N01544:28
A disquisition concerning ecclesiastical councils. Proving, that not only pastors, but brethren delegated by…
A disquisition concerning ecclesiastical councils. Proving, that not only pastors, but brethren delegated by the churches, have equally a right to a decisive vote in such assemblies. : To which is added, proposals concerning consociation of churches, agreed upon by a synod, which convened at Boston, in New-England. : With a preface, containing a further vindication of the Congregational discipline. / By Increase Mather. D.D. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: printed for N. Boone, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
AN Ecclesiastical Council, or Synod, is a Convention of duly qualified Persons, called to Consult, and judge about Affairs, in which Churches, one or more are concerned. There have been great Disputes on that Question, Who has Power to Convoke a Synod? Whether it belongs to Magistrates, or to Pastors. I shall not insist upon that Enquiry, only say, that if we keep to Scripture, Churches have this Power Belonging to them. There have likewise been some who have decried all Ecclesiastical Councils as useless, ⟨p. 2⟩nay, pernicious; and as having always done hurt to the Interest of Religion. Nazianzen's (a)Expressions Concerning this, are famously known. Bellarmine Charges Luther with being of that Opinion, but he wrongs him. If Luther was against all Councils, why does Bellarmine complain of his being President of a Council, Convened at Wittenberg, in the Year 1536. in which there were (as he says) Three Hundred Pastors. I know not of one Protestant Writer of any Fame, that dislikes all Synods, Grotius only Excepted: It cannot be denied, but that the greatest part of Ecclesiastical Convocations, have done more against the Truth then for it, as any man that Consults Alsted's Chronology of Councils, will easily perceive. But this has proceeded not from the nature of Councils, but from the faultiness of the Persons, of whom they were Constituted. The greatest part of Magistrates, and of Ministers, and of Professed Christians have been Erroneous and Vicious. This ⟨p. 3⟩ought not to prejudice Men against Magistracy, and Ministry, and Christianity. The same is to be affirmed of Synods, of which also there have been more than a few that have been blessed for the Suppression of Errors, and Establishment of the Churches in the Truth. Several Particular and Provincial Synods have given a faithful Testimony against Errors, both in Judgment and Practice. Writers inform us, that (c)The first Ecclesiastical Council, after that held at Jerusalem, was in the year 180. in which the Heresy of Montan•s, and his Followers was Condemned. There was a Synod in Arabia. A. D. 240. In which Origen was the President. This Synod Condemned Soul-sleepers. That in Arabia, A. D. 260. did good S vice for the Churches, in Refuti and Condemning the Heresies of Paul of Samosata, and the Paulinites, as they were Called.