and us with the greatest Demonstrations of Love towards them imaginable g Eph. 4.1.32 not only forgiving but forgetting and never upbraiding them with their faults h Col. 3.13.13 and if
by the Spirit after due search that it is of Antichrist We do now solemnly declare that we do not hereby not will not impose on the Consciences of our Brethren and Sisters that are amongst us in Indifferences of lesser moment that walk conscientiously up to their Light exhorting all to be faithful thereto and of a peaceable Spirit ready to follow on to know the Lord. We engage likewise and solemnly promise all of us that if any of us should hesitate about any Doctrine or Practise ☜ contrary to the Faith and Practise of the Church to consult with the Church and its Officers at least for our own Satisfaction if not for the Churches Conviction provided it be right or before any of us do cordially and thoroughly espouse it The whole Will of God revealed in his Word we solemniy promise and engage in the Love Strength and Presence of the Lord and his holy Angels and Believers to consent to and approve of to comply with to study to be found in the practise of and make the Rules of our holy Walk to be humbled for the least breach thereof and to have continual recourse to the Blood of Sprinkling as cleansing from the stains thereof to abide in the Person and Righteousness of Christ by Faith who in our room and stead as one surety has perfectly performed these our Engagements and Presents our Obedience as wrapt up in his Righteousness through the hands of our High-Priest in the Exercise of our Royal Priesthood to our God and Father for the Honour of his Name the commendation of his Holy Religion as the Testimonies of our Love Thankfulness and Gratitude towards him Now to him that hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood and has made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever Amen There are some Errata's in this Covenant and Explanation which the Publisher did not think fit to alter they being the same in the Copy THE DISCIPLINE ANno 1692 Richard Davis who stiles himself Pastor of the Church at Rothwell in the County of Northampton admitted Members according to the Substance of the Form under-written which he called A Church Covenant viz. Pastor Do you in the presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and this Congregation here present Give your selves up unto us as we have given our selves to one another (a) To justifie this they urge 2 Cor. 8.5 to walk with us and only us in all Gospel Ordinances and the discharge of all Relative Duties as God shall help you Answ Yes Pastor So do we in the aforesaid awful Presence Covenant to walk with you in the same and if we shall be let into any further Light to make it known to you In the time of Thomas Browning the Predecessor of Richard Davis the custom at Rothwell had been to have their Pastor Ordained by the Elders of other Churches but when Davis was made choice of for their Pastor the Church at Rothwell pleaded that they were Independent and consequently ought to have the privilege of Ordaining their own Pastor and accordingly Ordained R. Davis This occasioned some Differences in the Congregation and by degrees others arose whereupon about the Year 1694 the other Covenant was Framed and Printed with the Explanation by way of Renewal of their former Covenant to which the greater part assented and remained Members Those who did not when they had pleaded for a dismission and were refus'd it joined with other Congregations according to their discretion and were cut off by those at Rothwell Their Church Officers Church Officers are of three sorts viz. 1. Pastor 2. Elders 3. Deacons 1. The Pastor Pastors is chosen by the consent of the major part of the Congregation and is Ordained by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders of the Congregation His Office is to Preside to Teach to Consecrate the Elements in the Sacrament and to Baptize 2. Elders Elders who are chose likewise by the Congregation and set apart by Imposition of Hands and are of two sorts viz. 1. Preaching Elders whose Office is to Preach and Rule 2. Ruling Elders whose Office is to Rule only Not but that they may Preach occasionally if they please 3. Deacons Deacons who also are chosen by the Congregation and set apart to that Office by Imposition of Hands Their Office is to take care of the Three Tables viz. 1. The Lord's Table 2. The Pastors Maintenance 3. The Poor They Collect the Alms of the Congregation every Sacrament-Day which is ordinarily once every three Weeks or Month. They carry the Bread and Wine to the Communicants They have the Custody of the Money in Bank and are accountable for it This is a small Sum reserv'd to answer any particular extraordinary occasion Out of these Officers the Elders are generally chosen not always They hold that the Power of each particular Officer is equal with the rest only the Pastor presides for Order sake and if the Pastor and Officers cannot agree the Majority of the Congregation in a Church Meeting determines the matter The Ordination of the Pastor is by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders The Ordination of Elders and Deacons by Imposition of the Hands of the Pastor and Elders Herein they tie themselves to no form of Words they stand during the Ceremony and Pray before and after either the Pastor or Elders or both This is always done at their Church Meetings where none have any Business besides the Members and where none else usually are present The Pastor is maintain'd by those in Covenant with him Maintenance of the Officers There is a Book for Subscriptions and if any Member able to contribute refuse he is requir'd to give his Reasons in publick and if they are not approv'd of and he continue to refuse he is dealt withal as a Sinner This Subscription Money is by the Deacons collected quarterly and paid to the Pastor Note That this Subscription Money is not the whole of the Pastors Maintenance because the Women whose Husbands are of other Congregations do privately contribute and that liberally and 't is observed That the separate Congregations have generally more Women than Men. Those likewise of meaner condition among them who have dependance on any of the Church of England for a Livelihood are oftentimes excused from Subscribing tho' not from contributing in proportion to their Abilities The Members only are obliged to Subscribe but the whole Assembly is exhorted to contribute when the Deacons on the Sacrament-Days collect the Alms of the Congregation These Collections are made every Sacrament-Day and out of these the several Officers if they want are supplied Meetings Their Meetings are of four kinds viz. 1. On every Lord's Day for Prayer and Preaching and receiving the Sacrament as often as it is Adminstred likewise for receiving the publick acknowledgments of those whose ☞ Crimes have been publick The
acknowledgments here made are generally by such persons as have complied too far with the Church of England 2. Solemn Days appointed by the Congregation the usual occasions whereof are to seek the Mind of God in relation to any differences in their Church on the Death or Resignation of the Pastor when any Officer or other useful Person hath forsaken them when there are any Calamities befallen them or any Mercies bestowed on their Church or the Nation They say the Holy-days observed by the Church of England are all Popish Christmass Easter and Whitsuntide they regard not State Fasts and Thanksgivings they do allow of 3. Church Meetings which consist only of the Members i.e. those who are in Covenant These are for regulating Matters in their Church and are held some Day in the Week before they Break Bread They begin with Prayer advise together admit Members admonish Offenders excommunicate the Obstinate receive the Penitent c. The ordinary Pennance requir'd is an acknowledgment of the Crime at these Meetings with promise of future amendment 4. Messengers Monthly Meetings which consist of the Delegates or Messengers from all the Sister Churches i. e. those Established after their Model within a certain Precinct for which every Church appoints two or more according to its discretion These are commonly the Pastor and one or two Elders of each Congregation The manner of appointing them as follows viz. The Pastor gives publick notice in a Church Meeting That on such a Day the Messengers Meeting is to be and desires them to send their Messengers and ordinarily proposes himself and one more and if they consent desires them to lift up their Hands the usual sign whereby they signifie their consent or approbation At these Meetings they Communicate to each other the concerns of their particular Churches give account of all Members cut off and of all other proceedings that are material If any difficulties have arisen in the particular Congregations the respective Messengers report to their own Congregations what was the opinion or determination of the Representatives of the several Churches Besides these Meetings above-mentioned ☜ at Rothwell they have private Cabals of trusty Men to prepare matters to be proposed at their Church-Meetings thereby to prevent any nice canvasing matters of Controversie before the Members for fear of raising or somenting Disputes among them Their method in the admission of Members Admission of Members is viz. At their Church-Meetings the Pastor gives notice to the Assembly that there are certain persons who design to offer themselves to the Church and asks their consent that they may be called in and Examined which obtained every Person is called in by himself and Examined touching his Conversion Faith Experiences c. and then ordered to withdraw The Examination finished the Pastor enquires of the Members whether they are willing to receive such and such particular Persons and if the Majority signifie their consent by lifting up their Hands they are called in and by the Pastor acquainted that the Church is satisfied of their Experiences c. and will admit them by and by When every particular Person hath been thus dealt withal the Pastor receives them according to the substance of the shorter Covenant and in a Book which they keep different from that which contains the Subscriptions for the Pastors maintenance each Person writes his own Name This Practice they say is warranted Isaiah the 44th Chap. the 5th Vers After the strictest enquiry it appears that the Printed Covenant with the Explanation hath been delivered to very few and those Select Persons so that it seems to have been chiefly designed for the Elders with whom the Members are to consult It doth not appear that it hath been refused to any Member who hath desired to buy it tho' the generality have either not heard of it or not seen it Those who have it are obliged not to Communicate it to any Stranger or the World as they term all others who are not of their way When the Congregation is assembled the Preacher whether Pastor or Elder begins with Prayer Behaviour in the Congregation the People generally standing they look upon those as lazy who sit and will not suffer any Man to be covered When Prayer is ended they cover their Heads and sit or stand as they please during the Sermon This is the whole of their Behaviour and Service unless they Sing an Hymn which they ordinarily do Baptism They Baptize both Children and Adult in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost without the Sign of the Cross Praying before and after None Pray on this occasion but the Pastor and none but he may Baptize and that only the Members or Children of the Members of his own Congregation No Sureties are admitted The Parents are charged in behalf of their Children the Adult takes the charge upon himself If one of the Parents be a Member it 's sufficient to entitle the Child to their Baptism Where the Parents are of different Perswasions they Baptize the Children privately They ordinarily Baptize at a Church Meeting and in any private House if desired Children tho' Baptized by them are not esteemed Members unless when they arrive at Years of Discretion they enter into Covenant as the other Members have done Breaking of Bread Every Member is required to receive the Sacrament as often as it is administred The Table stands in the midst of the Congregation near the Pulpit The Pastor sits in his Chair near the Table and the Receivers on Forms round about it the People as Spectators at some small distance behind them The Pastor Prays all standing and craves a Blessing on the Bread then sets it apart in almost the same Words which the Church of England uses then breaks it into small pieces and puts them on divers Plates saying whilst he is breaking Thus was our Lord's Body torn mangled broken c. The Bread thus broken is carried in the Plates by the Deacons to the several Receivers The Pastor sits in his Chair Eating with the rest As soon as the Bread is Eaten the Pastor Prays then pours out the Wine saying Behold the Blood of Christ poured out for thee and for me and for all of us c. Drink ye all of this drink large draughts of the Love of Christ c. as he thinks most proper to express himself Then he drinks and gives to the Deacons When all have drank the Pastor Prays an Hymn is Sung and the Assembly is dismissed They forbid all private Prayer at this Ordinance saying The Pastors Prayers are sufficient They esteem ' it a Memorial only Examine none before they come saying There is no need of any more Preparation at that time than any other In the absence or sickness of the Pastor there must be no Sacrament If any Member plead Conscience for leaving them and desire a discharge and offer his Reasons in publick Dismission of Members they