Bij Rev. Chr. Wordstvorth, M.A. 245 



lived in Neio England)." ^ Later in the book Baxter mentions 

 that after he had started his Association in Worcester, in May — 

 July, 1663, then, similarly, the north and west, Cumberland and 

 Westmoreland, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Hants, «&;c., began in the 

 autumn of the same year to associate ; and some of them printed 

 articles of agreement. 



The Essex agreement was like that of Worcester (Baxter's own); 

 but " the Wiltshire ministers were so strictly held to it by the 

 Independent party, that they could get them but to these fol- 

 lowing preparatory Articles." - These he specifies^: but it may be 

 sufficient here to give a summary. They met at " Sarum " on 26th 

 October, 1653, in the first instance, and agreed, as follows : — 



I. — United prayer and fast. 



II. — Then to meet more privately ; and engage themselves by a 

 promise, 



(1) To take heed to ourselves and doctrine : 



(2) To give assistance and advice ; 



(3) To admonish and reform one another ; 



(4) To appoint a future meeting, to resolve : 



(«) not to meddle with civil Government ; 



(5) not to foment discord. 



(5) To require from members 



(a) A certificate of faithful ministry ; 



(6) A promise to submit to reproof from the 



association. 

 (c) That the moderator (who is to be chosen 



at each last previous meeting) do begin 



and end with prayer ; 

 {d) That the moderator make the arrangements 



as to bringing forward questions of 



private business ; and 

 (e) That fresh members be admitted on similar 



terms to those first associated. 



^Rellquice Baxteriana.', folio, 1696 ; i. p. 111. 

 - Ibid, ii., 167. For the Worcestershire Association, see i., 90, 146 — 9. 

 ' Ibid, ii., 167—9 : cf. Shaw, Ch. Hist., ii. 157. 



s 2 



