The doctrine of instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God

Such Protestants as have acknowledged National Churches, have been divided about the form of Government to be practised among them; some of them are for a mixed Government, partly by Arch-Bishops, and Bishops, and partly by Synods, so the Church of England; Some have Governed by a Synod alone, so the Church of Scotland; and this Government seems most Consonant to the Word of God. Synods have been generally acknowledged in all Churches, but upon differing grounds, some have founded them upon that Rule of prudence, Prov. 24.66. In the Multitude of Counsellors there is safety, but if they be grounded upon this, they have no other work but to counsel and advise, and they can have no Authority; all Ecclesiastical Authority does depend upon an Institution, their Authority must be derived from God. Some do found it upon that Example, Act. 15. But this was not properly a Synod, this was not the meeting of the Elders of many Churches, but of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jerusalem, together with the Brethren; yet no doubt but the Apostles, who were part of that Assembly, had the Power of a Synod. But the Foundation of Synods is partly that Public Covenant, which is between God and his People, partly his Institution in the Old Testament, and partly the Rules laid down for the Churches to walk by in the New Testament.

SUch Protestants as have acknowledged National Churches, have been divided about the form of Government to be practised among them; some of them are for a mixt Government, partly by Arch-Bishops, and Bishops, and partly by Synods, so the Church of England; Some have Governed by a Synod alone, so the Church of Scotland; and this Government seems most Consonant to the Word of God. Synods have been generally acknowledged in all Churches, but upon differing grounds, some have founded them upon that Rule of prudence, Prov. 24.66. In the Multitude of Counsellers there is safety, but if they be grounded upon this, they have no other work but to counsel and advise, and they can have no Authority; all Ecclesiastical Authority does depend upon an Institution, their Authority must be derived from God. Some do found it upon that Example, Act. 15. But this was not properly a Synod, this was not the meeting of the Elders of many Churches, but of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jerusalem, together with the Brethren; yet no doubt but the Apostles, who were part of that Assembly, had the Power of a Synod. But the Foundation of Synods is partly that Publick Covenant, which is between God and his People, partly his Institution in the Old Testament, and partly the Rules laid down for the Churches to walk by in the New Testament.