Reply to Rutherford, Treatise · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the Power of Synods to give advice and Counſell, and whether from thence it doth follow, that they have no power to Command.
THe next place wherein I find this learned Author dealing with the Anſwer, is in his Page 381. Where having in the Cloſe of a 4.th Objection in the prece…ent Page brought in theſe words, viz. A Synod in dogmaticall Power ariſeth no higher then this (viz. a man, or a ſingle Congregation) as that a divine Inſtitution doth fall upon it. Amongst other things in his Anſwer to the Objection hee ſaith thus, viz. I would know if a Synods dogmaticall Power be above the power of ſingle Congregations; I think ſaith he, it is not by our Brethrens tenents; for they ſay expreſſely that every particular Church hath right, jus, to decide Dogmaticall points: This right the Church of Antioch had (Act. 15) an… laboured to end that Controverſie within her ſelfe, which ſheweth that they had Right an… Power: but they had not Ability; and therefore in that caſe they ſeeke for Counſell, light, and adviſe from other Churches—. And then amongſt other places for Proofe that this is our Tenent, hee alledgeth in his margent my Name and Mr. Tompſon… in the Anſwer to Mr. Herle, Chap. 2. and after the words above rehearſed and ſome others to the like purpoſe, hee inferreth thus: Hence ſaith hee, the power of Synods is onelyonly by way of Counſell and adviſe.
Anſw. To omit (at leaſt for this time) the other Places alledged in his margent, and not to examine how farre his Anſwer reacheth to ſatisfie the Objection, as himſelfe hath propounded it; I will onelyonly conſider of ſuch things as doe directly Concerne the anſwer, for that is the ſcope …ayme at, and I endeavour to keepe cloſe thereto.
Firſt therefore I have this to ſay, That for the Dogmaticall power of Synods above Congregations, for the Right and Power of the Church of Antioch in particular, and for the Power of Synods to bee onelyonly by way of Counſell and adviſe, there is not in the Chapter alledged ſo much as one word about any one of thoſe … either one way or another; ſo that I cannot but marvell why this reverend Brother ſhould alledge that Chapter for ſuch a purpoſe.
2. Although in another place of the Anſwer, viz. Page 4…. there be words to the like purpoſe with thoſe which our Author here ſets downe concerning Antioch, yet for the Concluſion and conſequence which hee would thence inferre, viz. That the power of Synods is onelyonly by way of Counſell and advice, as there is nothing ſaid … the Chapter by him alledged that lookes that way, ſo there is nothing in the Page or Chapter where A…tioch is ſpoken of, nor any where elſe in all th… Booke … as I doe remember, that can any way ſerve for the proving of ſuch a Concluſion and tenent to bee ours. The Author alledgeth no place that hath ſuch a concluſion in it, either in direct words or by juſt conſequence: and I profeſſe that for my part I doe not know of any ſuch.
3. But this I doe know that the direct contrary to what here is expreſſed is plainly to be found in another place of the ſaid anſwer, viz. Pag. 7. where there are theſe words, viz. If a Synod may b… called a Church, and if Power by diſputation and diſquiſition to cleare up the Rule, and then to Command Obedience thereto, may be called Government, then they (viz. the Independants as they are called) doe admit a Synod to bee a governing Church, for the Power here m…ntioned they doe allow unto Synods. Now the Power here mentioned being, as we ſee, not onelyonly a Power by diſputation to cleare up the Rule, but alſo a Power to Command obedience thereto, they allowing this power unto Synods as they doe expreſtly ſay that they doe; I know not why our Brother ſhould ſay, that they allow unto Synods onelyonly a Power of Counſell and advice. For power to Command Obedience, and power onelyonly by way of Counſell and advice, I ſuppoſe are not the ſame; and if they be not, I know not how this report in this particuler can bee made good. To me it ſeemes apparent and undenyable, that they who have Power to Command Obedience, have more then only a Power to counſell and adviſe; and they who have onelyonly this latter have no Power of the …orme… at all. Even interiours, as Naamans ſervants, 2 King. 5. have power to counſell and adviſe their Maſter, and yet I hope they had no Power to Command their Maſter to yeeld Obedience.
4 Suppoſe it bee true (which I deny not) that the Anſwer in another place, (…hough not in the place by him alledged) doth ſay, that A…tioch had right to have ended the matter amongſt themſelves, if ability had ſerved thereto, and that by reaſon of Diſtention and through want of Light they were forced to ſend out to …ruſalem for helpe, muſt it needs follow thereupon that his aſſembly at Ieruſalem had no more Power but onelyonly by way of Counſell and adviſe? (which is the Concluſion which hee endeavours to draw …om that which is ſaid concerning Antioch) I …ceive there is no neceſſity at all of ſuch a conſequence.
For whence muſt the ſame … I ſuppoſe from one of theſe two, either from this, that Antioch is ſuppoſed and ſaid to have had Right within her ſelfe, or elſe from this that Jeruſalem gives Counſell and adviſe. Any other colour for concluding ſuch a Conſeptionce as is in queſtion, the Anſwer affords none that I know of. … for theſe two Particulers here mentioned, they are both inſufficient for ſuch … purpoſe.
For what ſhould hinder but there bee more Power in the Synod of …eruſalem towards them of Antioch then only by way of counſell and adviſe, even power to command them to do what is their duty, though Antioch have right to end the matter themſelves, if ability ſerves thereto? Doth right in one Perſon or Aſſembly to end their ma…ers if they be able, extempt them from being under the command of others? Hoſhoulders have right to governe and order their families, if ſo be that they be able: doth it follow therefore that Superiors in Church or civill ſtate have no power to command houſholders to do their duty herein, but only to give counſell and adviſe? Or if houſholdere have ſuch right, doth it follow that therefore they are under no command, in Church and Common-wealth? I ſuppoſe it will not follow at all. Or ſhall we ſay, that Claſſes and Provinciall Synods have no right to end their own matters within themſelves, if a Nationall Synod have power to command them? Or if they have ſuch right, ſhall we therefore ſay they are not under the command of the Nationall Synod, and that the Nationall Synod hath no power over them but only by way of Counſell and adviſe? Wee ſuppoſe Maſter Rutherford will not ſay ſo: and yet he might as well ſay it, as ſay as hee he doth, that becauſe Antioch hath right to …nd her own matter if they be able, therefore a Synod hath no power but only by way of Counſell and adviſe.
And though the Synod is to give Counſell and adviſe (which was the other ground whereon the concluſier afore mentioned ſeemes to be built) yet neither will Maſter Rutherford his concluſ…on, that the power of Synods is only by way of Counſell and adviſe, follow from thence at all. For who knoweth not that. Counſell and adviſe may be adminiſtred and given by them, who have alſo power to command? Not every one indeed as may adviſe and Counſell, may forth with command and enjoyne: Nevertheleſſe, Counſell and Command are not ſo repugnant, but that they who may Command, may alſo adviſe. Paul had power to Command and enjoyne Phyl…mon to do what was convenient, and yet for loves ſake would rather beſeech him, Philem. 8. 9. The Lord Ieſus to doubt hath abſolute authority to Command, and yet we find him ſometimes ſpeaking to the Sons of men by way of Counſell or adviſe. Revel. 3. …8. I Counſell thee to buy of me Gold, that thou mayeſt he rich, &c. ſhall we now inferre from hence, that the power of the Lord Ieſus is only by way of Counſell aud adviſe, and that his power cannot amount to the nature of a Command? I ſuppoſe we would be afraid and abhorre to deduce ſuch a conſequence. And therefore, though a Synod may adviſe, yet their power to Command (which is more then meere Counſell and aduiſe) is not from thence concluded to be Null. And ſo much for Maſter Rutherford his ſecond place, wherein he deales againſt the anſwer.