The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…

5. They directed and charged the Church from the Word, what they should do, Vers. 28, 29. but they did not do their Acts of Power for them.

6. Nor did this Assembly exercise Church-government over that Church at Antioch, or any other Church or Churches, in admission of their Members, or ⟨p. 143⟩in Ordination of their Officers, or in Administration of the Seals, or in Excommunicating, or in reversing or nullifying the censure inflicted by the Church. For these were res propria to every particular Church within it self. Yet, because I study peace, and consent with godly Brethren, so far as it may stand with Truth, I willingly grant, that other Churches, and Synods rightly gathered and ordered, have so much Power and Authority, even in these matters, as I can find any warrant for in Scripture; being willing also to yield further if it can be cleared from Scripture, that more is due unto them. There are two Cases, wherein the res propria of a particular Church, may fall under the cognizance and determination of other Churches or Synods.

1. When they want sufficient light, or competent consent among themselves, which was the case of the Church at Antioch; provided, that they have liberty to choose such a Church or Churches, for this purpose, as themselves approve to be fittest for attainment of their end, in seeking light, as the Church at Antioch agreed to send to that at Jerusalem, though two hundred miles distant from them. But, if they have sufficient light within themselves, ⟨p. 144⟩and hold it forth convictingly from Scripture, the Elders and Principal Members of the Church, and major part of the Brethren by far consenting therein, no Rule requireth or alloweth, that, for the wilfulness of a Delinquent, who will not hear the Church, or of two or three Brethren, who side with him, and refuse to join with the Church in censuring him, the Church should be hindered from proceeding, till other Churches or Elders have been consulted. For if this be granted, 1. It will disturb all Church-Proceedings. 2. And if it be brought to a Classis, it must issue there by the Vote of the major part, if as many Elders in that Assembly dissent, as Brethren did before in the Church-meeting, so that nothing is gained thereby. And if the Delinquent, for the same reason, appeal to a Synod, there may be the same issue, and so appeals may be drawn further, till a Delinquent wrest himself at last from all power of censure. The second Case is, when that which is res propria, in the thing done, simply considered, becomes res communis in the Cause or ground of proceeding. For though receiving of Members, Election, and Ordination of Officers, and Administration of