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

If therefore a Church, that was planted a noble Vine, wholly a a right Seed, shall turn into the degenerate Plants of a strange Vine unto God, and become Heretical, or Schismatical, or scandalously corrupt, and therefore receive into their fellowship known Heretics, and Schismatics, and choose such into Office, and refuse to admit into fellowship or Office, such as are sound in the Faith, because they are sound in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, and cast out from their fellowship such as testify, according to Rule, against these evils, and refuse to consent with them therein; &c. the Neighbour Church, or Churches, or Elders, and Brethren Assembled in a Synod (if the evil spread to the disturbing, corrupting, or scandalizing of many Churches) have power, and it is their duty, 1. To consider of this Matter, Act. 15.6. 2. To argue, debate, and determine according to the Word, Vers. 7.-23. 3. To publish the same to ⟨p. 146⟩the Church or Churches whom it concerneth, vers. 23. to bear witness against their corruptions in Doctrine or Manners, and to give directions from the Word, for the Reformation thereof, vers. 24, 28, 29. 4. Such Determinations, and Directions being found consonant to the Word of God in Scripture, the Church to whom they are sent, are to receive them with due reverence and submission, as to the Ordinance of God. Or, 5. In case of obstinate persistence of such a Church or Churches in their scandalous evils against light convictingly held forth, the Churches so offended, or scandalized by them, are to withdraw from them the right hand of fellowship and Church-Communion, till they repent and reform. This follows, in proportion, from the contrary, Gal. 2.9. and à pari, 2 Thes. 3.6, 14. there being a like reason of Churches and Persons, in this respect. Yet such offended Churches and Synods, are not to exercise Church-censures, in way of Discipline, nor any other Act of Church-Government, as neither did that Assembly, in Act. 15.29.

If therefore a Church, that was planted a noble Vine, wholly a a right Seed, shall turn into the degenerate Plants of a strange Vine unto God, and become Heretical, or Schismatical, or scandalously corrupt, and therefore receive into their fellowship known Hereticks, and Schismaticks, and choose such into Office, and refuse to admit into fellowship or Office, such as are sound in the Faith, because they are sound in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, and cast out from their fellowship such as testifie, according to Rule, against these evils, and refuse to consent with them therein; &c. the Neighbour Church, or Churches, or Elders, and Brethren Assembled in a Synod (if the evil spread to the disturbing, corrupting, or scandalizing of many Churches) have power, and it is their duty, 1. To consider of this Matter,