The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THIS also was judged inconvenient, if not unlawful, by the First Synod of Ephesus, in the case of Eustathius. He was, as it appears, an Aged Man, one that loved his one peace and quietness, and who could not well bear the Oppositions and Reproaches which he met withal from the Church or some in it; and thereon, solemnly upon his own judgment, without advice, laid down and renounced his Office in the Church, who, thereupon chose a good Man in his room. Yet did the Synod condemn this practice, and that not without weighty Reasons, whereby they confirmed their judgment.

BUT yet no general Rule can be established in this case; nor was the judgment or practice of the Primitive Church precise herein. Clemens, in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth, expressly adviseth those on whose occasion there was disturbance and divisions in the Church, to lay down their Office and withdraw from it. Gregory Nazianzen did the same at Constantinople, and protesteth openly, That although he were himself innocent and free from blame, as he truly was, and one of the greatest Men of his Age, yet he would depart or be cast out, ⟨p. 115⟩rather than they should not have peace among them; which he did accordingly, Orat. 52. & vit. Nazian. And afterward a Synod at Constantinople under Photius, concluded, that in some cases it is lawful, Can. 5. Wherefore,

BUT yet no general Rule can be established in this case; nor was the judgment or practice of the Primitive Church precise herein. Clemens, in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth, expresly adviseth those on whose occasion there was disturbance and divisions in the Church, to lay down their Office and withdraw from it. Gregory Nazianzen did the same at Constantinople, and protesteth openly, That although he were himself innocent and free from blame, as he truly was, and one of the greatest Men of his Age, yet he would depart or be cast out, ⟨p. 115⟩rather than they should not have peace among them; which he did accordingly, Orat. 52. & vit. Nazian. And afterward a Synod at Constantinople under Photius, concluded, that in some cases it is lawful, Can. 5. Wherefore,