cions had ever taken place among them.

"5. If all attempts for mutual satisfaction, union, and agreement, between ministers and people, should prove ineffectual, and either the minister should judge it his duty to withdraw from the people, as those that will not endure that which he takes to be sound doctrine, or the people should judge it their duty to withdraw from their minister, as maintaining what they take to be dangerous error, they should resolve to part without wrath and bitterness, according to the gospel rule; and how much soever they may judge that error to be in its nature of the most dangerous tendency, yet that neither they, nor others, should interpret such their separation, as if thereby they presumed to

"3. If any minister is suspected by his hearers to hold dangerous errors, and the people in a serious and respectful manner deşire him to be plain with them, and let them know what his real belief is, that they may not by mistake either wrong him or their own souls; we think it reason-judge and condemn each other able he should comply with their desire, and be ready to give an account of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear, that the people may have no ground to charge him with pride or prevarication, sacrifieing his own peace and theirs too, to a stiffness of humour, or punctilio of honour.

as to their eternal state; being persuaded, that though our Lord and Saviour is justly and highly offended with the sinful errors and divisions of those that call upon his name, yet he is that merciful High Priest that knows how to have compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way, and to give them repentance to the acknowledg ment of the truth.

"As we have, with very good reason, declared the right of the people to judge what those doctrines are that will justify them

"4. That the people in this case should be always ready to receive a reasonable satisfaction; and if it does appear either that their ministers never held those errors of which they were suspected, or have upon maturer thoughts re-in withdrawing from their milinquished them, and returned to nister, so we take the freedom to the truth, the people should re- declare it as our judgment, That gard them with all respect and the denying of the true and proper kindness, not suffering any jea- Divinity of the Son of God and lousies to lodge in their breasts, the Holy Spirit, viz. that they but should receive them in the are One God with the Father, is Lord and attend upon their mi- an error contrary to the holy nistry, and treat them with as scriptures, and the common faith much affection, freedom, and of the reformed churches. We who confidence, as if no such suspi- have subscribed these Advices,

Pastors in the Country.
William Bushnell, P. Potter's-priory.
Stephen Crisp.
George Burnett.

Peter Goodwin, I. Great Yarmouth.

J. Wood, I. Weigh-house, Little East John Barker.

ration that has been freely made
by all those whose names you
find annexed, together with such
advices, as after prayer to God,
and serious deliberation, have
been unanimously agreed upon,
as what we have thought proper
to recommend to you in your
unhappy circumstances. That
God would be pleased to follow
them with his blessing, is the
hearty prayer of

Your affectionate and faithful
servants,
Tho. Bradbury,
John Asty,
John Noble,
Jos. Hill,
T. Harrison."

Jer. Smith,
John Nesbitt,
Tho. Reynolds,
Tho. Ridgley,
John Newman,

The non-subscribing ministers sent the following Advices and letter to Exeter; which, if the reader attentively compare with those of the subscribing ministers, he will clearly perceive the grounds of difference which prevailed. The feature of the former is inflexible firmness to the truth; that of the latter laxity, and, what has been misnamed, candour and charity.

they are so taught and propagated, as will justify them in withdrawing from such their ministers. However, we think it necessary, that the right of thus judging and acting be maintained and pursued according to the following Advices.

"1. That Christians, especially ministers of the gospel of peace, should, on the one hand, carefully avoid giving any just occasion of offence; and on the other, avoid and discountenance all unreasonable jealousy concerning the sentiments and opinions of others, particularly of ministers, and all rash judging of the Christianity and sincerity of their brethren; and promote to their power mutual forbearance and brotherly love, as far as a just concern for truth and holiness will allow.

"2. If either ministers, or other Christians, should be charged with not holding the Christian faith, or propagating opinions inconsistent with it, we apprehend, that no such accusations should be received by any, to "Advices for peace, &c. whom application shall be made "After several meetings of the for advice upon such occasions, Protestant Dissenting ministers of unless the accusation be reduced the three denominations, in and to a certainty, and two or more about the City of London, the credible persons shall declare following rules and Advices were themselves ready to support and finished, and agreed to, at Salt-justify it when called to it. That ers' Hall, March 10, 1718-19, by this means all private insinuaupon a general summons sent to tions tending to scandal may be the whole body. avoided, and proceedings had in that open and sincere way which the gospel prescribes.

"We are clearly of opinion,

I. That there are errors in doctrine of that important nature, as will not only warrant, but even oblige, a Christian congregation to withdraw from the minister, or ministers, that maintain and defend those doctrines.

"II. That the people have a right to judge for themselves, what those errors are, and when

"3. That when such an accusation is brought, the person accused be first privately admonished, before the matter come under the examination of any public assembly, or he be obliged to a public defence.*

"Thus far we proceeded on March 3, and then thought fit to adjourn the fur

"4. If, after all, a public hearing | sire to secure the evidence arising be insisted on, we think the Pro- from scripture consequences; testant principle, that the Bible though no man should be chargis the only and the perfect rule of ed with holding those consefaith, obliges those who have the quences of his opinion, which he case before them, not to con-expressly disclaims. demn any man upon the authority of human decisions, or because he consents not to human forms and phrases; but then only is he to be censured as not holding the faith necessary to salvation, when it appears that he contradicts, or refuses to own, the plain and express declarations of holy scripture, in what is there made necessary to be believed, and in matters there solely revealed. And we trust that all will treat the servants of their common Lord, as they who expect the final decision at his appearing.

"5. We further advise, that catechisms and other summaries of Christianity, and expositions of scripture, by wise and learned, though fallible men, should be regarded as great helps to understand the mind of God in the scriptures; and that all be allowed, by common consent, to support their own sense of scripture upon proper occasions, with such reasons as appear to them convincing, provided it be with sobriety and charity to those who differ from them. We also de

ther consideration of these Advices till the following Tuesday, March 10, ordering a summons to be sent to every one of the brethren who had withdrawn from us; which was accordingly done. We did particularly hope to have their help in the 4th article; and to calmly debate every sentence and word in it. Some changes we ourselves have made from what it was, both in substance and form; and, though it looks to us, as it now stands, a very Christian and reasonable rule of conduct, yet we were not so set upon having our own way, but we should have readily received any thing that had been clear and convincing, in order to have changed our minds."

"6. That where any, either ministers or other Christians, think themselves bound in conscience, to declare against such a sense of scripture, as the body of that Christian society, to which they belong, apprehend to be a truth of great importance, they should, after the proper methods have been tried for mutual satisfaction, rather quietly withdraw from it, and seek communion or service in some other Christian society, than disturb the peace of that congregation; and that there be no censuring of the person who withdraws, or of the congregation that receives him.

“7. That ministers and people both endeavour to know, maintain, and propagate the truth in love; insisting most on those things wherein Christians are generally agreed; more sparingly, and with great modesty and charity, on those in which good men do or may differ.

"8. If any minister or congre-
gation shall differ as to the ex-
pediency of these methods, or
shall think any other more pro-
per, we hope they will, as in-
tending the same good end, still
preserve charity and communion
with those ministers and congre-
gations that shall think fit to
pursue these Advices.
"To these rules and Advices we have
set our hands.

J. OLDFIELD, D.D. Moderator, P.
Maid-lane.
J. Sheffield, P. St. Thomas's, Southwark.
J. Billingsley, P. Poor Jury-lane
W. Harris, P. Poor Jury-lane.
Simon Brown, I. Weigh-house.
J. Evans, P. New Broad-street, Pettys
france.
John Hughes.
Thomas Sleigh.