The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…

But if a member of one Church have just occasion to remove himself, and his family, to take up his settled habitation in another Church, then the Letters written by the Church in his behalf, do ⟨p. 18⟩recommend him to their perpetual watchfulness and communion. And if the other church have no just cause to refuse him, they of his own church do by those letters wholly dismiss him from themselves; whereupon the letters (for distinction sake) are called letters of dismission; which indeed do not differ from the other, but in the durance of the recommendation, the one recommending him for a time, the other for ever.

But if a member of one Church have just occasion to remove himselfe, and his family, to take up his setled habitation in another Church, then the Letters written by the Church in his behalfe, doe ⟨p. 18⟩recommend him to their perpetuall watchfulnesse and communion. And if the other church have no just cause to refuse him, they of his own church do by those letters wholly dismisse him from themselves; whereupon the letters (for distinction sake) are called letters of dismission; which indeed do not differ from the other, but in the durance of the recommendation, the one recommending him for a time, the other for ever.

3. By way of consultation, one Church hath liberty of communicating with another to require their judgement and counsel, touching any persons or cause, wherewith they may be better acquainted then themselves. Thus the Church of Antioch by their messengers consulted with the Church at Jerusalem, touching the necessity of circumcision, Act. 15.3. although the consultation brought forth a further effect of communion with Churches; to wit, their Congregation into a Synod. Which is the fourth way of communion of Churches: All of the Churches have the like liberty of sending their messengers to debate and determine in a Synod, such matters as do concern them all; As the Church of Antioch sent messengers to Jerusalem for resolution and satisfaction in a doubt that troubled them: the like liberty by proportion might any other Church have taken; yea, many Churches together; yea, all the Churches in the world, in any case that might concern them all. What authority these Synods have received, and may put forth, will come to be considered in the sequel.