The Remains of John Corbet, Section 21
§ 21. The ſubordination of particular Churches to an aſſociation or collective body of the ſame Churches, conſidered.
I Come to enquire whether there be a ſubordination of churches, taken diſtributively to an aſſociation o… collective body of the ſame Churches, or an aſſembly thereof; and again, whether there be a ſubordination of that collective body to a larger aſſociation of more collective bodies, or to an aſſembly thereof, and ſo forward till we come to the largeſt that can be reached unto.
The aſſociation of particular churches is of the law of nature, and therefore to be put in practiſe according to their capacity, tho there were no poſitive law for it; for they are all ſo many diſtinct members of one great body, or integral parts of the Catholick church; and they are all concerned in each others well being, both in reference to themſelves as fellow members of one body, and to Chriſt their Head, whoſe honour and intereſt they muſt promote, each church not only within themſelves, but throughout all the churches to the utmoſt extent of their agency: And they naturally ſtand in need of each others help in things that concern them ſeverally and jointly.
Likewiſe that there be greater and leſſer aſſociations acting in their ſeveral ſpheres higher or lower, the one included in the other, is of the law of nature, or of natural convenience for the more ample capacity and more orderly contributing of the mutual help aforeſad; ſuch as have been called claſſical, provincial and national aſſemblies uſed in one form of church-government; yea, and beyond this the aſſociation of the churches of many nations as far towards an oecumenical council, as they are capable of convening, is of the ſame reaſon: But of an oecumenical aſſociation truly ſo called, that is, of all the churches in the world, the moral impoſſibility thereof hath been ſpoken of before.
It is alſo by the law of nature moſt convenienient that in the leſſer aſſociations all the ruling officers perſonally meet; and that in the larger they meet by their delegates or repreſentatives choſen by all, and ſent in the name of all, which meetings are called aſſemblies or ſynods; and the convenience of meeting by delegates is, that the particular churches be not for a time left wholly deſtitute of their guides, and that there may be leſs trouble and difficulty and danger of diſorder in the whole management. Note, That what is moſt naturally convenient, hath in it the reaſon of neceſſary, or is matter of duty, unleſs when ſomething gainſay or hinder, and then indeed it ceaſeth to be convenient.
And that there be ſome kind of ſubordination in the ſaid aſſociations, and their reſpective Aſſemblies, is of the Law of nature, which requires order; but as to the kind or manner of ſubordination, men go ſeveral ways: Some place it in a proper Authority or Governing power that the collective bodies of Churches have over the ſeveral Churches included in them: others place it in the agreement of the ſeveral churches; and ſome of theſe make this further explanation, that the Canons made by Synods, as they are made for the people, who are ſubject to the Paſtors, are a ſort of Laws, and oblige by the Authority of the Paſtors; but as they are made for the preſent or abſent Paſtors, who are ſeparately of equal Office, Power, they are no Laws except in an equivocal ſenſe, but only Agreements.
Now in judging between theſe two ways of the ſubordination enquired of, let it be conſidered, firſt, That every particular church hath power of government within it ſelf, as hath been before obſerved. 2. That a particular church doth not derive that power from any other particular church, or collective body of churches, but hath it immediately from Chriſt. 3. That yet the acts of government in every particular church, have an influence into all the churches, being but integral parts of one whole, the Catholick church; and conſequently they are all of them nearly concerned in one another, as members of the ſame body. 4. Thereupon that particular churches combine in ſuch collective bodies and aſſociations as have been before mentioned, is not arbitrary, but their duty. 5. That the greater collective bodies are, in degrees more auguſt and venerable than the leſſer included in them; and in that regard ought to have ſway with the leſſer, and not meerly in regard of agreement: For tho in the greater there be but the ſame power in ſpecie with that in the leſſer; yet it is more amply and illuſtriouſly exerted. 6. That in all Societies every part being ordered for the good of the whole, and the more ample and comprehenſive parts coming nearer to the nature and reaſon of the whole, than the leſſer and comprehended; the more ample parts if they have not a proper governing power over the leſſer, have at leaſt a preeminence over them for the ends ſake; and this preeminence hath the force of a proper ſuperior power in bearing ſway. 7. Hence it follows, that the acts of Synods, if they be not directly acts of government over the particular Paſtors, yet they have the efficacy of government, as being to be ſubmitted to for the ends ſake, The general good.