38 a CHRISTIAN CHURCH. could have determined this question by their extraordinary gifts, without convening in a council or synod : but probably the provi dente of God so ordered it, that even inspired apostles should meet and debate this point in a synod, on purpose to teach all succeeding churches what is to be done in such a case, and to show hoW their diffioukies and controversies should be authoritatively determined by synods, even to the end of the world. Answer I. And I have as much right to say, perhaps the apostles Peter and James, &c. did not know this matter so well before, and therefore could not have determined this ques- tion without convening in a council ; for their divine revelations of many particular things were made to them' not all at once, in the days of pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them; but this was done by degrees, and at .particular seasons, as the 'occasions of christianity and the churches required it. Peter did not know that he must preach the gospel to the heathens several years after that day of pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon them in cloven tongues, till a vision from heaven taught it him, when Cornelius was directedLeh an angel to send messen- gers to call him to Casarea. And it is probable, God ordained this council to be called, not only to teach the church at Jerusa- lem, as well as the apostles, a full answer.to the question in dis- pute, but to render the unanimous direction and appointment of so many inspired persons more public, more weighty, anti efficacious, than the voice of . a single apostle would have been in so important a case of controversy between the Jewish and Gentile converts. Answer II. I will allow that providence, perhaps, might appoint this council of wise and knowing men at Jerusalem to be convened, to teach the following churches and ages what they shoulddo in cases of doubt anddifficulty ; that is, that they should meet together, and advise with one another, and debate matters freely and sincerely, according to that great rule of human pru- dence which Solomon also teaches us : In the multitude of coun- sellors there is safety; Prov. xi. 14. And great deference should be paid to the advice of many aged, learned, and pious men, met in council. But if no inspired men are among them, they can only draw up their conclusion thus : It seemedgood to us, fallible men, to give our opinion and advice so or so ; but not to determine absolutely for other persons, and make rules to bind the consciences of others, unless they could. add ,Jr seemedgood to the Holy Spirit also, as well as unto us; for 'Y the vote of a council of fallible men could bind us, why should not the coun- cil of Trent, or any other councils, bind us to all their anti- christian decrees ? The best constituted church or council may in time grow degenerate, and if they have such authority given
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