The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

3. THIS acting in Synods is an Institution of Jesus Christ; not in an express Command, but in the nature of the thing it self fortified with Apostolical Example. For having erected such a Church-State, and disposed all his Churches into that Order and mutual Relation unto one another, as that none of them can be complete, or discharge their whole Duty without mutual Advice and Counsel; he hath thereby ordained this way of their Communion in Synods, no other being possible unto that end. And hereby such Conventions are interested in the promise of his presence; namely, that where Two or Three are gathered together in his Name, there he will be in the midst of them. For these Assemblies being the necessary effect of his own constitution in the nature and use of his Churches, are or may be in his Name, and so enjoy his presence.

3. THIS acting in Synods is an Institution of Jesus Christ; not in an express Command, but in the nature of the thing it self fortified with Apostolical Example. For having erected such a Church-State, and disposed all his Churches into that Order and mutual Relation unto one another, as that none of them can be compleat, or discharge their whole Duty without mutual Advice and Counsel; he hath thereby ordained this way of their Communion in Synods, no other being possible unto that end. And hereby such Conventions are interested in the promise of his presence; namely, that where Two or Three are gathered together in his Name, there he will be in the midst of them. For these Assemblies being the necessary effect of his own constitution in the nature and use of his Churches, are or may be in his Name, and so enjoy his presence.

4. THE end of all particular Churches is the Edification of the Church Catholic unto the Glory of God in Christ. And it is evident, that in many Instances this cannot be attained, yea, that it must be sinfully neglected, unless this way for the preservation and carrying of it on be attended unto. Truth, Peace and Love may be lost among Churches, and so the Union of the Catholic Church in them be dissolved, unless this means for their Preservation and Reparation be made use of. And that particular Church which extends not its Duty beyond its own Assemblies and Members, is fallen off from the principal end of its Institution. And every Principle, Opinion, or Persuasion, that inclines any Church to confine its Care and Duty unto its own Edification only; yea, or of those only which agree with it in some peculiar practice, making it neglective of all due means of the Edification of the Church Catholic, is Schismatical.