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keeper of holy writ, yet, as it ought not to decree anything against the same, so besides the same, ought it not to enforce anything to be believed, for necessity of salvation.

Scripture Proofs.

1 Corinthians xiv. 26, 33, 40. Let all things be done unto edifying. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Let all things be done decently, and in order.

Galatians i. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Mark vii. 13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.

Deuteronomy iv. 2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.

We do not presume to ascribe to our church infallible authority, but we think that great deference is due to her judgment, in taking cognizance of any disputes or "controversies of faith." Every man, says Bishop Burnet, that finds his own thoughts differ from her decisions, ought to examine the matter over again with much attention and care, freeing himself all he can from prejudice and obstinacy, with a just distrust of his own understanding, and an humble respect to the judgment of his superiors. This is due to the consideration of peace and union, and to that authority

which the church has to obtain it; but if, after all possible methods of inquiry, a man cannot master his thoughts, or make them agree with the public decisions, his conscience is not under bonds, since this authority is not absolute, nor grounded upon a promise of infallibility.

XXI.

OF THE AUTHORITY OF GENERAL COUNCILS.

General councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of princes. And when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the spirit and word of God) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation, have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.

Q. How are general councils to be gathered together?

A. General councils cannot be gathered together without the commandment and will of princes.

Q. When they be gathered together, what may follow?

A. When they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the spirit and word of God,) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God.

Q. What do you say of things ordained by them, as necessary to salvation?

A. They have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.

Scripture Proofs.

Romans xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.

Isaiah viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Acts xv. 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

The first General Council was that of Nice, convened by the Emperor Constantine, A. D. 329; the second was held at Constantinople in the year 381, by Theodosius the Great; the third at Ephesus, by Theodosius, jun. A. D. 431; and the fourth at Chalcedon, by the Emperor Marcian, A. D. 451. These four first were by far the most eminent of General Councils. We reverence the Councils for the sake of the doctrines which they declared and maintained. At Nice it was declared that the Son is truly God, of the same substance with the Father; at Constantinople, that the Holy Ghost is also truly God; at Ephesus, that the Divine nature was truly united to the human in Christ in one person; at Chalcedon, that

both natures remained distinct, and that the human nature was not lost or absorbed in the divine.

But

we do not believe these doctrines upon the authority of the Councils, but of the Scriptures.

See Num. xi. 16. 1 Chron. xiii. 1, 2. 2 Chron. xxix. 4. 1 Kings viii. 1.

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