These Sections state — (1.) The different subjects which come before these church courts for decision. (2.) The grounds upon which, and the conditions under which, their decisions are to be regarded as requiring submission, and the extent to which that submission is to be carried.

1st. Negatively. Synods and councils have no right whatever to intermeddle with any affair which concerns the commonwealth, and they have no right to presume to give advice to, or to attempt to, influence the officers of the civil government in their action as civil officers, except (a) in extraordinary cases, where the interests of the Church are immediately concerned, by the way of humble petition, or (6) by way of advice for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate.

2d. Negatively. The powers of synods and councils

SYNODS AND COUNCILS. 51 1

are purely ministerial and declarative ; i. e., relate simply to the declaration and execution of the will of Christ. They are therefore wholly judicial and executive, and in no instance legislative.

3d. Positively. It belongs to synods and councils (a) at proper times to form creeds and confessions of faith, and to adopt a constitution for the government of the Church. (6.) To determine particular controversies of faith and cases of conscience, (c.) To prescribe regulations for the public worship of God, and for the government of the Church, (d.) To take up and issue all cases of discipline, and, in the case of the superior courts, to receive appeals and complaints in all cases of maladministration in the case of individual officers or subordinate courts, and authoritatively to determine the same.

4th. Positively. While ecclesiastical courts have no right to handle or advise upon matters which belong to the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate, they, on the other hand, evidently possess an inalienable right of teaching church members their duty with respect to the civil powers, and of enforcing the performance of it as a religious obligation. " The powers that be are ordained of God. . . . Wherefore ye must need be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake." Rom. xiii. 1-7. That is, obedience to the civil authorities is a religious duty, and may be taught and enforced by Church courts upon church members.

5th. Negatively. All synods and councils since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred ; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice; but to be used as a help in both. Thit is, these synods and councils, consisting of

uninspired men, have no power to bind the conscience, and their authority cannot exclude the right, nor excuse the obligation, of private judgment. If their judgments are unwise, but not directly opposed to the will of God, the private member should submit for peace' sake. If their decisions are opposed plainly to the word of God, the private member should disregard them and take the penalty.

6th. Positively. But in every case in which the decrees of these ecclesiastical courts are consonant to the word of God, they are to be received by all subject to the jurisdiction of said court, not only because of the fact that they do agreee with the word of God, but also because of the proper authority of the court itself as a court of Jesus Christ, appointed by him, and therefore ministerially representing him in all of its legitimate actions.

"While our Confession denounces any Erastian interference of the civil magistrate in matters purely spiritual and ecclesiastical, it no less explicitly disavows all Popish claims, on the part of the synods and councils of the Church, to intermeddle with civil affairs, unless by way of petition, in extraordinary cases, or by way of advice, when required by the civil magistrate. Our Reformers appear to have clearly perceived the proper limits of the civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and to have been very careful that they should be strir^^Iy observed. "The [lower and policy ecclesiastical," say they, " is different and distinct in its own nature from that power and policy which is call^'^ civil power, and appertaineth to the civil government of the commonwealth; albeit they be both of God, and tend to one end, if they be rightly used, viz., to advance the glory of God, and to have godly and good subjects." " Diligence should be taken, chiefly by

« Burnet on the Thirty- Nine Articles, Art. 21.

312 CONFESSION OF FAITH. [^CHAP. XXXII.

the moderator, that only ecclesiastical things be handled in the Assemblies, and that there be no meddling with anything pertaining to the civil jurisdiction."* Church and State may co-operate in the advancement of objects common to both; but each of them must be careful to act within its own proper sphere — the one never intermeddling with the affairs which properly belong to the province of the other.