A34674:517
The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregational churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodadation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregationall churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.
London: printed by M.S. for Francis Eglesfield and John Allen, 1655
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.
1 From that famous example, Acts 15. where the Synod meets, and site, without the call of Civil Authority; there being then no Christian Magistrate.
2 Because the power of the constitution of Synods, as properly such, firstly resideth with, ariseth from, and lastly returneth to particular Churches.
3 Because the power of the Magistrate tends not to the being, but to the better being of Synods; and added thereunto is accumulative, not privative (i. e.) it adds strength to it, but takes not any power from it: Hence a Synod may in ease be without ⟨p. 70⟩any consent of the Magistrate, but cannot be without some consent, explicit or implicit, of the Churches.
3 Because the power of the Magistrate tends not to the being, but to the better being of Synods; and added thereunto is accumulative, not privative (i. e.) it adds strength to it, but takes not any power from it: Hence a Synod may in ease be without ⟨p. 70⟩any consent of the Magistrate, but cannot be without some consent, explicite or implicite, of the Churches.
4 Because the Lord Jesus hath invested the Churches with sufficient Ecclesiastical power in the best Ecclesiastical manner, to attain their Ecclesiastical end, which yet were not, if they had not power of themselves by joint consent to call a Synod.
4 Because the Lord Jesus hath invested the Churches with sufficient Ecclesiasticall power in the best Ecclesiasticall manner, to attaine their Ecclesiasticall end, which yet were not, if they had not power of themselves by joynt consent to call a Synod.
Query 1 In what case may the Magistrate proceed to call a Synod without the consent of the Churches?
Querie 1 In what case may the Magistrate proceed to call a Synod without the consent of the Churches?
Answ. The Magistrate in case the Churches be defective, and not to be prevailed with, for the performance of their duty, (just cause so requiring) may call a Synod, and the Churches ought to yield obedience thereunto.
But notwithstanding the refusal, he may proceed to call an Assembly, and that for the same end that a Synod meets for, namely, to consider of, and clear the truth from the Scriptures, in weighty matters of Religion: But such an Assembly called and gathered without the consent of the Churches, is not properly that which is usually understood by a Synod, for though it be in the power of the Magistrate to Call, yet it is not in his power to Constitute a Synod, without at least the implicit consent of the Churches: Because Church-Messengers, who necessarily presuppose an explicit (which order calls for) or implicit consent of the Churches, are essential to a Synod.
But notwithstanding the refusall, he may proceed to call an Assembly, and that for the same end that a Synod meetes for, namely, to consider of, and clear the truth from the Scriptures, in weighty matters of Religion: But such an Assembly called and gathered without the consent of the Churches, is not properly that which is usually understood by a Synod, for though it be in the power of the Magistrate to Call, yet it is not in his power to Constitute a Synod, without at least the implicite consent of the Churches: Because Church-Messengers, who necessarily presuppose an explicite (which order calls for) or implicite consent of the Churches, are essentiall to a Synod.
Query 2 In what case may the Churches call a Synod without the consent of the Magistrate?
Querie 2 In what case may the Churches call a Synod without the consent of the Magistrate?
Answ. In case the Magistrate be defective, and not to be prevailed with for the performance of his duty; just cause, providence, and prudence concurring: The Churches may both Call and Constitute a Synod: The Reason why the Churches can Constitute a Synod without the consent of the Magistrate, although the Magistrate cannot constitute a Synod without the consent of the Churches, is because the essentials of a Synod, together with such other cause, as is required to the being (though not so much to the better being) of a Synod, ariseth out of particular Churches: as appears from the following Enumeration of the Causes thereof:⟨p. 73⟩ The Essential Cause: Remote The Authoritative Call of the Magistrate. Next The Ministerial Call of the Churches. The Material Cause: The Members of the Synod (i. e.) qualified Church-Messengers. The Formal Cause: The meeting together of such Church-Messengers in the name of Christ. The Final Cause: To consider of, and clear the truth in question from the word of God.
Answ. In case the Magistrate be defective, and not to be prevailed with for the performance of his duty; just cause, providence, and prudence concurring: The Churches may both Call and Constitute a Synod: The Reason why the Churches can Constitute a Synod without the consent of the Magistrate, although the Magistrate cannot constitute a Synod without the consent of the Churches, is because the essentialls of a Synod, together with such other cause, as is required to the being (though not so much to the better being) of a Synod, ariseth out of particular Churches: as appears from the following Enumeration of the Causes thereof:⟨p. 73⟩ The Essentiall Cause: Remote The Authoritative Call of the Magistrate. Next The Ministeriall Call of the Churches. The Materiall Cause: The Members of the Synod (i. e.) qualified Church-Messengers. The Formall Cause: The meeting together of such Church-Messengers in the name of Christ. The Finall Cause: To confider of, and clear the truth in question from the word of God.
Query 3 In case the Magistrate and Churches are both willing to proceed orderly in the joint exercise of their several Powers, whether it is lawful for either of them to call a Synod without the Consent of the other?
Querie 3 In case the Magistrate and Churches are both willing to proceed orderly in the joynt exercise of their severall Powers, whether it is lawfull for either of them to call a Synod without the Consent of the other?
Answ. No; they are to proceed now by way of a mixed Call (i. e.) orderly and jointly in the use of their several Powers. That which learned Parker speaks of the Power of particular Churches, concerning Calling of SYNODS, holds also in this case concerning the Power of the Magistrate; Their Powers are divers, yet in respect of exercise they ought not to be divers, nor divided the one from the other, as before.
Answ. No; they are to proceed now by way of a mixt Call (i. e.) orderly and joyntly in the use of their severall Powers. That which learned Parker speakes of the Power of particular Churches, concerning Calling of SYNODS, holds also in this case concerning the Power of the Magistrate; Their Powers are divers, yet in respect of exercise they ought not to be divers, nor divided the one from the other, as before.
The Churches desire, the Magistrate ⟨p. 75⟩Commands; Churches act in a way of liberty, the Magistrate in a way of Authority. Moses and Aaron should go together, and kiss one another in the Mount of GOD.
The Churches desire, the Magistrate ⟨p. 75⟩Commands; Churches act in a way of liberty, the Magistrate in a way of Authority. Moses and Aaron should goe together, and kiss one another in the Mount of GOD.
