8

    of their owne for wch others are not blamed. (a) Rev. 2.[cut off]

    3

    This Forme is the visible Covenant, Agreemt or Conse[nt]

    whereby they give up themselves unto ye Lord, to th[e]

    observing of the ordinances of cht togeathr in th[e]

    same Society(a), wch is usually called the church cove[nant]

    For we see not otherwise how members can h[ave]

    church power one over another mutually. & [?]

      The comparing of each pticular church unto a Citty

    & to a Spouse(c) seemeth to conclude not only a Form[e]

    but that yt forme is by way of covenant.

      The covenant as it was that wch made the Family

    of Abraham(d); & children of Israel(e) to be a church

    people unto God, so is it that wch now makes th[e]

    severall societyes of gentile beleevers(f) to be church[es]

    in these dayes.  (a) Zech.11.14  (b) Eph.2.19.  (c) 2 Cor. 11. [cut off]

    (d) Gen.17.  (e) Deut.29.12,13. (f) Eph.2.12, 19.

    4

    This voluntary Agreement, consent, or Covenant (for

    these are here taken for the same) although th[e]

    more expresse and playne it is, the more fully

    puts us in mynd of or mutuall duty; & stirreth [us]

    up unto it, & leaveth lesse roome for ye question[ing]

    of the truth of the church state of a company of professors [&]

    the truth of membershipp of pticular psons; yet w[e]

    conceive the substance of it is kept, where there [is]

    a reall agreement & consent of a company of faithf[ul]

    persons to meet constantly togeather in one Con

    gregation; for ye publike worship of god and

    their [struck through] mutuall edification; wch reall Ag[ree]

    ment and consent they do Expresse by their

    constant practice in coming togeather for the

    publike worship of god, and religious subjection u[nto]

    ye ordinances of god there. The rather if we do

    consider how Scripture covenants have been entred int[o]

    not only Expressely by word of mouth(a), but by sacrif[ice]