The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

CONCERNING the composition that is made herein, that some should convene in Ecclesiastical Synods by their own personal Right, and in virtue of their Office, and others by a kind of Delegation from some of their own Order, it being a mere political constitution, which I shall immediately speak unto, it is not here to be taken notice of.

CONCERNING the composition that is made herein, that some should convene in Ecclesiastical Synods by their own personal Right, and in virtue of their Office, and others by a kind of Delegation from some of their own Order, it being a meer political constitution, which I shall immediately speak unto, it is not here to be taken notice of.

THERE is nothing therefore in Scripture Example, or the Light of Natural Reason, with the principles of all Societies in Union or Communion, that will lead us any farther than this; that such Synods are to be composed, and consist of such Persons as are chosen and delegated by those Churches respectively who do act and exert their Communion in such Assemblies. So was it in the First Example of them, Act. 15. The Church of Antioch chose and sent Messengers of their own number, to advise with the Apostles and Elders of the Church at Jerusalem; at which Consultation the Members of that Church also were present. And this is the whole of the nature and use of Ecclesiastical Synods. It is on other accounts that they make up so great a part of the History of the Church. For the first Three Hundred years, they were nothing but voluntary conventions of the Officers or Elders, Bishops and Presbyters, with some others of neighbouring Churches, on the occasion of Differences or Heresies among them. In and from the Council of Nice, there were Assemblies of Bishops and others called together by the Authority of the Roman Emperors, to advise about matters of Faith. In after Ages those which were called in the Western parts of the World, in Italy, Germany, France and England, ⟨p. 262⟩were of a mixed nature advising about things Civil and Political, as well as Sacred and Religious, especially with respect unto mutual contests between Popes and Princes. In them the whole nature of Ecclesiastical Synods, was lost and buried, and all Religion almost destroyed.