CHAPTER IX.

RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE OF CHURCHES WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THE churches are equal, as well as ministers and members. This equality is recognized in their mutual dismission and reception of members, in associations, councils, and other forms of intercourse.*

DISMISSION OF MEMBERS FROM ONE CHURCH

TO ANOTHER.

Members proposing to transfer their relation from one church to another receive letters of dismission and recommendation to that effect.

When a member goes to reside in another place for a season only, expecting to re

* See Camb. Plat. chapter xv. on the communion of churches with one another.

turn, and not choosing to dissolve his existing connection, he receives a letter certifying his membership and good standing, and commending him to the fellowship of the church where he goes to reside, for the time being. For an example of such a certificate, or letter of introduction, see Romans xvi. 1, 2. Also 2 Cor. iii. 1; Acts xviii. 27.

If the member dismissed is not received by the sister church, he remains connected as he was, and his letter of dismission is void. "The church cannot make a member no member, except by excommunication."*

And here let us observe the importance of good faith in this business, on the part of the dismissing church. No church should dismiss and recommend to another as in good standing a member who in reality is not so, or ought not to be so considered. If he be a member under çensure, or justly liable to it, let him be retained and

* Camb. Plat.

properly dealt with, till by his amendment he shall be worthy of the fellowship to which we recommend him, or else be excommunicated. Why should one church be unwittingly burthened with the disorderly members of another?-whom they must either discipline, or bear the opprobrium of their names. The tendency of such a procedure, besides its other mischiefs, is, to destroy the mutual confidence of the churches.

The church also to which we dismiss a member must be a church in good standing. How can we commend a disciple of Christ to the fellowship of heretics! a believer in Christ to the communion of those who deny the Lord that bought them! Or how can we commend one striving to keep himself pure, to the watch and care of them that are corrupt!

For the same reason, we cannot dismiss a member to the world.

A member is not at liberty to withdraw himself from the church to which he be

longs, without its consent, whether to join some other church, or to return again to the world.

If a member wishes to transfer his relation to another church, for good reasons, (of which he must ordinarily be the judge,) the church cannot, consistently with usage and propriety, refuse his request.

But "if his departure be manifestly unsafe and sinful, the church may not consent thereunto; for in so doing, they should not act in faith, and should partake with him in his sin. If the case be doubtful, and the person not to be persuaded, it seemeth best to leave the matter unto God, and not forcibly to detain him.”*

If in any case a church declines receiving a member dismissed to it from another, it ought to apprise that church of the fact, and assign its reasons.

Every church has an acknowledged right to examine those whom it receives by letter, in the same manner as it examines

*Camb. Platform.

those who are received on profession. But this is not generally practiced. Nor is it generally desirable. It would imply a

want of confidence in a sister church, whose written testimony (unless it is known or supposed to be unfaithful or corrupt) should be sufficient. Some churches however are so circumstanced as to render such examination necessary. In such cases it is well to make it general, for the sake of avoiding invidious distinctions.

No member of a church should permanently change his residence from one parish, or part of the country, to another, without taking a regular letter of dismission. This is due to all concerned. As a professor of religion, he is bound always to maintain a responsible connection with some particular church; and be subject to its watch and discipline.

This is too often neglected. It is a subject of growing complaint in our churches; and some of them, in order to remedy it, have very properly adopted a rule, that no person coming from abroad, and neglecting