A

NARRATIVE

OF THE

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

General Assembly

Of the Elders and Messengers of the Baptized Churches sent from divers parts of England and Wales, which began in London the 9 th of June, and ended the 16 th of the same, 1690.

[Owning the Doctrine of Personal Election and Final Perseverance.]

Hag. 1. 4.

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled Houses; and this House lie waste?

London, Printed in the Year, 1690.

THE

GENERAL EPISTLE

To all the Churches of Christ walking in the same Faith and Order.

Dearly Beloved;

GRace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied upon you from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the holy Spirit, to the transforming and changing you into the Divine Image and Likeness, in order to the glorifying him here, and your having Glory with him hereafter. To which ends, as God is pleased by his wonder-working Providences to give us the greatest advantages, it is our greatest Concern, Prudence and Interest to use our utmost Diligence in the due Improvement of them; and now to prefer the good of Souls, and the Glory of God, the furtherance of the Gospel as subservient thereto, above our own private Concerns. If we will build his House, he will build ours. O that the Complaint of old may not now be found amongst us, All seek their own things, none the things of Christ, but rather follow the Apostle Paul's Example, who sought not his own Profit, but the Profit of many, that they might be saved. As it is our Priviledg to be in a Capacity to do good in our Generation; so it is our Duty, and will be our Crown and Glory to lay out our Selves and our Talents, not only Spiritual, but also Temporal, speedily, while the Power is in out Hands, and faithfully, to the utmost we can. To whom much is given, of them much is required. O that God would give us great Souls disposed to great things for him, and help us to do it humbly, sincerely and chearfully, that, like David, we may serve our Generation by the Will of God before we fall asleep. Amongst all the rest of his great Acts, his great Preparation for the House of God (a Work that was much on his Heart) was not the least, at whose desire the People was stirred up to offer willingly and abundantly, for which he blessed God, and said, Of thine own have we given thee.

Beloved, we began the last Year to lay a Foundation for carrying on of Temple-work, and upon the view of what is done in it, as they of old in the rebuilding of the Temple, when the Foundation was laid, some wept, because it was no greater; others rejoyced that it was begun; so may we. It is matter of Joy that any have had their Hearts and Hands in so good a Work, and the more because of the great Good that hath been effected by it, especially in Essex and Suffolk, where were no Baptized Churches. Some at the cost of the Fund were sent out to preach the Gospel, with which the People were so affected, that they were forced to ride from place to place, and preach every day till they were even spent; and divers were baptized, and two Churches are like to be gathered; and the People have sent again for their help; their Meetings were very great, and a great Door is open in those Eastern Parts, the Lord make it effectual. This Work seems worth all our Cost, it is too large here to insert Particulars: Besides, many poor painful faithful Servants that labour in the Lord's Vineyard, bless God for your Bounty, of which they have received. But to be lamented it is, that so little hath been done amongst the Churches, and too many that can, have done nothing. Now to the end that a lasting Structure may be raised on this Foundation, a Method is now concluded on, which vvith this vvill be commended to you, which we pray and beseech for our dear Lord's sake, may be speedily followed; and that if any are slack and backward, others vvill encourage them. We ought to provoke to Love and Good-Works. We hope vve can say vve have been (notwithstanding our many Infirmities) in Peace, and unanimous in all our Conclusions. Those that are of general Concern, will come vvith this to you: but those that are particular, to those whom it concerns. So with our earnest Desires to you, and Prayers to God for you, that your Hearts may be affectd with, and engaged in this so good and great a Work, with all others we are called to, we remain your Servants for Jesus sake.

Signed, by the Appointment of the Whole Assembly, by us,

Han. Knollyes,

Will. Dix,

Will. Kiffin,

James Hitt,

John Tomkins,

Hercules Collins,

Will. Collins,

George Barrett,

Rich. Adams,

Thomas Winnell,

John Ward,

Andrew Gifford,

Beni. Keach,

Henry Austin,

Isaac Lamb,

Will. Pritchard,

Sam. Shere,

Hen. Brett,

Tho. Harrison,

John Skinner.

The Narrative of the Proceedings of the Elders and Messengers of the Baptized Churches in their General Assembly in London , June 9th, 1690 .

1. REsolved, that neither in our former Assembly, or in this, or any other (according to our former Preliminaries) that we do not in any thing impose our Conclusions on any Churches, or particular Persons; but advise according to the best of our Understandings, as not being Lords over their Faith, but Helpers of their Joy.

2. That this Assembly do desire the Elders and Brethren in London, to send down one Elder or two to assist our Brother Henry Austin, in the Ordination of Brother Henry Brett of Pulham.

3. That we do desire our Brother Benj. Keach, and one Brother more, to visit our Friends at Colchester, Suffolk, and Norfolk, &c. to preach the Gospel, and to assist them in all those things they need, for their settlement in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, as the Lord shall open a Door of opportunity to them.

4. That Brother Gregory Page, Brother R. Carter, and Brother Humphrey Burroughs be added to the nine Treasurers appointed for the Fund. Resolved also, that any five of the said twelve Brethren may act and do any business.

5. That every particular Congregation contributing towards the Fund, do signify to the Trustees when they send any Sum of Money to them, what particular use they design it for, or how much for one use, and how much for another of the said Sum, and keep a distinct Account of it.

6. That the particular Cases of those poor Ministers that have not been concluded on by this Assembly, are left to the Trustees of the Fund to act concerning them as in the direction given in the Narrative of the last Assembly.

For the better settling of the Churches, and maintaining the Fund, and amicable Communion one with another;

Resolved,

I. THat all the Churches that can, should have their Associations of several Counties together once or more a Year, according as they shall in respect of their Distance agree.

II. That of each Association, two Persons should be chosen to visit all the Churches of that Association once in the Year, for the Ends following.

1. Besides preaching to them, to enquire what orderly Officers are amongst them, and press them that are short therein to come up to the Rule; and that Care be taken in each Association to lend all needful Assistance.

2. To enquire what Provision they make for their Minister, whether it be according to their Minister’s Necessity and the Churches Ability, that their Ministers may give themselves more to the Work of the Lord.

3. That where any Members lie short of their Duty, they endeavour to stir them up to it.

4. Where Churches are that have Ministers that have no need, and will not receive, that they be stirred up to do what they can to the Fund.

5. Those Churches who are able to maintain their own Minister, and can do something to the Fund, be stirred up thereto.

6. That when a Church hath done all they can do to their utmost, and all will not be sufficient, then those Messengers do acquaint their respective Association, and they together do consider what may be needful to be had out of the Fund: and also what Gifted Brethren in each Division are desirous to learn the Tongues, shall be presented to the Association, and if approved, then by them to the Trustees.

7. That no Minister that receives of the Fund should be any of those Messengers, if others can be had.

And in order to the effecting these things;

1. That a Division be made of all the Churches into Associations, and commended to the Churches good liking.

2. That a Catalogue of all the Ministers that need Supplies out of the Fund, be made by the Trustees against the next General Meeting.

3. That an Account be given what is like to be the Yearly Income of the Fund.

4. That no Messengers be sent to visit Churches out of the Fund's Cost, except in extraordinary Cases.

5. That seeing the Churches in the Country are at so much Charge in their Associations, and sending of their Messengers to London, that the Churches in London would send Messengers into the Country to preach the Gospel, or to plant Churches at their own particular Charge, except in extraordinary cases.

6. That the Churches would speedily associate in their respective Divisions in order to the executing of the aforesaid things.

An Account of the several Associations of the Churches in England and Wales .

The Association of the Churches in London,

Southwitck,

Middlesex, Kent and Essex.

Malmesberry,

George-Yard,

Devonshire-Square,

The Association of the Churches in

Morefields,

Glocestershire

Joyners Hall,

Houndsditch,

Ninisfield,

Virginia-Street,

Sudbury.

Wapping,

Lyme-house,

Horsly-down,

The Association of the Churches in Bristol.

Winchester-house,

Mile-end,

Broadmead,

Richmond,

Fryers.

Turnum-green,

Mays-pond,

Sandwich,

The Association of the Churches in

Hatfield-Heath.

Abbington, &c.

Abbington,

The Association of the Churches in Somerset

Wantage,

and Dorsetshire.

Longworth,

Oxford,

Taunton,

Farington,

Bridgwater,

Flinstock,

Croscome,

Mazittampton,

Stedmore,

Cizensister,

Hallotrow,

Reading,

Haycomb,

Killminton,

Hatch.

The Association of the Churches in Norfolk,

Periton-evil.

and Suffolk, &c.

Norwich,

The Association of the Churches in Wiltshire,

Pulham,

&c.

Sudbury,

Wisbich,

Porton,

Debbitch.

Warmister,

Seghill,

Westbery,

The Western Association of the Churches.

Stoak,

Devizes,

Looe,

Calne,

Plymouth,

Milsom,

Southams.

Bradford,

Bouye,

Southmoltowne,

Hempsteed,

Tyverton,

Stutly,

Exon,

Harlow,

Lyppet,

Tring.

Dolwood,

Lyme,

The Association of the Churches in Stepton

Chard, and Tauton, and Dunster are desired to

and Hadnam.

be added, if they think fit .

Stepton, alias Steventon and Hadnam.

The Association of the Churches in

Newcastle, Yorkshire, Northumberland and

The Association of the Churches in South-

Cumberland.

Wales.

Newcastle,

Langon,

Bichbarn,

Ponterfract,

Bergavenny,

Broton,

Lanwenarth,

Monmouthshire

Eggermont.

Blaiegwent,

Woolverston infurnis in Lancashire to be

Golchon, part of

invited.

Herefordshire.

Graig yr Allt, and

Glamorganshire

Lanvabon.

The Association of the Churches in

Hartfordshire, Buckingham and Bedfordshire.

Carmarthen,

Ynys vach,

Pembroke &

Rushacre,

Kensworth,

Cardiganshire

Evershall,

Lanydwr.

Perton,

The Association of the Churches in Worcestershire, Warwick, Oxford, Leicestershire.

Bromsgrove,

Tewxbury,

Warwick,

Mortonhinmash,

Dimmuck,

Hooknorton,

Hereford,

Alcester,

Kilby.

The next General Meeting is to be at London in the Week commonly called Whitson-week, 1691, to begin on the third day of the Week (called Tuesday) in Prayer, and then on the fourth day to proceed on business.

FINIS.

Advertisements.

THose who desire to have the Confession of Faith of all these Churches, may have them of Mr.

John Harris, at the Sign of the Harrow in the Poultrey. Price bound 1 s.

The Minister’s Maintenance vindicated, published by the Elders in London. Price 6d.

Where also you may have that excellent Treatise of Baptism, wrote by Mr. Philip Cary. Price bound 2 s.

As also that very useful and profitable Book for Children and young People, called Instructions for Children; wrote by Benj. Keach. Price bound 6 d.

Distressed Sion relieved, a Poem. By B. K.

Antichrist stormed, and the time of the End. By B. K.

Both sold by Nath. Crouch, at the Bell in the Poultry.