The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

FROM this distribution of various sorts of new-framed Churches in the Roman Empire, arose a constitution of Synods or Councils in subordination one unto another, until by sundry degrees of Ascent they arrived unto those which they called general under the conduct of the Pope, whose Senate they were.

BUT these things have no countenance given them by any Divine Institution, Apostolical Example, or practice of the First Churches, but are a mere product of Secular Interest working it self in a Mystery of Iniquity.

BUT these things have no countenance given them by any Divine Institution, Apostolical Example, or practice of the First Churches, but are a meer product of Secular Interest working it self in a Mystery of Iniquity.

SINCE the Dissolution of the Roman Empire, Nations have been cast into distinct Civil Governments of their own, whose Sovereignty is in themselves, by the event of War and Counsels thereon emergent. Unto each of these it is supposed there is a Church-State accommodated; as the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Church of France, and the like; whose Original and Being depends on the First event of War in that ⟨p. 259⟩Dissolution. Unto these new Church-States whose Being, Bounds and Limits are given unto them absolutely by those of the Civil Government which they belong unto, it is thought meet that Ecclesiastical Synods should be accommodated. But in what way this is to be done there is not yet an agreement; but it is not my present business to consider the differences that are about it, which are known unto this Nation on a dear account. Yet this I shall say, that whereas it is eminently useful unto the Edification of the Church Catholic, that all the Churches professing the same Doctrine of Faith, within the Limits of the same Supreme Civil Government, should hold constant actual Communion among themselves unto the ends of it before mentioned, I see not how it can be any abridgement of the Liberty of particular Churches, or interfere with any of their Rights which they hold by Divine Institution, if through more constant lesser Synods for Advice, there be a communication of their mutual concerns unto those that are greater, until, if occasion require and it be expedient, there be a general Assembly of them all to advise about any thing wherein they are all concerned. But this is granted only with these Limitations: (1.) That the Rights of particular Churches be preserved in the free Election of such as are to be Members of all these Synods. (2.) That they assume no Authority or Jurisdiction over Churches or Persons in things Civil or Ecclesiastical. (3.) That none are immediately concerned in this proper Synodal Power or Authority, (which what it is we shall enquire) who are not present in them by their own Delegates.