Secondly, this answer still supposeth that Synods do give senses contrary to the word of God, and so we grant they are not only fallible but false and erroneous; and are to be examined ⟨p. 36⟩of new again in that case; but we hold, when lawful Synods convened in the name of Christ do determine according to the word of God they are to be heard as Ambassadors who in Christs stead teach us, and what is once true and ratified in Synods in this manner is ever true and ratified as the reverend professors say and never subject to any further examination, and new discussion,1 so as it must be changed and retracted as false. For this is to subject the very word of God to retractation and change, because a Synod did declare and truly determine it in a Ministerial way to be the word of God. For what Synods determine being the undeniable word of God i• intrinsically infallible, and can never become fallible, though fallible and sinful men that are obnoxious to error and mistakes do hold it forth Ministerially to others: and it is false that we are to believe that what Synods determine according to the word of God, we are to believe it is fallible and liable to error, and may an untruth, because they so determine, for then when a Synod determines, there is but one true God, the principle of faith is believed to be subject to Retraction and falsehood, because a Synod hath determined it to be a truth. But the truth is we are to believe truths determined by Synods to be infallible, and never again liable to retractation or discussion, because they are and were in themselves and without any Synodical determination infallible, but not for this formal medium, because, so saith the Synod, but because so saith the Lord, It is true, new heretics pretending new light may arise as Math. 24. 24. And call in question all Fundamentals that are determined that are cleared in former Synods, but it follows not but these truths are still in themselves fixed and unmovable as the Pole-star, though evil men bring them under a new Synodical examination as Familists do now raze the foundations of Christianity, yet Daniel and Christ are Innocent though wicked men accuse them judicially as deceivers:
Secondly, this answer still supposeth that Synods do give senses contrary to the word of God, and so we grant they are not onely fallible but false and erroneous; and are to be examined ⟨p. 36⟩of new again in that case; but we hold, when lawfull Synods convened in the name of Christ doe determine according to the word of God they are to be heard as Ambassadours who in Christs stead teach us, and what is once true and ratified in Synods in this manner is ever true and ratified as the reverend professours say and never subject to any further examination, and new discussion,1 so as it must be changed and retracted as false. For this is to subject the very word of God to retractation and change, because a Synod did declare and truely determine it in a Ministeriall way to be the word of God. For what Synods determine being the undenyable word of God i• intrinsecally infallible, and can never become fallible, though fallible and sinfull men that are obnoxious to errour and mistakes doe hold it forth Ministerially to others: and it is false that we are to believe that what Synods determine according to the word of God, we are to believe it is fallible and lyable to errour, and may an untruth, because they so determine, for then when a Synod determines, there is but one true God, the principle of faith is believed to be subject to Retraction and falshood, because a Synod hath determined it to be a truth. But the truth is we are to believe truths determined by Synods to be infallible, and never againe lyable to retractation or discussion, because they are and were in themselves and without any Synodicall determination infallible, but not for this formall medium, because, so saith the Synod, but because so saith the Lord, It is true, new hereticks pretending new light may arise as Math. 24. 24. And call in question all Fundamentalls that are determined that are cleared in former Synods, but it follows not but these truths are still in themselves fixed and unmovable as the Pole-star, though evil men bring them under a new Synodicall examination as Familists doe now raze the foundations of Christianitie, yet Daniel and Christ are Innocent though wicked men accuse them judicially as deceivers:
- 1How a true decision of a Synod is ever the same and not retractable.
