The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THUS this laudable practice of Churches acting their mutual Communion by meeting in Synods or Assemblies by their Delegates or Messengers, to advise about things of their common concernment and joint Edification, as occasion should require, founded in the Light of Nature, and countenanced by Primitive, Apostolical Example, was turned by the designing Interests and Ambition of Men, unto the enstating of all Church-Power in such Synods, and the Usurpation of a Power given unto no Churches, nor all of them together, as might be made evident by instances innumerable.

AND whereas they have made such a noise in Christian Religion, and have filled so many Volumes with their Acts and doings, yet some of them, who under the Pope, would place all Religion in them, do grant and contend that they are a mere Humane Invention: So Bellarmine affirms Pighius to have done in his Book de Coelest. Hierarch. Lib. 6. Cap. 1. But for his part he judgeth that it is more probable that they have a Divine Original by virtue of that Word; Where Two or Three are gathered together in my Name, there I will be in the midst of them, Matth. 18. De Concil. Lib. 1. Cap. 3. which will not bear the least part of the superstructure pretended to be built upon it.

AND whereas they have made such a noise in Christian Religion, and have filled so many Volumes with their Acts and doings, yet some of them, who under the Pope, would place all Religion in them, do grant and contend that they are a meer Humane Invention: So Bellarmine affirms Pighius to have done in his Book de Coelest. Hierarch. Lib. 6. Cap. 1. But for his part he judgeth that it is more probable that they have a Divine Original by virtue of that Word; Where Two or Three are gathered together in my Name, there I will be in the midst of them, Matth. 18. De Concil. Lib. 1. Cap. 3. which will not bear the least part of the superstructure pretended to be built upon it.