SAVOY CONFESSION, named from the hospital building in the Strand, London, in which it was drawn up—a document adopted by an assembly of Congregational min isters. who, by Cromwell's permission, unwillingly given just before biS death, met in the Savoy palace, Sept., 1658, to declare the principles of their faith and polity. The doctrinal part agrees in substance and almost verbally with the Westminster confession. Its outline of church polity.however, is in its principles Congregational,thongh not entirely accordant with modern Congregational usage. . It contains the following propositions! 1. A. particular church conshsts of officers and members, the Lord Christ having given his followers—united in church order—liberty and power to choose persons fitted by the Holy Ghost to be over them in the Lord. 2. The officers appointed by Christ are pas tors, teachers, elders, and deacons. 3. The way appointed by Christ for calling persons to these offices is that they be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself, and set apart by fasting and prayer, with the imposition of hands of the elder ship of that church; and those who are so chosen, though not set apart after that man ner, are rightly constituted ministers of Jesus. 4. The work of preaching is not so (-on
tined to pastors and teachers but that others also, gifted and fitted by the Holy Olv.mt and approved by the people, may perform it. 5. Ordination alone. without election or con sent of the church. doth not constitute a person a church officer. 6. A church fur nished wi.h officers, according to the mind of Christ, bath power to administer all his ordinances, even where for a time some of the offices arc out tilled; but Where there are no teaching (sifters the church cannot authorize any persons to administer the seals. 0. Every church bath power to execute all the censures appointed by Christ as a means of edification, on those who do not walk according to his laws. These censures are admo nition and excommunication; and as sonic offenses may be known only to some mem bers, those members must first admonish the offender in private; in public offenses, and in cases of non-amendment on private admonition, the offense being related tothe church, the offender is to be admonished in the name of Christ by the whole church, through the elders; and if he do not repent, then he is to be excommunicated with the cuasent of the members. See SAVOY CONFERENCE, ante.