omes, heartily to endeavour, that
there might be in both Kirks, one Confession, one Directory for publicke
worship, one Catechisme, and one Forme of Kirk-government. And if the Lord
who hath done great things for us, shall be pleased to hearken unto our
desires, and to accept of our endeavours, we shall not only have a sure
foundation for a durable Peace, but shall be strong in God, against the
rising or spreading of Heresie and Schisme amongst our selves, and of
invasion from forraine enemies.

Concerning the different Formes of Kirk-government, projected by sundrie
sorts of men, to be set up in place of Episcopall Hierarchie, which we
trust is brought near unto its period, we must confesse, that we are not a
little grieved that any godly Ministers and Brethren should be found, who
doe not agree with other Reformed Kirks in the point of government as well
as in the matter of Doctrine and worship; and that we want not our own
feares, that where the hedge of Discipline and Government is different,
the Doctrine and Worship shall not long continue the same without change:
yet doe not marvell much, that particular Kirks and Congregations which
live in such places, as that they can conveniently have no dependencie
upon superiour Assemblies, should stand for a kind of independencie and
supremacie in themselves, they not considering that in a nation or
Kingdome, professing the same Religion, the government of the Kirk by
compound Presbyteries and Synods is a help and strength, and not a
hinderance or prejudice to particular Congregations and Elderships, in all
the parts of Kirk-government; and that Presbyteries and Synods are not an
extrinsecall power set over particular Kirks, like unto Episcopal
dominion, they being no more to be reputed extrinsecal unto the particular
Kirks, nor the power of a Parliament, or Convention of Estates, where the
Shires and Cities have their own Delegates, is to be held extrinsecal to
any particular Shire or City.

Our unanimous judgement and uniforme practice, is, that according to the
order of the Reformed Kirks, and the ordinance of God in his Word, not
onely the solemne execution of Ecclesiastical power and authoritie, but
the whole acts and exercise thereof, do properly belong unto the Officers
of the Kirk; yet so that in matters of chiefest importance, the tacite
consent of the Congregation be had, before their decrees and sentences
receive final execution, and that the Officers of a partic