A61661:149
The doctrine of instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God
The doctrine of instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God by Solomon Stoddard ...
London: printed for Ralph Smith, 1700
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They are to Judge in case of Complaint; when any Person Judges himself wronged by the Judgment of a particular Church, and complains to a Synod, they are to hear the case, and upon the hearing of it, not to advise the Church either to confirm the sentence, or to take it off; but if there be occasion, they are to take off the sentence and restore the Man unto his privilege.
They are to Judge in case of Complaint; when any Person Judges himself wronged by the Judgment of a particular Church, and complains to a Synod, they are to hear the case, and upon the hearing of it, not to advise the Church either to confim the sentence, or to take it off; but if there be occasion, they are to take off the sentence and restore the Man unto his priviledge.
They are to judge in case of other Complaints; if any Man hath a Complaint against another, and cannot obtain a hearing in the Church that he belongs unto, or if the Elders of a particular Church be Complained of for any Male-Administration, or if a Church with the Elders be complained of for Heresy, or other scandalous Corruption, the Synod is to hear and Judge the case, and they may not only censure particular Persons, but whole Churches also in case of need.
They are to judge in case of other Complaints; if any Man hath a Complaint against another, and cannot obtain a hearing in the Church that he belongs unto, or if the Elders of a particular Church be Complained of for any Male-Administration, or if a Church with the Elders be complained of for Heresie, or other scandalous Corruption, the Synod is to hear and Judge the case, and they may not only censure particular Persons, but whole Churches also in case of need.
3. Synods have Power to oversee the calling of Persons to the Ministry, and to appoint those who shall examine them; if the Synod have the Government of the Church in their hands, tho they should not abridge Congregations of their Liberty, yet they should see that Churches Act regularly, and that none should be set in the Ministry but such as are duly qualified, therefore it belongs them to appoint meet Persons to examine such as are called to the Ministry, and to testify their approbation by the laying on of hands,