But whereas the synods whereof we treat, and which are all that belong unto the church, can take no cognizance of any civil affairs wherein the persons of men are outwardly concerned, have no juris- diction in any kind, can make no determination but only doctrinal declarations of divine truth, of the same nature with the preaching of the word, there is no more required unto their calling, beyond their own consent, but only that they may meet in external peace by the permission of the magisti'ate; which when they cannot ob- tain, they must deport themselves as in case of other duties required of them by the law of Christ.
6. In the last place, I shall speak briefly of the power and autho- rity of these synods, in what measures, extent, and numbers soever they are assembled ; for although this may be easily collected from what hath been declared concerning their original, nature, causes, use, and ends, yet it may be necessary to be more particularly in- quired into, because of the many differences that are about it.
There is a threefold power ascribed unto synods. The first is declarative, consisting in an authoritative teaching and declaring the mind of God in the Scripture; the second is constitutive, appointing and ordaining things to be believed, or done and observed, by and upon its own authority; and, thirdly, executive, in acts of jurisdiction towards persons and churches.
206 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
The persons whom the authority pleaded may affect are of two sorts: — (1.) Such as have their proper representatives present in such synods, who are directly concerned in its conciliary determina- tions; (2.) Such as have no such representatives in them, who can be no otherwise concerned but in the doctrine, materially considered, declared in them.
Wherefore the ground of any church's receiving, complying with, or obeying the determinations and decrees of synods must be either, — (1.) The evidence of truth given unto those determinations by the synod from the Scripture ; or, (2.) The authority of the synod itself affecting the minds and consciences of those concerned.
In the first Avay, wherein the assent and obedience of churches is resolved ultimately into the evidence of truth from the Scripture, upon the judgment which they make thereof, not only the discovery of truth is to be owned, but there is an authoritative proposal of it by virtue of the promised presence of Christ in them, if duly sought and re- garded ; whence great respect and reverence is due unto them.
The power of a synod for the execution of its decrees respects either, — (1.) The things or doctrines declared, and is recommendatory of them, on its authority from the presence of Christ; or, (2.) Persons, to censure, excommunicate, or punish those who receive them nat.
These things being premised, the just power of synods may be positively and negatively declared in the two following assertions: —
(1.) The authority of a synod declaring the mind of God from the Scripture in doctrine, or giving counsel as unto practice synodically, unto them whose proper representatives are present in it, whose de- crees and determinations are to be received and submitted unto on the evidence of their truth and necessity, as recommended by the authority of the sjTiod from the promised presence of Christ among them, is suitable unto the mind of Christ and the example given by the apostles. Acts xv.
Hence it is evident that, in and after such synods, it is in the power of churches concerned humbly to consider and weigh, — [1.] The evidences of the presence of Christ in them, from the manner, causes, and ends, of their assembling, and from their deportment therein. [2.] What regard, in their constitutions and determinations, there hath been unto the word of God, and whether in all things it hath had its due pre-eminence. [3.] How all their determinations have been educed from its truth and are confirmed by its authority.
Without a due exercise of judgment with respect unto these things, none can be obliged by any synodical determinations, seeing that, without them and on the want of them, many assemblies of bishops, who have had the outward appearance and title of synods or coun- cils, have been dens of thieves, robbers, idolaters, managing their synodical affairs with fury, wrath, horrible craft, according to their
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interests, unto the ruin of the church. Such were the second Ephe- sme, the second at Nice, and that at Trent, and others not a few.
Hence nothing is more to he feared, especially in a state of the church wherein it is declining in faith, worship, and holiness, than synods, according to the usual way of their calling and convention, where these things are absent, for they have already been the prin- cipal means of leading on and justifying all the apostasy which churches have fallen into ; for never was there yet synod of that nature which did not confirm all the errors and superstitions which had in common practice entered into the church, and opened a door to a progress in them, nor was ever the pretence of any of them for outward reformation of any use or signification.
(2.) The authority of a synod determining articles of faith, consti- tuting orders and decrees for the conscientious observance of things of their own appointment, to be submitted unto and obeyed on the reason of that authority, under the penalty of excommunication, and the trouble by custom and tyranny thereto annexed, or acted in a way of jurisdiction over churches or persons, is a mere human inven- tion, for which nothing can be pleaded but prescription from the fourth century of the church, when the progress of the fatal apostasy became visibla