that these met together, the
word used, verse 6, _they came together_, evidenceth, and verse 25. For
the churches of Syria and Cilicia not sending their commissioners, it
follows not that because _they are not named_, therefore _they were not
there_; and if _they were not there_, therefore _they ought not to have
been_: but it is rather thought Syria and Cilicia had commissioners
there, in regard the synodal decrees are directed to them as well as
others, and the decrees bound them, which they could not do as formal
Scripture; for the words, _it seemeth good to us_, and their submitting
the matter to disputation, argue the contrary; therefore as synodal
decrees, which inasmuch as they bound those churches, they either were
present, or were obliged to be present by their commissioners.

3. To that exception, that the multitude of believers had voices there,
and therefore it is not one of our synods, ver. 22--

We answer, it can nowise be proved that every particular believer had a
suffrage in the assembly.

Eminent divines[116] understand by _multitude_ and _church_, the
multitude and whole church of apostles and elders, who are said to be
_gathered together_, verse 6, _to consider of the matter_; besides which
no other multitude is said to be gathered together, while the matter was
in debate; yet we shall not deny even to other members the liberty of
their consent and approbation, and freedom to examine all determinations
by the rule of God's word: but the ordaining and forming those decrees
is here evinced to be by the apostles and elders, when as they are
called _their decrees_, Acts xvi. 4,6.

3. Those only had definitive votes, who met together synodically to
consider of the question; but they were only the apostles and elders,
Acts xv. 6. That the epistle is sent in the name of all, is granted;
because it was sent by common consent, and withal thereby was added some
more weight to the message.

4. Further, if the believers of Jerusalem voted in that assembly, by
what authority was it? How could they _impose a burden_ upon, and
command decrees unto the churches of Syria and Cilicia, and other
churches, who, according to our brethren's opinion, were not only absent
in their commissioners, but independent in their power?

To the exception, that other synods may not pretend to the privileges of
that, since its decrees were indited by the Holy Ghost; and therefore no
pattern for our imitation--

_Ans_. The decre