N01544:45
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.
It has been Objected, that Mr.Cotton maintains, (r)that in the Synod of Jerusalem, the […] of the Decrees lay chiefly, if not only, in the Apostles and Elders. Some I hear have laid great weight upon this. I shall a little Consider it. 1. Why should we be, Additti in verba ul••u• Jurarc Magistri? Why should we Call any Man Master? Mat 23. 12. The Schol-men will now and then say of their admired Master, Peter Lombard, Hi• […] tenetu• ▪ ⟨p. 28⟩Here we must Crave Leave to Dissent from our Master. So if Mr. Cotton has happened to drop a Notion, which does not well Suit with Congregational Principles, which we take to be according to the Scripture, we are not bound to write after him. If the Opinion of Men were to decide the Question, there is as much reason to submit to Dr. Ames as to any Man; who says, that others besides Pastors may have Authority in Ecclesiastical Councils, which is contrary to saying Pastors only have Authority. 2. Let his words be taken in a right sense, and I shall say as my Venerable Father Cotton does. But there is an Ambiguity in the word Authority. Sometimes it is taken for a Power of Rule and Jurisdiction. A Negative Voice implies no less. No Conventions are said to have Authority in a strict sense, or a Power to impose their Acts on others, but such as have a Juridical Power. This cannot be Mr. Cotton's Meaning. For all Congregationalists (of whom he was not the least) deny that Synods have any such Power. This we see in the Order of the ⟨p. 29⟩Congregational Churches (s)Published in 16•8. Our New-England Platform declares, that a Synod cannot Exercise any Act of Authority. The Presidential Synod, Acts 15. (they say) did not. The Scripture (•aith my Learned Tutor, Mr. Norton)