eral churches, one with another, than for the mutual fellowship of the individual members in a particular church. Such an agreement or compact would constitute properly a Consociation of the churches. And such a Consociation the Platform of our churches decidedly favors; the principles for it were explicitly set forth, in distinct Propositions, adopted by the venerable Synod, composed of the elders and messengers of the churches, and holden at Boston in the year 1662. The Propositions, here referred to, are the following, which were given as a brief answer to this question, Whether according to the word of God there ought to be a Consociation of churches, and what should be the manner of it?

I. Every church, or particular congregation of visible saints in gospel-order, being furnished with a Presbytery, at least with a teaching elder, and walking together in truth and peace, hath received from the Lord Jesus full power and authority ecclesiastical within itself regularly to administer all the ordinances of Christ, and is not under any other ecclesiastical jurisdiction whatsoever. For to such a church Christ hath given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that, what they bind or loose on earth shall be bound or loosed in heaven, Mat. xvi, 19, and xviii, 17, 18. Elders are ordained in every church, Acts xiv, 25; Tit. 1, 5, and are therein authorized officially to administer in the word, prayer, sacraments and censures, Mat. xxviii, 19, 20; Acts vi, 4; 1 Cor. iv, 1, and v, 4, 12; Acts xx, 28; 1 Tim. v, 17, and iii, 5.-The reproving of the church of Corinth and of the Asian churches severally imports they had power each of them within themselves, to reform the abuses that were amongst them, 1 Cor. v; Rev. ii, 14, 10. Hence it follows that consociation of churches is not to hinder the exercise of this power, but by counsel from the word of God to direct and strengthen the same upon all just occasions.

II. The churches of Christ do stand in a sisterly relation each to other, Cant. viii, 8; being united in the same faith and order, Eph. iv, 5; Col. ii, 5, to walk by the same rule, Phil. iii, 16, in the exercise of the same ordinances for the same ends. Eph. iv, 11-13; 1 Cor. xvi, 1, under one and the same political head, the Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. i, 22, 23; and iv, 5; Rev. ii, 1; which union infers a communion suitable thereunto.

III. Communion of churches is the faithful improvement of the gifts of Christ bestowed upon them for his service and glory, and their mutual good and edification, according to capacity and opportunity Peter iv, 10, 11; 1 Cor. xiv, 4, 7, and x, 24; 1 Cor. iii, 21, 22; Cant. viii, 9; Rom. i, 15; Gal. vi, 10.

IV. Acts of communion of churches are such as these:

1. Hearty care and prayer one for another, 2 Cor. xi, 28; Cant. viii, 8; Rom. i, 9; Col. i, 9; Eph. vi, 18.

2. To afford relief by communication of their gifts in temporal or spiritual necessities, Rom. xv, 26, 27; Acts xi, 22, 29; 2 Cor. viii,

1, 4, 14.

3. To maintain unity and peace by giving account one to another of their public actions, when it is orderly desired, Acts xi, 2-4, VOL. XI.

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18; Josh. xxii, 13, 21, 30; 1 Cor. x, 32; and to strengthen one another in their regular administrations; as in special by a concurrent testimony against persons justly censured, Acts xv, 41, and xvi, 4, 5; 2 Tim. iv, 15; 2 Thess. iii, 14.

4. To seek and to accept help from and give help unto each other.

1. In case of divisions and contentions whereby the peace of any church is disturbed, Acts xv, 2.

2. In matters of more than ordinary importance, Prov. xxiv, 16, and xv, 22, as ordination, translation, and deposition of elders and such like, Tim. v, 22.

3. In doubtful and difficult questions and controversies, doctrinal or practical, that may arise, Acts xv, 2, 6.

4. For the rectifying mal-administrations, and healing of errors and scandals, that are unhealed among themselves, 3 John ver. 9, 10; 2 Cor. ii, 6, 11; 1 Cor. xv; Rev. ii, 14-16; 2 Cor. xii, 20, 21, and xiii, 2. Churches now have need of like help as well as churches then. Christ's care is still for whole churches as well as for particular persons; and Apostles being now ceased, there remains the duty of brotherly love, and mutual care and helpfulness incumbent on churches, especially elders for that end.

5. In love and faithfulness to take notice of the troubles and difficulties, errors and scandals of another church, and to administer help (when the case manifestly calls for it) though they should so neglect their own good and duty as not to seek it, Exod. xxiii, 4, 5; Prov. xxiv, 11, 12.

6. To admonish one another when there is need and cause for it, and after due means with patience used, to withdraw from a church or peccant party therein, obstinately persisting in erior or scandal, as in the Platform of discipline (chap. 5, sect. 2, particular 3.) is more at large declared, Gal. ii, 11, 14; 2 Thess. iii, 6; Rom. xvi, 17.

V. Consociation of churches is their mutual and solemn agree. ment to exercise communion in such acts, as aforesaid, amongst themselves, with special reference to those churches, which by providence are planted in a convenient vicinity, though with liberty reserved without offence, to make use of others, as the nature of the case, or the advantage of opportunity may lead thereunto.

VI. The churches of Christ in this country having so good opportunity for it, it is meet to be commended to them, as their duty thus to consociate. For 1. Communion of churches being commanded, and consociation being but an agreement to practice it, this must needs be a duty also, Psa. cxix, 106; Nehem. x, 28, 29.

2. Paul an Apostle sought with much labor the conference, concurrence and right-hand of fellowship of other Apostles; and ordinary elders and churches have not less need each of other, to prevent their running in vain, Gal. ii, 2, 6, 9.

3. Those general scripture rules teaching the need and use of counsel and help in weighty cases, concern all societies and polities, ecclesiastical as well as civil, Prov. xi, 14, and xv, 22, and xx, 18, and xxiv, 6; Eccl. iv, 9, 10, 12.

4. The pattern in Acts xv holds forth a warrant for councils, which may be greater or lesser as the matter shall require.

5. Concurrence and communion of churches in gospel times is not obscurely held forth in Isa. xix, 23-25; Zeph. iii, 9; 1 Cor. xi, 16, and xiv, 32, 36.

6. There hath constantly been in these churches a profession of communion in giving the right hand of fellowship at the gathering of churches, and ordination of elders: which importeth a consociation, and obligeth to the practice thereof. Without which we should also want an expedient and sufficient cure for emergent church difficulties and differences: with the want whereof our way is charged, but unjustly, if this part of the doctrine thereof were duly practised.

The principles of these Propositions are genuinely Congregational, and perfectly coincident, and for substance, identical with those of the Platform. The Propositions, indeed, were framed and adopted by those venerable Fathers of our churches, by whom, only fourteen years before, the Platform was formed and adopted, and for the very purpose of carrying the design of the Platform into more complete and salutary effect. They are therefore especially suitable to be adopted as the general basis of an actual Consociation, as a Consociation founded upon them, and consistent with them, can be no innovation; but a recurrence to first principles, a restoration of our churches to their primitive order, and a guarantee to them of their original rights, liberties, and privileges, To carry these principles into good effect, nothing more seems necessary, than for the churches explicitly to adopt, and duly to put in practice the following Articles of Agreement.

Art. 1. The Propositions of the Synod of 1662, recited in the foregoing preamble, are acknowledged as the general basis of Consociation; and as declaratory of the rights and privileges guaranteed to the churches; of the duties which they owe to each other, and of the purposes for which they are consociated. It will therefore be understood that it will not be competent to the Consociation "to hinder the exercise of the power" delegated by Christ to each particular church in regard to its own interior administrations and concerns, "but by counsel from the word of God to direct and strengthen the same upon all just occasions:" and especially to direct and strengthen that holy fellowship which the churches, as churches, are to maintain and exercise one towards another.

Art. 2. Particular Consociations shall be formed within such limits as may be deemed most convenient and expedient. But though it may be the duty of every church to join in Consociation, and to do what it can to promote the great design of general fellowship and order; yet no church can rightfully be considered or treated as belonging to a consociation without its own voluntary consent, or restrained from regularly withdrawing itself from a consociation whenever it shall see fit to withdraw.

Art. 3. Of the churches comprised in each particular Consociation, the pastors, and lay delegates, will meet annually, and oftener as shall be agreed upon, or as special occasion may require; at

tend to any business which may regularly come before them, and upon such religious exercises as shall be judged expedient; and allow freedom of conference, in the spirit of charity and order, upon subjects relating to the welfare of the churches.

Art. 4. Each particular Consociation will have a Moderator and a Scribe chosen annually, and to continue in office until others are chosen; and such other officers as shall be deemed requisite.

Art. 5. Although in order to general union and harmony, this instrument is to be the constitution of all the Consociations to be comprised in the General body; yet it will be competent for each Consociation to adopt, for the regulation of its own proceedings, and for the direction and benefit of the churches in regard to their consociated state, such rules and prescripts not repugnant to this constitution, as it shall judge advisable.

Art. 6. With a view to prevent the animosities, difficulties, and disorders, which have too often been experienced, in regard to councils, on occasions of dissentions and strife, and to preserve and promote that holy and pleasant fellowship, which is the primary object of consociation, and which should be sought with the most heedful attention, and the most tender care; the consociated churches with their pastors, agree to regard and use the Particular Consociation to which they belong, as the proper Council, made mutual by this agreement, as to all parties concerned, to be applied to by the churches and individuals in the connexion, in all cases, in which the advice and assistance of a council is requisite. Particularly do they agree to hold this as the proper body to hear and decide upon any complaint or allegation, touching ministerial character, against any minister belonging to it; to acquit, or to find guilty to advise, sustain, or depose, as the case may require.-It is to be understood, however, that any Particular Consociation may provide, upon principles and for reasons distinctly to be made known by them for cases, in which it may not be expedient for all the members to be concerned, as also for cases in which it may be proper for others, not of its body, to be admitted to sit in the council.

Art. 7. Any regular application from a church, for the advice or assistance of the Consociation, shall receive kind and prompt attention. An application from an individual, or individuals, will also be kindly attended to, though not without the most guarded respect to the rights and privileges, the order and peace of the church or churches concerned.

Art. 8. A complaint against a minister may be regularly exhibited either by the church of which he is pastor, or by a brother minister of the Consociation: but no complaint or accusation shall be received, but "before two or three witnesses."

Art. 9. In all cases, the judgment of the Consociation is to be regarded and treated with great respect by the churches; and if, in any case, a church after due time taken for consideration, see cause to dissent, the reasons for dissenting shall be clearly and in a Christian manner, stated in writing to the Consociation; and the Consociation, having deliberately, and in the spirit of meekness,

considered the reasons, will act as the case may require; either reversing the former judgment; or, if it be affirmed, yet with charity and forbearance, either allowing the church quietly to act agreeably to its own ultimate judgment, or reviewing the case in union with one or two neighboring Consociations to be convened together, in whole or by delegation; or dealing with the church in the way of Christian admonition. But it is distinctly provided, that no consociated church shall be put out of communion, unless, after a first and second admonition duly administered, and after due time allowed for it to reform or to justify itself, it shall be solemnly and deliberately adjudged by the Consociation to have forfeited its rights as a sister church.

Art. 10. A church, or a minister, considering itself, or himself, as aggrieved, will have the right of an appeal from the Consociation, to two or three other Consociations, to be convened, as provided for, in the next preceding article. Private church members are not included in this article; because the cases of private members are cognizable by the Consociation, only in so far as the churches to which they belong are implicated.

This Committee would farther suggest to the General Association the propriety of the following recommendation; viz. that when two or more Consociations are formed, measures be taken to promote such an understanding and consultation between them as will secure, as far as possible, a coincidence and uniformity with regard to the exercise and discipline, and all their modes of proceeding in their respective connexions.

Signed,

per order,

JEDIDIAH MORSE, Chairman.

Voted to make an annual address to our churches, and that at each meeting of the body, a Committee of three persons be chosen to prepare the address to be adopted at the next succeeding meeting. The Rev. Elijah Parish, D.D. the Rev. Joseph Emerson, and Rev. Brown Emerson, were chosen a Committee to prepare the address to be adopted, at the next annual meeting of this body.

Mr. Mead, from the Committee to prepare a general narrative of the state of religion and morals, presented the following report, which was accepted and committed to the Rev. Messrs. Morse, Brown Emerson, and Codman, for publication, with liberty to make such verbal corrections as they may think proper.

REPORT

Of the Committee appointed to take Minutes of the narratives, given before the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, at their annual meeting in Royalston, June 27th to 29th, 1815, concerning the state of religion within the limits of said Association, and those bodies in its connexion in other parts of the United States. is going over this extensive field, to give a general view of those objects within its bounds, which relate more immediately to our moral and religious interests, we shall pursue the course marked out by those, from whose narratives this view is collected. Casting our eyes over that large extent of territory embraced by the Berkshire Association, we are met by facts, which cannot fail to excite emotions of gratitude and joy in the breast of every one, who delights in the prosperity of Zion.

Though the general state of religion, in that county, is described to be rather low and discouraging; yet, with pleasure we find that God has not forsaken this portion of cur Commonwealth.