The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

3. THE measure or extent of them ariseth from concernment and convenience. All unprejudiced Persons do now acknowledge, that the pretence of Ecumenical Councils, wherein the whole Church of Christ on the Earth, or all particular Churches should be represented, and so obliged to acquiesce in their Determinations, is a fond Imagination. And it were easy to demonstrate in particular, how every one of them which hath in vulgar esteem obtained that Title, were openly remote from so being. Such Councils never were, and, as it is improbable, never will nor can be, nor are any way needful unto the Edification of the Church.

3. THE measure or extent of them ariseth from concernment and convenience. All unprejudiced Persons do now acknowledge, that the pretence of Oecumenical Councils, wherein the whole Church of Christ on the Earth, or all particular Churches should be represented, and so obliged to acquiesce in their Determinations, is a fond Imagination. And it were easie to demonstrate in particular, how every one of them which hath in vulgar esteem obtained that Title, were openly remote from so being. Such Councils never were, and, as it is improbable, never will nor can be, nor are any way needful unto the Edification of the Church.

THEIR due measure and bounds, as was said before, are given them by concernment and convenience; wherein respect also may be had unto the Ability of some Churches to promote Edification above others. Such Churches as are in the same instances concerned in the causes of them before declared, and may be helpful unto the ends mentioned, are to convene in such Synods. And this concernment may be either from some of those causes in themselves, or from that Duty which they owe unto other Churches which are immediately concerned. So it was in the Assistance given by the Church at Jerusalem, in that case which was peculiar to the Church of Antioch.