Zerubbabel to Sanballat and Tobiah: or, The first part of the duply to M.S. alias Two brethren.: By Adam Steuart. Whereunto is added, the judgement of the reformed churches of France, Switzerland, Geneva, &c. concerning independants, who condemne them with an unanimous consent. Published by David Steuart. March 17. 1644. Imprimatur Ja: Cranford.

QUEST. 3. Whether any man may not state and determine Questions agitated in Synods, before the Synods Determination.

M. S. BLames me mightily for stating some Questions now in agitation in the Synod.

To the contrary, I conceive, that herein I have done nothing amisse; But for the better stating and determining of this Question we must observe:

1. That there are two sorts of Questions, some that are already determined in Gods Word, and his Church also; Others that are not. 2. That there are some Determinations by publick Authority, as Lawes, Statutes, Ecclesiasti∣call Canons, &c. and others particular, proceeding of private or particular mens Iudgements; The first binds and obliges them, who are subject unto them: the second cannot oblige any man to obedience; and so I say 1. That in Questions already determined in Gods Word by his Church, every man may determine, as God and the Church have determined.

• 1. Because God obliges us to determine our judgements, according to the Determinations of his Word; especially in things that are necessary to Salvation, for the very publication of the Gospell obligeth us to assent.
• 2. If every man determineth not, according to Gods Word, he sinneth.
• 3. If particular men determine not their Iudgement according to Gods Word, and because the thing beleeved is conforme to Gods Word, it is not an Act of Divine Faith.

In these Determinations, according to the Word, I say that the Church Determination is publick, 1. Because God hath endowed her with publick Authority, to determine according to the Determination of his Word. 2. Be∣cause she Iudges not by private authority, as private men. 3. Because Suspen∣sion from the Lords Table, &c. are not Acts of private but of publick Iudge∣ment and authority. This Authority of the Church is not Imperiall, or Magi∣steriall, but Ministeriall, because the Ministers of the Church be nothing else but Gods Ministers, or Servants, and not Lords in the Church.

The Determinations, and Iudgements of particular Persons are only parti∣cular, and a Iudgement of Discretion. 1. Because they proceed not from pub∣lick, but from private and particular persons, even when they proceed from a Minister. 2. Because they have not publick authority to oblige Congregati∣ons, but themselves alone. 3. Their principall and intrinsecall ayme is not to be directions for others, but for themselves, and they doe not helpe to direct others in particular.

This M. S. objecteth, that if A. S. determine it, he anticipates upon the Assemblies Iudgement; but that he must not doe so.

Answ. I deny the Consequence; 1. for the Assemblies Iudgement is publick and mine particular. 2. It is already Iudged by the Church of this Kingdom

that Presbyterian Discipline is not contrary to Gods Word; for if it were, it had never permitted it, to be practised or approved in England; as I have already shewed.

2. To the Minor I answer, That either by anticipating upon the Synods Iudgement, he understandeth an anticipation by a publick Iudgement, and that is impossible to me, for my Iudgement is not publick, but particular; or by a particular Iudgement, and then it is not properly an Anticipation; or if he will needs have it to be so I answer; that if I or any other Christian have lear∣ned any truth in Gods Word, we are all bound to determine our particular Iudgements according to it.

Neither can the long Examination of businesses in Synods, which proceedeth from Hereticks, Sectaries, and others their crafts, malice, or infirmities, hin∣der us from determining the truths according to our particular Iudgements; for if it could, then whensoever any Heretick should start up, and dogmatize against the first Articles of our Faith, denying Gods Infinity, Simplicity, Perfe∣ction, Eternity, Immutability, his Wisdome, Decrees, Power, or Pro∣vidence, and his opinion were to be examined in a Synod, we must begin to doubt and suspend our Iudgements, as so many Pyrrhonians about all those points, which already we beleeved by Faith, and stand gaping for some new Determination of the Articles of our faith from Synods; And so Synods should be most pernicious in making us to lose our Faith, which before we had.

In a word, we have received already the Determination and Resolution of the Independents questions in Gods Word in other Protestant Churches, and the approbation of those Determinations here by the Church of England. And the Discussion of them in the Synod, is not to change Gods Ordinance, but to give contentment unto weake Consciences, if they can receive it.

Again, If this Argument be strong, I retort it against his Sect: If the Quinque Ecclesian Ministers, M. S. and C. C. determine these Questions, as they doe in their printed Bookes here, and Sermons also, as we are credibly infor∣med, they also anticipate upon the Assemblies Iudgement: But the First is true, Ergo, so must the Second also be.

Again, Either this man with the rest of the Sectaries are minded to acqui∣esce to the Determination of the Synod, or not: If the first, it is well, it is more then I expect of them, I pray God they deceive me: if not, what needeth he to sight so much for the Determination of the Synod, which he is determined not to stand unto? would not this seeme to be said in derifi∣on of the Synod?

2. Obj. A. S. In determining the Question, taketh it out of the Assem∣blies hands.

Answ. I deny the Consequence, for it is in their hands by way of publick Authority, publicke Iudgement, and publicke Determination; Now A. S.

or any other particular Determination taketh not away the publick, and Au∣thoritative Determination, Iudgement, or Authority.

As for the stating of the Question, this man will not permit me, and conse∣quently no particular man, so much as to state it in particular, and that for the same reason: But if we may according to our particular Iudgement Determine it, how much more may we state it, since it can no waiess be Determined, unlesse first it be stated? Can the Synods stating and Deter∣mining the question, free us of the obligation whereby we are bound to state it, and Determine it according to Gods Word.