grieved, or by the hesitation or doubting of
inferior assemblies (for such businesses very often fall out), but also
that the state of the churches whereof they have the care, being more
certainly and frequently searched and known, if there be anything wanting
or amiss in their doctrine, discipline or manners, or anything worthy of
punishment, the slothful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord may be made
to shake off the spirit of slumber and slothfulness, and be stirred up to
the attending and fulfilling more diligently their calling, and not
suffered any longer to sleep and snore in their office; the stragglers and
wanderers may be reduced to the way; the untoward and stiff-necked, which
scarce, or very hardly, suffer the yoke of discipline, as also unquiet
persons, who devise new and hurtful things, may be reduced to order:
finally, whatsoever doth hinder the more quick and efficacious course of
the gospel may be discovered and removed.

35. It is too, too manifest (alas for it!) that there are those who with
unwearied diligence, do most carefully labour that they may oppress the
liberties and rights of synods, and may take away from them all liberty of
consulting of things and matters ecclesiastical, at least of determining
thereof (for they well know how much the union and harmony of churches may
make against their designs): but so much the more it concerneth the
orthodox churches to know, defend and preserve, this excellent liberty
granted to them by divine right, and so to use it, that imminent dangers,
approaching evils, urging grievances, scandals growing up, schisms rising,
heresies creeping in, errors spreading, and strifes waxing hot, may be
corrected and taken away, to the glory of God, and the edification and
peace of the church.

36. Beside provincial and national synods, an oecumenical (so called from
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or, if you will, an universal synod, if so it lie free and rightly
constituted, and no other commissioners but orthodox churches be admitted
(for what communion is there of light with darkness, of righteousness with
unrighteousness, or of the temple of God with idols); such a synod