The reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the third proposition, concerning presbyterial government· Humbly…

And sixthly, if the Elders of all those Churches had been present, there had been less need for the Apostles and Elders of Jerusalem to have sent chosen men to carry the Letters, and withal to show the grounds of those their judgements by word of mouth, ver. 23. 27. 31. This needed not, if their own Elders had been present, and so had been to have returned; and if they were sent as Messengers from the Synod, then to all the Churches as well as to Antioch, and why do they then go no further then unto Antioch? ver. 33. Yea, and although Paul and Barnabas delivered those results to all the Cities, yet, as it should seem accidentally and not principally intended, they go not on purpose chiefly to deliver those decrees, but ver. 36. of chap. 15. it was Pauls motion upon other grounds to go visit the Churches in every City, where they had Preached, and so but occasionally delivered these Decrees, Chap. 16. 4. So as they came to them not as sent in a mandatory way, as to Churches subject to that Synod by a Synodical Law, (as such Canons are used to be sent) but as the judgement only of this Church, and the Apostles delivered them for their edification.

And sixthly, if the Elders of all those Churches had been present, there had been lesse need for the Apostles and Elders of Jerusalem to have sent chosen men to carry the Letters, and withall to shew the grounds of those their judgements by word of mouth, ver. 23. 27. 31. This needed not, if their own Elders had been present, and so had been to have returned; and if they were sent as Messengers from the Synod, then to all the Churches as well as to Antioch, and why doe they then goe no further then unto Antioch? ver. 33. Yea, and although Paul and Barnabas delivered those results to all the Cities, yet, as it should seem accidentally and not principally intended, they goe not on purpose chiefely to deliver those decrees, but ver. 36. of chap. 15. it was Pauls motion upon other grounds to go visit the Churches in every City, where they had Preached, and so but occasionally delivered these Decrees, Chap. 16. 4. So as they came to them not as sent in a mandatory way, as to Churches subject to that Synod by a Synodical Law, (as such Canons are used to bee sent) but as the judgement onely of this Church, and the Apostles delivered them for their edification.