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Show (who alone buildeth his own Jemfolem! Pfal• 147·2·) be foughc unto with unfeigned humiliation and fervent prayer, for his prefence with his people, and acceptance of them in· fuch a worke; and if the Apo!He P a11l thought it requifite to communicate with the Apo!Hes at J--Hfolem about his Apoll:olicall doctrine, and proceedings, partly to prevent frtfpition of dilfent between him and them , !ell: by any mcancs he lhould run in vaine ; partly to hold forth nmmall communion with them , in giving and taking the right hand of fellowjbip,Gal.z.z. 9· How much more requHite will it be, for fitch as goc about to gather together fcattered Chrill:ians into a Church ell:ate, to communicate with the Elders and Brethren of other Church~s, craving their prefence, and counfell, and communion in fogrcat a work? And feeing Chri!Han Magill:rates being alfo Brethren and members oi Churches, arc called of God to be Nurfing Fat!1ers unto the Church, Ifo. 49· 23. it cannot but encourage them to c~ke the more fpecialln?tice and care of every Church, and co provtde and affigne convement allotments of land for the mainten.ance of.c,tch of them, when in times of peace they are ma~e acquamted With th~ perfons and proceedings offuch as gather mto Church-fellowlhtp, under the wing of their Govern• ment: And yet feeing the kingdome ofChi·i!l: is not of chis world, nor regulated by the wifdome of this world , wee doc not doubt but that a Church may be clearly gathered, and rightly ordered, though t.hey wa.nt opportunicie, ot· omit to aequaint the Magi· fl:rates wt~h c)mr proceedings, efpecially when Magifirate&·arc not acqua.mced with the Lawe's of Chrill:s kingdome. . . S~:.cT.II. NOw then t_o aRply all thefe ~ropofitions to.our prefent order and Rr~cbce, m the gathenng of a Church ;' thus it is, when !~~any Chnll:tans are come over in co thefe parts, they deflre to )Orne themfelve: un~o fom'e Church or ocher , according to the fh~nd Propofiuon, ~rofeffing that it was the principal! end of t etr cOJ?l?Jing,. t.o enJoy the prefcnce of the Lord in the libertie and punue of his Ordinances:And if the company of fuch as come together, be fo well knowne on~ to another that they are loath to pancompany,and yet fo great that they ca~mot well joyneinany one one Church alre~dy ell:aqlilheq~ ~yithout too mu~h i~1peachment of their ou~ard ell:ate a11d jtyelil\.ood, ,~he chlefeff part of the lands belongmg to each Church, bemg pt'epoflelfed by othet·s before them,they then cake that c9urfe which other companies took before them , they confider of entri.ng into a Church ell:atc and fellowfhip amongll: themfelvei\: And for, that end, firll: commendl.. ing themfelves tQ the Lord, they enquireout fdine ·oneot' othe,rof Eminent gifts, ufually ·fuch as have been Preachei.S of go6d, efic'eme in England, who 11¥Y guid~ and goe along with them in fo great an Allion , and if God fee good, may afterwards be c~lled to pjace and Office amongll: then~; And then fuch whofe hearts God toudleth to goe alonp with c~em in this work~ > they often meet together about the dungs of God , and per forme fame duties of Praytr and fpirituall conference together, till a fttlncient company of them be well fatisfied in the fpirituall good ell:ate of one another, and fo have approved themfelves to one anothers confciences in the fight of God, as living Ilanes fit to be laid in the Lprds fpirituall Temple , which is his Church, according to the firfr Propofition. Now becaufe (through the grace ofChrill: ) our ChriiHan Magi; ll:rates are nurling Fathers to the ,Church, and the Churches already ell:ab!Hbcd, are c;trded not oncly with a pious defire to enfarge die kingdome ofChl·ift,but al!o with brotherly love to fuch '!5 in~~qd. fo good a workc ; thofe Chrifiians therefore that defire ~o enter mco Church-fellowlhip together, doc acquaint the Governour, and fame of the neerell: Magifl:ra~cs, and thofe Churches which are next adjoyningto them, with their incemiol)s co enter into Chu~ch-fellowJhip,and era ve the prefencJ of fame from amongfi them ( at the day appointed, fame few weeks after) to helpe them with their prayers, and with their counfell, (if need lhould be) in fo weigh tic a bufinelfc, as bdng themfelves for the mo~ part, leffe experienced in the wayes ofChrill:s Kingdome, then thofe who have gone before them in fuch a Worke; as alfo def;u:i.ng to approve themf~lves and their ~:ourfe, co the confciences of i:he Brethren o.f other Churchc~J' chat they nuy moiie freely give them the right hand offellowfhip; 'and fo receive them to all Brotherly communion in the Lord, amongll: the rell: of the Churches; and this agreeth with the lafr part of the fift Propofition. So |