stated Meetings of the first Councils are every Moneth and what if it should be on the â—…irst Third day of the week in every month through the year The stated meeting of the Provincial Councils are once every quarter and what if two of them be the first Third day after the Sun touches the middle point of the summer and winter Solstices And the other two the first Third day after the Sun is in the Vernal and Autumnal Equinâ—…ial With this consideration that if the Sun touch any of these points upon the Third day of the week then that is the day of meeting if on any other day then the Third day after The stated meeting of the National Council is once a Year and best in the Spring and what if it be the last Third day of the First Moneth called March XIV The Law of the Constitution doth call all these Councils to meet at the stated times without any other order or appointment XV. It is very requisite that some eminent man preach a publick Lecture on the day of the meeting of every Council â—…o draw many Saints together and to raise a strong breath of Prayer and to put the greater Solemnity upon so holy a work XVI Occasional Meetings may be multiplied either by intricacy of Cases Variety of Opinions Troublesomeness of Persons Danger of Churches Gross Scandals that cannot proceed to Censure because of some obstruction without the help of Counsel Such Occasional Meetings if foreseen may be appointed by the Council before they rise if not foreseen then they must be called by the Moderator then in being and the Notary by Letters under either of their hands where distance of place requireth it XVII The place of Meeting for these Councils and especially of the first Councils is not to be limited or tyed to any one place because there be sundry Considerations about the place whereof one may be prevalent at one time and another time another Sometimes the age and unfitness for Travel of some eminently useful person sometimes the common conveniency for all Sometimes it may edifie to meet in that Church where the chief Trouble may at the present be ard yet this not alwayes so because the troubles of Antioch were heard and setled at Ierusalem where the best and ablest Counsel was to be had with the least trouble and inconveniency unto any CHAP. V. The generall Work of all Ecclesiasticall Councils THese Ecclesiastical Councils are to do for all the Churches in an ordinary way what the Apostles were to do in an extraordinary way The care of all the Churches doth lye upon them which appeareth both in the Manner of their Constitution and End of their Meeting Yea they are to do for all the World what lyeth in them as the Apostles were to do Matth 28. Go and teach all Nations c. I. Hence first if there be any Heathen people that yet know not Christ it is a work well-becoming any of these Orders of Councils and all of them in their harmony to seek out and send forth sit Labourers to such a work and service of Christ to carry the Gospel and preach Jesus Christ unto them to gather and plant Churches amongst them And it is the duty of particular Churches unto whose Society such Instruments chosen by the Councils do belong by Fasting and Prayer and Imposition of hands to send them forth unto that Work as the Church of Antioch did unto Barnâ—…bas and Saul when they were extraordinarily called and sent forth unto such a Work as we are now speaking of Acts 13. 2 3. And this will be one holy way of improvement of Church-treasuries raised by voluntary Contributions to spread and propagate the Gospel to all the World II. If there be any among the professing Nations that sie in darkness and in the region of the shadow of death and see no light and too many such dark Corners there be in the Land of Zebulon and Naphthali Mat. 4 15 16. who have none to bring the glad Tidings of Light and Life unto them at least none that do it It well becometh the vigilance of these Councils to provide and send â—…it Instruments unto them by whose Labours the Light through grace may arise and shine among them And it is the duty of the Churches to send forth such persons with their prayers and blessing as abovesaid III. If there be any Sister-Church that hath no Breasts which by death or other means oft falleth out where Churches are numerous it is a special and proper care of the Ecclesiastical Councils to take a prudent pious and speedy course for their supply It being a matter that hath a great tendency to the well-being not onely of that Church but of the Councils also into whose Communion â—…ll Elders are received And unto this point of their care and duty it doth belong sometimes to remove Lights from one Candlestick to another where the gifts and labours of some special Instruments may be most fruitful to the glory of God and the publick good of Religion and all the Churches But this is to be done with all wisdome tenderness and evidence of Scripture-light that it is the Will of God and for his Glory so to be that so the Church concerned may yield it as an act of obedience to Christ for whose sake they should be willing to pluck out their right eyes and give them unto Christ in obedience as unto the Apostles so unto Counâ—…ils their ordinary Successors IV. As the care of all the Churches dyeth on the Ecclesiastical Councils so especially the care of those Churches which are in Combination together and whose Communion they do act and towards whom their first trust and care is to be exercised for their well-being on earth and for the furtherance of their eternal being in the Kingdome of heaven and in all for the glory of Christ and in particular to take care that there be general directions for Publick Worship and all other Ecclesiastical Administrations and Conversation and for Catecâ—…ism and Platform both of Doctrine and Discipline V. If any Errour or Heresie arise or be by any evil Instruments openly or secretly buzzed and infused or any way â—…ented and diffused to â—…azard the infecting and poisoning any of the people It is a special care of these Councils to take up the matter to clear up the light of the case by the Word of God and in due order to settle the Cause and suppress the Errour by counselling the Church to whom the person belongeth to a due exercise of Discipline if need be VI. If any Controversie or doubtful Disputation arise in any of the Churches about any point of Religion either in Faith or Order because all difference of Opinion is apt to breed aliemtion of affection and give entrance to Satan and grief to the Spirit of Love and Peace It concerneth the Councils with all care and prudence in due order to settle and siâ—…nce such a Controversie
National Council 1. The present state of all the first Councils and of all the Churches combined with them 2. All the Causes that are transmitted by them unto the National Council 3. The Appeals if any such be All these being first read are delivered to them and so they are sent with their prayers and blessing 11. If these Councils foresee any future Sessions this quarter they may now agree upon the same if any Fasts or Feasts are to be kept by all their Churches they may now agree upon it and propose the Causes thereof 12. When these Elders do next meet in their first Councils they must prudently and faithfully report the good state of all the rest of the first Councils in the Province and of all the Churches combined with them and all other weighty affairs fitting to be communicated that so they may relate them to their Churches that these things may be mutter of joy praise thanksgiving prayer and obedience in all the Churches The particular Works of the National and highest Ecclesiastical Council within the Nation THe National Council being met at the stated time and place agreed on compleated and blessed then 1. The Moderator with the co attestation of the Ruling Elder his Associate is to declare unto them the present good estate of that Provincial Council which sent them as also the state of all the first Councils and particular Churches with them combined Also he declareth such casesâ—…s â—…s are transmitted by them unto this Council and such Appeals as are made unto them as part of the presentâ—… business of this Council All these things to be delivered in writing distinctly unto the Notaries who reade them all and then record the present good estate of that Province and all the Councils and Churches therein combined as also the matters that are from them dilated unto the present Council 2. The Moderator calleth all the rest of the Provincial Representatives in order who are to make the like declaration â—…s the Moderator hath done with the co-attestation of their Associate Ruling Elders All their Papers are to be delivered to the Notaries who are to reade and then record them distinctly with the present Ecclesiastical state of all the Provinces in the Nation whose Representatives do there appear make declaration thereof before the National Council 3. The Notaries are orderly to propose all the matters presented by the Provincial Councils when the Moderator requireth the same Care being had that the persons concerned be present and have free and competent liberty to argue answer object in due reverent and modest manner and to do what may be necessary for the finding out of the truth 4. If there be no Cases transmitted to them nor Appeals the affairs of all the Churches in the Nation are presently issued with glory and praise to the Lord Iesus the King of Peace 5. If any other person or persons within the Nation or of any other Nation have any Cases or Questions about Religion they may now have liberty of proposing the same to receive an answer 6. If any Cases of difficulty be such as that they cannot obtain an issue and resolution satisfactory then the Case must be recorded and stay untill by further consideration and discussion God shall please to reveal further light therein because there is no Higher Council to appeal unto for light within the Nation And in such casés so the Apostles did walk and teach the Churches to walk Phil 3. 15 16. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us minde the same things But if the matter be of due weight and worth then either by Transmission or Appeal it may ascend unto an Occumenical Council 7. If any person or persons whose opinion or practice receiveth a judgement with counsel and advice in reference to the person or persons concerned and he or they rest not therein as to Peace and Order then if he or they be they many or few be not already under Church Censure the Church to which they belong are to proceed according to the determination of this Council in the case unto their Censure as the Church of Corinth did upon the advice of Paul 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. for the healing of their soules and bringing of them unto repentance and good order Which being effected the end of all this acting both in Conviction and Correction is attended And thus within the compass of one year the whole Order of Ecclesiastical Discipline hath its course and that in a most difficult case 8. But yet if he or they rest not such are high disturbers and must be suppressed by civil Power And in civil Order he that doth not submit unto and rest in as to peace and order the sentence of the Supreme Power is guilty of a Capital Offence and ought to be put to death by the Law of God Deut. 17. 10 11 12 13. and the reason is because Order is better then any of our lives It is a greater good to preserve Order then to preserve the lives of the wilfull and obstinate violaters thereof And the loss of Order and Peace in Ecclesiastical Government in the way of the Churches is of greater consequence then the loss of their lives Zec. 13. 3 6. 9. All things that are to be commended or committed to Civil Authority either from the Churches or in behalf of the Churches and Religion are to be resolved and acted by the National Council Where great care is to be had to keep a clear distinction betwixt Civil and Ecclesiastical Power and not to meddle or in the least intrude or intrench upon Civil Authority The usurpation of Antichrist upon the Civil Authority must ever keep the Ecclesiastical Councils in a vigilant fear of that aspiring pride a worm too apt to breed and grow in the breasts of learned and eminently gifted men if there be not a vigilant spirit of mortification and humble subjection unto Order 10 It will be necessary that an appointed Committee of this National Council be alwayes some or other of them resident near unto the Supream Civil Authority that they may speedily have notice of all occurrences that may have respect unto or concern the Ecclesiastical affaires of the Churches and may receive Commands from Authority about Fastings or Feastings according to the well or ill being of the affaires of the Nation or the Churches either at home or abroad and may call together the whole Council if there be any cause that it should be so c. 11. Such publick Fasts and Feasts as concern all the Churches in the Nation to solemnize which are not first commanded by civil Authority why may they not be appointed and agreed on by the National Councilâ—… such publick sins as are to be bewailed such mercies as are to
cause to defer proceeding unto Censure as sometimes it may be upon his appeal Or whatsoever the case or trouble be only all such proposals by any of the â—…ernity must be with due reverence humility and in the fear of God VI. If any other person or persons whatever have any Question or Case in matters of Religion to propose unto the Council they in the next place may have liberty in a reverent and orderly manner to propose the same and it is to be Considered and Answered Also any other matter concerning the publick good of the Churches and promotion of Religion may be discussed and ordered as Fastings Feastings â—…ropagation of the Gospel and the like VII If business so multiply that one day sufficeth not to fiâ—…ish the work the Council have liberty to appoint other times so ofâ—… aâ—… they need within the moneth and if they finish not in that moneth it must be left on record how the case standeth and so to be presented to the Council that shall be chosen for the next moneth which ordinarily in this order will be the same persons or at least most of them VIII If any Case prove too hard for them to resolve or if they be conâ—…iderably divided in judgement then the Case is to be transmitted to the next Provincial Council and â—…ecorded so to be with the Reasons of transmitting the saâ—… IX If they agree in Counsel about any case or point of Religion in Faith or Order and if any person or persons or Church concerned therein do not accept of their counsel and judgement he or they have liberty to appeal to the next Provincial Council provided that if the Council advise the Church to proceed to Ceâ—…re they are to follow that counsel notwithstanding his appeal and not to 〈◊〉 sin to ly upon their brother for if it were in the appealaâ—… power to stop the clear process of a Gospel-medicine to his soul in gross scandals some would never come under the Soul-medicine of Christ Jesus or not so soon as were meet but he may appeal higher for all actions of the Churches and Councils are â—…ble to a Review until it come unto the highest And his Appeal with the Reasons and manner thereof are to be recorded X. Every first Council in the Sessions immediately foregoing the quarterly time of the Provincial Councils meeting must chuse from among themselves at least one Teaching Elder and one Ruling Elder to be sent unto the Provincial Synod as Members of the same there to represent the first Councils who chose and sent them and all the Churches with them combined and to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel among them according to due Order XI Unto these thus chosen for the Provincial Council are to be delivered in writing first a Note of the present state of all the Churches combined with them Secondly a Note of such Cases as are transmiâ—…ed to the Provincial Council if any such be And thirdly a Note of such Appeals as are made unto them if any such be all these being first read are then delivered unto them And thus they are sent with their Prayers and Blessing XII When all these Elders do return to their own Churches they â—…re so far as in prudence is meet to relate the particular state of all the Churches the acts of the Council the persons chosâ—…n for the Provincial Council the cases transmitted and Appeales or so much as may give them a general view of the publick state of the Churches and Affaires of Christ as matter of continual Prayers Praises and Obedience in all the Churches The Particular works of the Provincial Council the second Order of Councils THe Provincial Council being met at the stated time and in the place agreed on Moderators and Notaries chosen the work blessed as in the Council of the first Order then 1. The Moderator with the co-attestation of his Associate Ruling Elâ—…er declareth the present state of the first Council that sent them as also the present state of all the Churches combined in that Council which he delivereth in writing and may be now read in this Council Then he delivereth in writing such Cases as are transmitted to them and such Appeales as are made unto them if any such be these being also read in the Council are kept in order by the Notaries 2. The Notaries are to record the present state of that Council and the general good estate of all the Churches referring unto the Records thereof now presented 3. The Moderator is to call upon all the Elders in order with their Associates delegated from all the first Councils who are all to do as the Moderator did declaring the state of the Councils and of the Churches delivering their Writings to the Notaries which are all read and recorded 4. The Notaries are to produce when called for all the Papers which present any Business or Work unto the Council either by Transmission or by Appeals which are orderly to be discussed Care being taken that all persons concerned be present and have free and competent liberty to argue answer object dispute or what else may be requisite for finding out of the Truth 5. If there be no Cases transmitted nor Appeals from any first Councils then the business of the Lord touching all their Churches is with glory and praise to Christ so soon finished as mentioned 6. If any person or persons whatsoever have any Questions or Cases concerning Religion Ecclesiastical affairs of Christ now they have liberty in due reverence and order to propose the same to be discussed and answered And if work multiply the Council may either tarry together or multiply their Sessions so oft as they see cause in their Quarter And what Cases they have unfinished they are to leave them upon Record for the next Council 7. If there be any case too difficult for them or that they be considerably divided in judgement in then that Case is to transmitted to the National Council The Notary is to Record it with the Reasons thereof 8. If any counsel or judgement agreed on by this Council be not accepted or acquiesced in by the party or parties concerned he or they may Appeal unto the National Council for further light and the Notaries are to record it and the Reasons thereof Provided that if this Council advise the Church to proceed to Censure they may so do if they see cause notwithstanding his Appeal 9. Those Provincial Councils which do immediately forego the stated time of the National Councils meeting are each of them to chuse at least one Teaching and one Ruling Elder according to the manner aforesaid who are to be Representatives of these Provincial Councils and of all the first Councils and Churches with them combined in the National Council who are chosen to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in that Order 10. The Notaries are publickly in the presence of every Council to deliver in writing unto them who are chosen for the