The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

I NO way deny, but that a Christian Magistrate may convene by his Authority the Bishops, Pastors or Ministers, with such others as he shall think meet within his own Territories; yea, and receive into his Convention meet Men out of the Territories of others by their consent, to advise among themselves, and to give him Advice about such concernments of Religion, and of the Church under his Dominion, and Regulate himself accordingly. It hath been practised with good success, and may be with bad also. And I do deny that Churches have Power, without the consent and Authority of the Magistrate, to convene themselves in Synods to exercise any Exterior Jurisdiction that should affect the Persons of his Subjects, any otherwise than by the Law of the Land is allowed.

BUT whereas the Synods whereof we Treat, and which are all that belong unto the Church, can take no cognizance of any Civil Affairs wherein the Persons of Men are outwardly concerned; have no Jurisdiction in any kind, can make no determination, but only Doctrinal Declarations of Divine Truth, of the same nature with the Preaching of the Word; there is no more required unto their calling beyond their own consent, but only that they may meet in external ⟨p. 264⟩peace by the permission of the Magistrate; which when they cannot obtain, they must deport themselves as in case of other Duties required of them by the Law of Christ.

6. IN the last place I shall speak briefly of the Power and Authority of these Synods, in what measures, extent and numbers soever they are assembled. For although this may be easily Collected from what hath been declared concerning their Original, Nature, Causes, Use and Ends; yet it may be necessary to be more particularly enquired into, because of the many differences that are about it.