The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

24. No Bishops or Pastors have any secular coactive Power (unless the King make them his Officers): and therefore of themselves can Rule none but Volunteers.

25. Whether the Apostles or Evangelists have any successors in the ordinary work of taking care of many Churches, without being fixed to any one, and whether Magistrates may appoint any Pastors to be General Visitors of the Churches in their Dominions, are questions which we would not be too bold in determining, nor will we about them be troublers of the Church. But we believe that God hath not made such an inequality of Churches whether Rome, Alexandria, or any as Metropoles, as to make one Church a Governor of other neighbour Churches. And we wonder at them that know that Civil Rulers did set up the Patriarchs and Metropolitans in the Roman Empire, in conformity to their Civil Policy, and know that this Empire is now dissolved, and the reason of the thing (had it been lawful) ceased; and yet talk of forming General Councils by the five Imperial Patriarchs, and of subjecting themselves to the Pope as to one of the five.

26. Councils or Synods and that stated as to time and place are very useful among good Pastors, for concord, Counsel and correspondence: but the major part are not the Governors of the minor, nor of their absent brethren: nor are stated Synods absolutely necessary; nor convenient when, 1. they are degenerating into the Church Tyranny of a major Vote, 2. or are displeasing to Rulers and inconsistent with liberty or peace.