A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.

Quest. 107. Who is to Call Synods, Princes, Pastors or People?

Answ. 1. THere are several wayes of Calling Synods: 1. By Force and Civil Mandates, 2. By* 1.1 Pastoral Perswasion and Counsel; and 3. By humble intreaty and petition.

1. Magistrates only (that is, the Supream by his own power, and the Inferiour by power derived from him) may call Synods by Laws and Mandates, enforced by the Sword or Corporal Penalties or Mulcts.

2. Bishops or Pastors in due Circumstances may call Synods by Counsel and perswasive in∣vitation.

3. The people in due Circumstances and necessity, may Call Synods by way of Petition and Intreaty.

But what are the due Circumstances?

Answ. 1. The Magistrate may Call them by Command at his discretion, for his own Counsel, or for the Civil peace, or the Churches good.

2. The Pastors and people may not Call them, nor meet when the Magistrate forbiddeth it, except

when the necessity of the Church requireth it: Synods may profitably be stated for order, when it may be lawful••y obtained (both as to limits of Place, numbers and Time): But these prudential Or∣ders are not of stated necessity, but must give place to weightier reasons on the contrary.

3. Synods themselves are not ordinarily necessary, by Nature or Institution (Let him that affirmeth it, prove it) But that which is statedly necessary is, The Concord of the Churches as the End, and a necessary correspondency of the Churches as the Means, and Synods when they may well be had, as a convenient sort of means.

4. When Synods cannot be had, or are needless, Messengers and Letters from Church to Church may keep up the Correspondency and Concord.

5. In cases of real necessity (which are very rare, though usefulness be more frequent) the Bishops and people should first petition the King for his consent: And if that cannot be had, they may meet secretly and in small numbers for mutual consultation and advice about the work of God; and not by keeping up the formality of their set numbers, times, and places, and orders, provoke the King against them.

6. The contempt of Synods by the separatists, and the placing more power in Synods than ever God gave them by others, yea and the insisting on their circumstantial orders, making them like a Ci∣vil Senate or Court, have been the two extreams which have greatly injured and divided the Churches, throughout the World.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The question of the power of Synods is sufficiently an∣swered before.