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BOOKS ON
CONGREGATIONAL POLITY

By WILLIAM E. BARTON

THE LAW OF CONGREGATIONAL USAGE A comprehensive survey of the entire field of the Congregational system, as related to the local church, the minister, the district association, the state conference, the National Council, Councils pro re nata, and the missionary organizations; with numerous citations from Congregational authorities; the most complete treatise on this subject.

8vo, pp. 495, $2.50

BARTON'S CONGREGATIONAL MANUAL Four concise volumes in one. The Law of Deliberative Assemblies; Congregational Theory and Practice; Compendium of Forms; and Book of Public Services.

Flexible Leather, for the Pocket; pp. 310, $1.50

CONGREGATIONAL CREEDS AND COVENANTS Crown 8vo, pp. 360, $1.75

For Sale by

ADVANCE PUBLISHING COMPANY
Chicago

THE PURITAN PRESS

Sublette, Illinois

AND

COVENANTS

BY

WILLIAM E. BARTON, D. D., LL. D.

Professorial Lecturer in Ecclesiastical Law in Chicago Theological
Seminary, affiliated with the University of Chicago; Minister of
the First Church of Oak Park; Editor of "The Advance"; Author
of "The Congregational Manual," "The Law of Congregational
Usage," etc.

ADVANCE PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO

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PREFACE

There exists one monumental work on "The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism" by Prof. Williston Walker. To that work and the books listed in its Bibliography as well as to some later books, the author of the present work is deeply indebted. There is need, however, of an inexpensive and popular book setting forth our general position as a denomination with reference to creedal statements, and containing the texts of those confessions of faith which have received from time to time the endorsement of Congregationalists, particularly in America. The student who wishes to make an exhaustive study of the subject will still need Prof. Walker's great book; but both ministers and laymen need a smaller work, such as this undertakes to be. Dr. Walker's book appeared in 1893, and completed its admirable recital with the adoption of the Commission's creed of 1883. A whole generation has passed since then, and there are important supplements to be added to the history.

Dr. Walker's great book deals with Congregational Creeds and Platforms. The present work contains no study of platforms or systems of government, that subject having been treated in the author's "The Law of Congregational Usage" and in his "Congregational Manual;" but the present volume is concerned with Congregational covenants, as well as with its creeds.

This book had been written and was thought to be ready for the press when the author discovered an entirely unexpected fund of information on the subject of church covenants in "The Church Covenant Idea" by Champlin Burrage, published in 1904 by the American Baptist Publication Society. The author was familiar with Mr. Burrage's other contributions to the literature of the early Anabaptists, Pilgrims and Puritans, but singularly had never heard of this important monograph. Since obtaining it, however, he has considerably enlarged the section devoted to "Church Covenants," availing himself freely of the material collected by Mr. Burrage.

In addition to these, and the standard books on Congregational history and polity, the author is indebted to Schaff's Creeds of

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