A26897:365
Church concord
Church concord containing I. a dissuasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.Church concord containing I. a disswasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. Whether these Synods shall be held at certain stated times, or variously as occasions vary? And whether they shall have a President? And whether he shall be mutable or fixed? And of how many Churches they shall be composed? And how oft they shall meet, and how long they shall sit; with such like, are circumstances left to Humane Prudence, under the general Laws of Christ. But the use of Synods is so ordinary and great, that in sound and peaceable Countries, where Heresy or Church-Tyranny doth not turn them against their proper ends; and where State-Jealousies cause not Rulers to forbid them, the statedness and frequency of them will be of very great advantage to the Churches: But in the contrary cases it may be quite contrary.
6. Whether these Synods shall be held at certain stated times, or variously as occasions vary? And whether they shall have a President? And whether he shall be mutable or fixed? And of how many Churches they shall be composed? And how oft they shall meet, and how long they shall sit; with such like, are circumstances left to Humane Prudence, under the general Laws of Christ. But the use of Synods is so ordinary and great, that in sound and peaceable Countreys, where Heresie or Church-Tyranny doth not turn them against their proper ends; and where State-Iealousies cause not Rulers to forbid them, the statedness and frequency of them will be of very great advantage to the Churches: But in the contrary cases it may be quite contrary.
7. Though no one of these Bishops or Pastors in Councils (nor many conjunct) be by Divine Right the proper Governor over the rest, and therefore as to one another their Canons, are Agreements for Union, rather than the Laws of Superior Governors, yet do they not by their Assembling lose their Governing Power over their Several Flocks, but meet to exercise it with the greater consideration and force: And therefore their lawful Determinations and Agreements may be truly obligatory to their several Flocks.
7. Though no one of these Bishops or Pastors in Councils (nor many conjunct) be by Divine Right the proper Governour over the rest, and therefore as to one another their Canons, are Agreements for Union, rather than the Laws of Superior Governours, yet do they not by their Assembling lose their Governing Power over their Several Flocks, but meet to exercise it with the greater consideration and force: And therefore their lawful Determinations and Agreements may be truely obligatory to their several Flocks.