2. When Pastors of Churches Convene in Synods, it is not their Pastoral ⟨p. 13⟩Office, but the Churches delegation, which gives them a right to be there. It was once disputed, whether the Bishops have not a Negative on the House of Lords, so that there can be no Valid Act of Parliament without their Concurrence. Mr. Bashaw, (a Learned Lawyer) proved they had not; because they did not Sit there by virtue of their Office, but of the Baronies which belonged to them. If then Pastors do not Sit in Council as Officers, but as Messengers deputed by their Churches, they may not Claim a Negative. They would have no right to be in this or that Synod, if their Churches did not send them. True it is, when a Council is Called for, the Churches ought to send their Pastors, for they should be, and often are, most able to Judge in Ecclesiastical Affairs. The words in our Platform are these: Because none are, or should be more fit to know the State of the Churches, nor to advise of ways for the good thereof, than Elders; therefore it is fit in the Choice of Messengers for such Assemblies, they have special respect to such. Nevertheless, ⟨p. 14⟩they do not Sit there as Pastors, Officers, Rulers. Dr. Owen speaks Judiciously, and like himself in saving, That no Persons by virtue of any Office merely, have right to be Members of Ecclesiastical Synods as such; neither is there either Example or Reason to give colour to any such pretence: Officers of the Church ought to be Present in them▪ but merely as such, it belongs not to them. They who say, this is pure Independent Doctrine, discover their own ignorance; for Bu•linger, Hyperius, Dane••, Voetius, Vedeli•s, and Zeperus, who were no Independents, have said as much as this amounts unto, which I have in another Discourse taken notice of. And hence it does not follow, that if Elders have a Negative Voice in their Particular Churches, which our Platform of Discipline gives them; Chap. 10 Sect. 11. that they have so in Councils, because in their Particular Churches they are Rulers, to whom Obedience is due. Heb. 13. 17. But in Synods they have no power of Rule. A Pastor when Sitting in Council, acts as a Church Messenger, and not as a Church Officer;
2. When Pastors of Churches Convene in Synods, it is not their Pastoral ⟨p. 13⟩Office, but the Churches delegation, which gives them a right to be there. It was once disputed, whether the Bishops have not a Negative on the House of Lords, so that there can be no Valid Act of Parliament without their Concurrence. Mr. Bashaw, (a Learned Lawyer) proved they had not; because they did not Sit there by virtue of their Office, but of the Baronies which belonged to them. If then Pastors do not Sit in Council as Officers, but as Messengers deputed by their Churches, they may not Claim a Negative. They would have no right to be in this or that Synod, if their Churches did not send them. True it is, when a Council is Called for, the Churches ought to send their Pastors, for they should be, and often are, most able to Judge in Ecclesiastical Affairs. The words in our Platform are these: Because none are, or should be more fit to know the State of the Churches, nor to advise of ways for the good thereof, than Elders; therefore it is fit in the Choice of Messengers for such Assemblies, they have special respect to such. Nevertheless, ⟨p. 14⟩they do not Sit there as Pastors, Officers, Rulers. Dr. Owen speaks Judiciously, and like himself in saving, That no Persons by virtue of any Office meerly, have right to be Members of Ecclesiastical Synods as such; neither is there either Example or Reason to give colour to any such pretence: Officers of the Church ought to be Present in them▪ but meerly as such, it belongs not to them. They who say, this is pure Independent Doctrine, discover their own ignorance; for Bu•linger, Hyperius, Dane••, Voetius, Vedeli•s, and Zeperus, who were no Independents, have said as much as this amounts unto, which I have in another Discourse taken notice of. And hence it does not follow, that if Elders have a Negative Voice in their Particular Churches, which our Platform of Discipline gives them; Chap. 10 Sect. 11. that they have so in Councils, because in their Particular Churches they are Rulers, to whom Obedience is due. Heb. 13. 17. But in Synods they have no power of Rule. A Pastor when Sitting in Council, acts as a Church Messenger, and not as a Church Officer;
