is of
special utility, peradventure also such a synod is to be hoped for, surely
it is to be wished that, for defending the orthodox faith, both against
Popery and other heresies, as also for propagating it to those who are
without, especially the Jews, a more strait and more firm consociation may
be entered into. For the unanimity of all the churches, as in evil it is
of all things most hurtful, so on the contrary side, in good it is most
pleasant, most profitable, and most effectual.

37. Unto the universal synod also (when it may be had) is to be referred
the judgment of controversies, not of all, but of those which are
_controversiae juris_, controversies of right; neither yet of all these,
but of the chief and most weighty controversies of the orthodox faith, or
of the most hard and unusual cases of conscience. Of the controversies of
fact there is another and different consideration to be had; for besides
that it would be a great inconvenience that plaintives, persons accused,
and witnesses, be drawn from the most remote churches to the general or
universal council, the visible communion itself of all the churches (on
which the universal council is built, and whereupon, as on a foundation,
it leaneth) is not so much of company, fellowship, or conversation, as of
religion and doctrine. All true churches of the world do indeed profess
the same true religion and faith, but there is beside this a certain
commixture and conjunction of the churches of the same nation, as to a
more near fellowship, and some acquaintance, conversing and companying
together, which cannot be said of all the churches throughout the
habitable world.

38. And for this cause, as in doctrinal controversies, which are handled
by theologists and casuists, and in those which belong to the common state
of the orthodox churches, the national synod is subordinate and subjected
to the universal lawfully-constituted synod, and from the national to the
oecumenical synod (when there is a just and weighty cause) an appeal is
open: so there is no need that the appeals of those who complain of injury
done to them through the exercise of discipline in this or that church,
should go beyond the bounds of the national synod; but it is most
agreeable to reason that they should rest and acquiesce within those
bounds and borders; and that the ultimate judgment of such mutters be in
the national synod, unless the thing itself be so hard and of so great
moment, tha