II.

The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and glory, with everlasting reward in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eter nal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

e Matt. 25 31 to end; Rom. 2: 5, 6, and 9: 22, 23; Matt. 25: 21; Acts, 3: 19; 2 Thes. 1: 7 to 10.

III.

f

As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.

1 2 Pet. 3: 11, 14; 2 Cor. 5: 10, 11; 2 Thes. 1: 5, 6, 7: Luke, 21:27, 28; Rom. 8: 23, 24, 25. g Matt. 24: 36, 42 43, 44: Mark, 18: 35, 30, 37; Luke, 18: 35, 36; Rev 22: 20.

THE

HEADS OF AGREEMENT,

ASSENTED TO BY THE UNITED MINISTERS,

FORMERLY CALLED

PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL;

AND ALSO,

ARTICLES,

FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF

CHURCH DISCIPLINE,

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON, AND CONSENTED TO, BY THE ELDERS AND MESSENGERS OF THE CHURCHES IN THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, IN NEW ENGLAND, ASSEMBLED BY DELEGATION, AT SAYBROOK, SEPT. 9TH,

1708.

Phil. 3: 5. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Eph. 4: 3. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

NEW LONDON, CONN., PRINTED, 1710.

PREFACE.

THERE is no Constitution on earth, hath ever been established on such sure foundation, nor so fully provided for its subsistence, as the Church of God-It being built on the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Hence, therefore, it hath from its holy hill beheld the ruins of the greatest States and most flourishing Empires; hav ing continued in safety, free from the fatal accidents of time, and triumphed not only over the rage of men, but also the repeated insults of the gates of hell. And though it hath been often straitened as to its extent, and lessened as to its number, yet hath remained firm on its own basis: Yea, when most reduced, it hath forever made good that motto, Depressa Resurgo; and so it shall continue to the end of the world. But, to the shame of its offenders, the church hath suffered most from the wounds, which she hath received in the house of her friends, from those wolves that have come to her in sheep's clothing. Damnable errors and heresies have arisen from within her, whereby she hath some

times been cast into horrible shades of darkness, as Rev. 9: 2, When the bottomless pit was opened, the smoke ascending darkened the sun and air. Yet when thus grievously blackened, a comeliness remained still. Otherwhiles she is seen bleeding with the wounds of schism and contention, offensive and hurtful to her sacred head and members, for the undivided head rejoiceth in an undivided body. His undefiled is but one. Cant. 6: 9. As she becomes divided, she becomes defiled-and hereby also the mutual offices of the respective members of this undefiled one, are interrupted to the prejudice of the whole Whence follow great disorders, as when the eye will not see for the hand, nor the head take care of the feet, nor our union to Christ be acknowledged a sufficient bond to establish a relation between members in particular. 1 Cor. 12: 27. God's Providence forever bears the upper hand in these events, who suffers the corrupt minds of men to run into errors and divisions, that the approved may be made manifest. 1 Cor. 11: 19. Such ill-minded persons being threatened with a wo, that are the authors or promoters of such offences. The Atheist endeavors to overthrow the whole constitution of religion: The Deist to take away all that part of it that promiseth sinners any safety from the wrath to come, and retain no more than what is enough to condemn him, and take away all excuse for his disobedience.