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not be attempted by any particular congregation, Classis, or Synod; but on the contrary, a careful observance of them is enjoined, until it be otherwise ordained by a succeeding general, or national Synod.

The preceding ecclesiastical ordinances were made and decreed in the national Synod, held at Dordrecht, the 28th day of May, in the year 1619.

And were signed,

JOHANNES BOGERMANNUS, Synodi Præses.
JACOBUS ROLANDUS, Assessor.

HERMANUS FAUKELIUS, Præsidis Assessor.
SEBASTIANUS DAMMON, Synodi Scriba.
FESTUS HOMMIUS, Synodi Scriba.

AT A CONVENTION of Ministers and Elders delegated for the express purpose of removing certain difficulties, which had arisen in the Reformed Dutch Churches in America, and for establishing an uniform discipline throughout the same, held at New-York, in the month of October, 1771, the Rules of Church Government, made and decreed in the National Synod, held at Dordrecht, 1618, and 1619, were recognized, and expressly adopted as the constitution of the said churches, as far as their local circumstances would render the same practicable.

The articles of union, founded upon this adoption, and expressing in general terms what is specified, and more particularly applied to the local circumstances of the churches, in the following explanatory articles, were ratified and established on the 18th. day of October, 1771.

And were signed,

JOHN H. LIVINGSTON, Præses.
ISAAC RYSDYCK, Scriba,
EILARDUS WESTERLO, Scriba,

ARTICLES

EXPLANATORY OF THE GOVERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE

OF THE

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH

IN THE

UNITED-STATES OF AMERICA,

PREFACE

TO THE EXPLANATORY ARTICLES.

WHEREAS the rules of Church Government,

commonly called the Church Orders, which were ratified in the National Synod, held at Dordrecht, in the years 1618, and 1619, and which express the general principles of Ecclesiastical government, adopted by all reformed churches, were, by the delegates from the United Netherlands, explained and more fully applied to their local circumstances, in certain acts, which were stiled the Post Acta Synodi Nationalis :

AND WHEREAS the Reformed Dutch Churches in America, who brought with them from Holland the discipline established in the National Synod of Dordrecht, have also always applied the same, as far as their numbers, and situation would permit ; and in a general convention of delegates, held at New-York, in the year of our Lord, 1771, did declare their firm adherence to the Ecclesiastical ordinances aforesaid, in the first article of their acts then ratified, in the words following, viz. “We abide fully by the constitution of the Reformed church of the Netherlands, as the same is established in the National Synod, held at Dordrecht, Anno. 1618, and 1619 :"

AND WHEREAS it is judged proper to publish the government and discipline of the Reformed Dutch Church in America, in the English language; and it is thereby become necessary, not only to translate the Rules of Church Government of the National Synod of Dordrecht,

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