ces, but by ecclesiastical persons without the leave of princes;
therefore, in the like cases, the church ought to use the like liberty,
that is, when there is need of synods, either for preventing or reforming
some corruptions in the doctrine or policy of the church; and for avoiding
such inconveniences as may impede the course of the gospel (princes in the
meantime being hostile opposites to the truth of God and to the purity of
religion), then to convocate the same without their authority and leave.

2. The church is fully committed (and that directly) to the ministers whom
Christ hath set to rule over the same; therefore they ought to take care
and to provide for all her necessities as those who must give account, and
be answerable to God for any hurt which she receiveth in things spiritual
or ecclesiastical, for which (when they might) they did not provide a
remedy, which being so, it followeth, that when princes will neither
convocate synods, nor consent to the convocating of them, yet if the
convocating of a synod be a necessary mean for healing of the church's
hurt, and ecclesiastical persons be able (through the happy occasion of a
fit opportunity) synodically to assemble themselves, in that case they
ought by themselves to come together, unless one would say that princes
alone, and not pastors, must give account to God how it hath gone with the
church in matters spiritual and ecclesiastical.

If it be objected that our divines maintain against Papists, that the
right and power of convocating synods pertaineth to princes: _Ans._, And
so say I; but for making the purpose more plain I add three directions: 1.
In ordinary cases, and when princes are not enemies to the truth and
purity of the gospel, ecclesiastical persons should not do well to
assemble themselves together in a synod, except they be convocate with the
authority or consent of princes. Yet, as Junius showeth,(1052) in
extraordinary cases, and when the magistrate will not concur nor join with
the church, the church may well assemble and come together beside his
knowledge, and without his consent, for that extraordinary evils must have
extraordinary remedies. 2. Ecclesiastical persons may convocate councils
simply, and by a spiritual power and jurisdiction; but to convocate them
by a temporal and coactive power, pertaineth to princes only.
"Ecclesiastical power (saith the Archbishop of Spalato(1053)) may appoint
and convocate councils; but yet the eccle