CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church

37.

Unto the Universal Synod also (when it may be had) is to be referred the judgement of controversies, not of all, but of those which are controversiae juris, controversies of right, neither yet of all those, but of the chief and most weighty controversies of the orthodox faith, or of the most hard and unusual cases of Conscience. Of the controversies of fact there is another and different consideration to be had; for besides that it would be a great inconvenience that plaintiffs, persons accused, and witnesses be drawn from the most remote Churches, to the general or universal Council; the visible communion it self of all the Churches (on which the universal Counsel is built, and whereupon as on a foundation it leaneth) is not so much of company, fellowship, or conversation, as of Religion and Doctrine. All true Churches of the World do indeed profess the same true Religion and faith; but there is beside this a certain commixture and conjunction of the Churches of the same Nation, as to a more near fellowship, ⟨p. 17⟩and some acquaintance, conversing and companying together, which cannot be said of all the Churches throughout the habitable World.

Unto the Universall Synode also (when it may bee had) is to bee referred the judgement of controversies, not of all, but of those which are controversiae juris, controversies of right, neither yet of all those, but of the chief and most weighty controversies of the orthodox faith, or of the most hard and unusuall cases of Conscience. Of the controversies of fact there is another and different consideration to be had; for besides that it would be a great inconvenience that plaintifes, persons accused, and witnesses bee drawne from the most remote Churches, to the generall or universall Councell; the visible communion it self of all the Churches (on which the universal Counsel is built, and whereupon as on a foundation it leaneth) is not so much of company, fellowship, or conversation, as of Religion and Doctrine. All true Churches of the World doe indeed professe the same true Religion and faith; but there is beside this a certaine commixture and conjunction of the Churches of the same Nation, as to a more near fellowship,