this we say 1. Tho' this Assembly had in it some Men Extraordinary for their Office and Gifts yet did they not here meet or act as such but as Ordinary Church-Rulers which as Junius hath well observed so he hath sufficiently proved That the Apostles in all Constituted Churches did not act by Extraordinary Apostolick Authority but Joint with other Church-Rulers in an Ordinary Power and submitted to them Therefore we find the Apostles Peter and John sent from the Church of Jerusalem as Missionaries to Samaria Acts 8.14 And as we from hence prove against the Papists that Peter had no Supremacy over the rest of the Apostles because the Senders have Power over them they do send so their Subjection to that Church is hence evident It 's plain also from Peter's subjecting himself as aforesaid to the Trial of the Church at Jerusalem So Paul and Barnabas were subject to the Church of Antioch as appears from Acts 13.1 and also from this same Chapter which had not been had they acted by their Apostolic Extraordinary Authority wherein they were immediately subject to CHRIST only But that this Assembly was Ordinary is evident 1. From its Occasion which is Ordinary viz. a Heresie and Schism arising in the Church 2. Their Call to this Assembly was Ordinary the Church of Antioch Determined and Ordered Vers 2. Paul and Barnabas with certain others to repair to Jerusalem the Call of the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem was of the same nature and therefore all but Ordinary 3. Their Constitution was Ordinary as consisting not of Extraordinary Officers only but of Ordinary Elders and Brethren also 4. These Ordinary Officers act with equal Authority as the Apostles do in this Synod the Synodical Act going out in their Name as well as the Apostles Vers 22 23. They joyn with them in censuring the Hereticks vers 24. Vers 28. They assert That it seems good to the Holy Ghost and us as well as the Apostles do and here give Commission to Paul and Barnabas c. as well as they 5. The manner of their Procedure in determining this Controversie was Ordinary not by Immediate Infallible Inspiration but by much Disputing and Reasoning vers 7. the several Apostles giving their Judgment according to Scripture wherein tho' they were not contrary to one another yet they differ'd and the Sentence of James finally acquiesc'd in not on account of Episcopal Authority as some would have it who to Exalt a Bishop would Degrade an Apostle but on Account of the strength of his Reasons and evidence of Truth from Scripture And altho' it be said vers 28. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost c. it will neither follow that Oecumenick Councils are Infallible as Papists teach nor that this Acted by an Extraordinary Apostolick Spirit For as Whitaker says Other Councils may in like manner assert their Decrees seem good to the Holy Ghost if they shall follow the same Method and Rule determine nothing but what is according unto the Revealed Will of GOD written in His Word which are called Words that the Holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2.13 6. Had the Apostles determined this matter by their Extraordinary Infallible Spirit what need had the Infallible Spirit in Paul and Barnabas to appeal to the Infallible Spirit of the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem Was the Spirit in Paul c. an Incompetent Judge and Inferiour to theirs Nay surely he might have as easily determined the matter at Antioch and saved the Labour of Travelling to Jerusalem Whence 't is plain they acted by Ordinary Means and Power in dependance upon GOD's Spirit promised to His Church by the best Rule His own Word A Second Question Seeing this Assembly was Ordinary Whether did it act only by way of Council and Advice or by Juridical Authority as an Assembly whose Authority obliged the Churches subject to them to Receive and Observe them To this we say 1. That the Authority of this Synod or of any other is not Civil either for Matter Manner or End nor had it or hath any External Coercive Power to inflict Punishments Corporal or Fines and Imprisonments but as their Power was Spiritual so it was to be Executed by Suitable Means 2. Nor was their Power nor is the Power of any Synod destructive of the Power of Inferiour Church-Assemblies but perfective and assisting to them For tho' a Superiour Assembly should rectifie the Mistakes of an Inferiour Assembly this doth no more deprive the Inferiour of its Power than he who would better inform a mistaken Man doth deprive him of the Power of his Judgment when he only help'd him to judge better 3. Their Power as that of other Assemblies was not Arbitrary to do as they pleas'd but Regulated by the Word of GOD for no Assemblies have Power but for Edification and no Foundation for this can be laid but the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles 4. Yet we Assert it was properly and truly cloathed with Authority to deliberate and determine in those matters that were before it and its Determinations as those of other Lawful Assemblies do did oblige those under their Care and Inspection Reverently to Esteem them and Dutifully to Obey them as far as agreeable to the Revealed Will of GOD. And this is plain 1. Seeing GOD hath Commanded Church-Rulers to Assemble hath promised His Spirit and Presence in their Assemblies and to Ratifie what they Bind or Loose it is clear that their Acts ought to be Obeyed else their Assembling is in vain nor could Controversies ever be ended if none be obliged to stand to the Determination 2. All Appeals should be needless tho' Nature's Light teach them Were Synods only Consultative they should be only like that which Lawyers call Arbitrium boni viri which a Man need not stand to unless he so please and therefore all Power of Arbitration ought to have some Juridical Authority accompanying it to make their Determinations obey'd else we shall be as when there was no King in Israel and no effectual Means provided for the Redressing Grievances 3. Seeing CHRIST requires that such as neglect to hear the Church be accounted as Heathens and Publicans it is plain they have Authority when such as disobey are to be punish'd for such their Disobedience And its unreasonable to suppose this peculiar to single Congregations for then CHRIST should have had more care of single Persons than of whole Congregations of Men if no Remedy be provided for Debates arising betwixt Congregations or Offences done by one to the other Yea even single Congregations themselves should have no Remedy if one part be Injurious to the other but they must Divide and so be Destroy'd as Instances could be given As to the particular Power exercis'd by this Synod and may be by others it appears to be first that called Dogmatick which is not a Power to forge new Articles of Faith or devise new Matter or Parts of Divine Worship but it is a Power to
A SERMON BEFORE THE PROVINCIAL SYNOD AT ANTRIM Preached June 1. 1698. BY Mr. JOHN MAC-BRIDE Minister of Belfast Published at the Desire of some Persons then Present Printed in the Year MDCXCVIII Acts XV. 25 26. It seemed good unto us being Assembled with one Accord to send Chosen Men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul Men that have hazarded their Lives for the Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST AS the Church of Christ since Militant on Earth hath not wanted Foreign Adversaries who have taken crafty Counsels to cut off the Name of Israel from being a Nation so it hath had Intestine Enemies to its Doctrine Worship and Government some privily bringing in Damnable Heresies to over-throw the Faith once delivered to the Saints others corrupting its pure Worship with Superstition and Idolatry and some Imperious and Ungovernable Men subverting its orderly Government by Tyranny and Anarchy By any of which tho' a Form of Godliness may be kept it 's Power is deny'd But we have been faithfully fore-warned that such Offences must come that such as are approved may be made manifest Yet He on whose Shoulders the Government of his Church is laid hath well and wisely provided proper Remedies against all these Evils Watchmen and Rulers who by their mutual Care and Counsels assisted by His Word and Spirit are put in a Capacity to defend this Church Whereof we have a pregnant Instance in this Scripture in which we may see a wise and holy Assembly of Church-Rulers by joint Counsels and Authority Deliberating about and Determining of Ways and Means necessary to preserve the Purity of Doctrine and Worship as well as the Unity and Peace of the Church All which were in manifest hazard while some Men coming down from Judea to Antioch taught the Disciples That unless they were Circumcised and kept the Law of Moses they could not be Saved Whether Cyrinthus was the Ring-Leader of this Party as Epiphanius and Hierom report I determine not but it 's evident from Vers 5. that they were Pharisees The first course taken to remove this Evil we find was Disputing managed by Paul and Barnabas to convince these Gain-sayers but to little effect And therefore secondly The Church of Antioch determined to send Paul and Barnabas with certain others to the Apostles and Elders who were at Jerusalem where appears an Appeal from an Inferiour to a Superiour Judicatory in a Case not determined by the Inferiour Thirdly We have an Account of the Constitution of this Assembly consisting of Apostles and Elders both these resident at Jerusalem and such as were delegated from Antioch Vers 6. Fourthly The Method used to find out and determine this Controverted Truth was A Deliberate free and full debating the matter and Reasoning from Scripture Fifthly After this a clear and final Decision of the Controversie the Apostle James as Moderator of the Assembly summing up the Debate and giving his Sentence to which all consented Sixthly We have here the Synod's Method to make this its Decision effectual where 1. It is Enacted That a Letter be written from the Synod informing those Churches to which it was sent with their final Determination and Judgment 2. It is Enacted That some Persons be Commissionated to carry publish and require Submission to this Decree The Words read contain 1. An Account of the Authority giving this Commission or Employing those Persons to Execute this Act viz. the Apostles Elders and Brethren assembled with one accord 2. The Persons commissionated to wit chosen Men with Paul and Barnabas 3. The ground of sending It seemed good to us 4. The Character and Recommendation of the Persons sent which was their Credentials 1. They were Chosen Men 2. Men who had hazarded their Lives for the Name of Christ From which words thus Explain'd this Proposition may be rationally deduced Doctr. When the Necessity or Benefit of the Church requires it is the Duty of those whom Christ hath cloathed with Authority to Rule it to Assemble with one Accord and make such Acts as may contribute to preserve the Purity and Peace of those Churches over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers That the Apostles and Elders did Assemble is here Evident that they did it as their Duty from the pressing Necessities of the Church over which they were set to watch is also evident both its Truth and Peace being in hazard The presence and concurrence of the Holy Ghost granted them the Remarkable Success by GOD's Blessing bestowed on those their Endeavours shews us that they had a Call thereunto and acted in obedience to GOD in it But that this may more fully appear to be not only their Duty but the Duty of all their ordinary Successors I shall first prove secondly consider what Assembly this was for kind and quality and then shew of what use it is to us 1. I take it for granted that the Church of Christ is and ought to be an Orderly Society of Reasonable Men and Women and under Laws and Government and therefore is it called a Kingdom whereof Christ is the King and Lawgiver having Men 〈◊〉 Authority under Him enabled to put in Execution His Laws â—â—s call'd a Family Eph. 3.15 whereof He is the Everlasting Father Isa 9.6 a City compactly built all which shew that it consists of Persons Governing and Governed For no sooner do we hear of any Publick Worship but we have it in a Society Cain and Abel meeting to offer Sacrifice and bringing them to be offered by Adam the then High-Priest of his Family Gen. 4. Those who will have Publick Worship Instituted Gen. 4.16 must understand Assemblies of distinct Families associating for no doubt Adam and his House did before this jointly worship the LORD and Nature's Light hath instructed all Nations who have any Worship to perform it in Publick Assemblies 2. It appears that under the Old Testament GOD did require such as He had Authorized to Rule his Church to Assemble for that End as appears from Exod. 24.1 where the LORD said to Moses Come up unto the LORD thou and Aaron Nadab and Abihu and Seventy of the Elders of Israel all which convened to be Witnesses of and concur with the Congregation in their solemn Engaging in Covenant with the LORD as also to be Witnesses of GOD's Glorious Manifesting Himself to Moses and giving him Authority Vers 10. and particularly to Judge and Determine in the Matters of Debate among that People as appears from Vers 14. That GOD constituted such Assemblies Rulers for ordinary appears from Deut. 17.8 9. where in all Cases too difficult for their Inferiour Judicatories the People are commanded to go to that Place which GOD should choose to set His Name there to enquire of the Priests Levites and Judges in those Days and are Commanded also to be Determined by their Sentence Seeing then the People were bound to Attend it 's evident the Priests Levites c. were obliged to Assemble to hear examine
is it reason to consider of the Safety and Reasonableness of trusting Church-Power in the hand of single Persons who tho' they thrust themselves into Civil Assemblies are seldom known to assemble as the Apostles and Elders did at Jerusalem 5. It is the Duty of Christian People under the Care of such Assemblies Reverently to Esteem and Dutifully to Regard their Lawful Constitutions So the Churches to which this Decree came rejoyced for the Consolation they had thereby Acts 15.31 As it 's a People's Mercy to have Government so none but Presumptuous and Self-will'd Persons will despise it and profane Men whose Immoralities make them justly obnoxious to their Censures 6. Having such an Excellent Example as this let us imitate them in ours and particularly in these things First In their Unanimity They were Assembled with one Accord they acted with one Accord let us do so also Their Unanimity appeared 1. In that they were Acted by the same holy Spirit on which they depended vers 28. 2. They walked by the same Rule Phillip 4.16 Let us do so also They had divers Apprehensions and Expressions about the Rule much Disputing and Debating not to confound but to find out Truth to convince Gain-sayers And therefore none should be offended at our Debates when managed with Moderation in order to Confirm Truth or Refute Error or find out proper Expedients for our Work The Matter about which Persons with whom and our own Infirmities occasion these Debates We have no Intuitive Knowledge but only Discussive and therefore must dig for Wisdom as for hidden Treasure 3. Let us with them mind the same thing Philip. 3.16 The Churches Preservation and Edification Truth Peace and Pure Gospel-Ordinances was all they Contended for and Aimed at not as sometimes they had Contended who should be Greatest Mark 9.34 By this Unanimity we shall Beautify and Fortifie our Assembly gain Respect to our Persons and Acts. Secondly Let us imitate them in the Ground and Reason of their Conclusions They determined nothing but what seemed Good to the Holy Ghost as well as them and this is best known by the Word of GOD. Let the things be necessary Vers 28. No burdensome Ceremony this they delivered the Church from as a Yoke which neither they nor their Forefathers were able to bear for rigid imposing of Things Unnecessary makes Church-Constitutions Contemptible and the Contrivers and Imposers of such needless Burdens as Imperious and Tyrannical 4. Let us with them what we have on due Deliberation Enacted Execute with all prudent Expedition A Flame was begun in the Church they presently sent to quench it Delays in this kind may prove dangerous 5. Let every Member of the Assembly as they did maintain the Credit and Authority of the Assembly by a chearful Submission and Obedience to its Appointments Paul Barnabas Judas and Silas tho' chief Men did not decline but Reverence the Authority of this Assembly by undertaking a Toilsome and hazardous Work Nature's Light teacheth us that the several Parts of a Politick Body as well as the Natural are to be subject and serviceable to the Whole and why not also in Church-Assemblies 6. Let us imitate their Spiritual Prudence in the chusing and sending Men to the Work that are fit for it They sent chosen Men c. As GOD hath intrusted us we cannot be Faithful to Him or those with whom He hath trusted us unless we employ fit Persons And therefore 1. Let us be careful to lay hands suddenly upon no Man that we be neither Partakers with them of their Sins nor Authors of Plagues to others but such as are faithful able and apt to teach let such be chosen at first 2 Tim. 2.2 We injure the present and betray the after-Generation if we do otherwise 2. Seeing there be diversity of Gifts we ought to make proper and suitable Application of those to Places and Work so is done here They sent Chosen Men. Nature hath taught every Mechanick not to use his Tools promiscuously GOD hath instructed the Plowman to Discretion not to thresh Fitches with a Threshing Instrument neither is a Cart-Wheel turned about upon the Cummin but the Fitches are beaten out with a Staff and the Cummin with a Rod Isa 28.27 28. This cometh from the LORD who is Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in Working Neither a Mans own Desires or Inclinations nor partial Respect to Persons should guide us in this but Experience of a just Proportion betwixt their Gifts and the Work should direct us For mis-application of Persons to Places hath been of very ill consequence to the Church 7. The choicest Persons in our Assemblies are not to think themselves too good to serve the Church of CHRIST but when call'd are to go on her Errands chearfully as these Chosen Men here do Men ought not to seek only Ease Honour and Advantage but are call'd to Labour in the Vineyard and the Great Shepherd will provide them their Reward 8. Such Persons may be safely Trusted with the Important Interest of the Church who have given proof of their hazarding their Lives for the Name of CHRIST Men Deny'd to Themselves their Ease and Advantage Men of Courage who dare Engage in Difficulties such Men will have a Native Care for it Having therefore the SPIRIT promised to be our Guide the Word of GOD given to be our Rule and so Excellent a Pattern as this Assembly Let us follow our Guide according to the Rule after so Holy an Example FINIS