Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 4.

Obj. IS any Church now extant so infallable, that it needeth no advice of any?

Ans. No Church ought to be so esteemed upon earth; infalla∣bility* 1.1 ought only to be ascribed to the Spirit of God, in the Scrip∣tures; and for matter of advice, and counsell, in any Spirituall matter, it is requisite, that one Church make use of another, as the Church of Antioch, did of the Church at Jerusalem, but not absolutely to depend upon them.

Obj. Did not the Church of Antioch, depend upon the determi∣nate conclusion, of the Church at Jerusalem? Act. 15. 2.

Ans. The text doth not say, that they did absolutely depend* 1.2 upon it, but that it sent to the Church at Jerusalem about the que∣stion; which doth imply, that it was only to advise with them, or to crave their judgements, in the matter in controversie, and not to resolve, right, or wrong, to depend upon their judgements; as also in that the Messengers which were sent, were Apostles, as

the other were, to whom they were sent, and as infallible as the other, and so their equals, as the Apostle Paul testifieth of him∣selfe, Gal. 2. 6. Againe, suppose that the Church at Jerusalem had determined, that the Church at Antioch, should have admit∣ted of Circumcision, and enjoyned it upon the Brethren at An∣tioch, were either the Apostles, or them of Antioch, bound to have obeyed them decrees, knowing that all such Ceremonies were ended in Christ?

Obj. No, in that they ought to have obeyed God, rather then Man.

Ans. Then you conclude, that such injunctions as be comman∣ded* 1.3 by the greatest authority, being contrary to the Word of God, ought not to be obeyed; and if so, why ought we now to depend upon a Presbiterian Sined, who are farre inferiour to the Apostles? or to obey them in such commands, as are as contrary to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, as Circumcision was to them of Antioch, being abolished as aforesaid?

Notes

• * 1.1

  One Church may advise with another.
• * 1.2

  The Church at Antioch did not depend on that a•• Jerusalem.
• * 1.3

  Authority ought not to ••e obeyed in unlawfull ••hings.