XX - Of the Generall Councells, of their Power, Authoritie, and Cause of their Convention

AS we not rashly condemne that which godly men assembled together in Generall Councells, lawfully gathered, have proponed unto us: Gal 2.11, 12, 13, 14. So without just examination dare we not receive whatsoever is obtruded unto men, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. Col. 2.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. under the name of Generall Councells, for plain it is, that as they were men, so have some of them manifestly erred, and that in matters of great weight and importance. So far then as the Councell proveth the Determination and Commandment, that it giveth by the plain Word of God, so far do we reverence and imbrace the same. But if men under the name of a Councell pretend to forge unto us new Articles of our Faith, or to make Constitutions repugning to the Word of God, Act. 15.1, &c. then utterly we must refuse the same, as the Doctrine of Devils, which draweth our souls from the voice of our onely God, to follow the Doctrines and Constitutions of men. The cause then why Generall Councells convened, 1 Tim. 3.15. Heb. 3.2. 1 Cor. 14.40. was neither to make any perpetuall Law (which God before had not made) neither yet to forge new Articles of our beliefe, neither to give the Word of God authority, much lesse to make that to be his Word, or yet the true interpretation of the same, which was not before by his holy Will expressed in his Word. But the cause of Councells (we mean of such as merited the name of Councels) was partly for Confutation of Heresies, and for giving publike Confession of their Faith to the posterities following, which both they did by the authority of Gods written Word, and not by any opinion or prerogative that they could not erre, by reason of their generall assembly. And this we judge to have been the chiefe cause of Generall Councells. The other was for good policie and Order to be constituted and observed in the Church, in which (as in the house of God) it becometh all things to be done decently, and in order: not that we think that one Policie, and one Order in Ceremonies can be appointed for all ages, times, and places; for as Ceremonies (such as men have devised) are but temporall, so may, and ought they to be changed, when they rather foster superstition, then that they edifie the Church using the same.