Madan on Article XX: Of the Authority of the Church

Of the Authozity ok the Church. 7 7 E Church hath Power to decree * Rites or Cere-

nontes, and * Authority in Cintroversies of Faith - And yet it is not lawful for the Chu» ch * ts oragin any ing that is contrary to GG, Ward written, neither may it fo expound one Piace in Scripture, that it be rug unt to anther, Fherefore, although the Church be a H itnefs and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it

/ . “Mor” g Eh 7 og net to decree any { hing again the fame, jo *

bejides the same ou? ht it nat to enforce any T þ; 1g t9 be believed for Nece//ity te Salvation,

1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all Things be done de- cently and in order, Tit. i. 5. For this Cause [ left thee in Crete, that thou fhouldst set in Order the Things that are wanting.

2 Af; xv. 5. But there rote up certain of the Sect of the Phart/res which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to com- mand them to Keep the Law of 1;/cs, Ard the Apoltles and Elders came together for to consider of this Matter. Ver. 22. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen Men of their own Company to Anti: with Paul and Barnatas:—And they wrote (Fer. 23.) Letters by them alter this Manner: The Apostles, and Elders, and Brethren send greeting unto the Biethren, which are of the Gen!:les in An- tiach, and Syria, and Cilicia, Ver. 24. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with Words, subverting your Souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law, to whom we gave no such Command-

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ment. Fer. 25. It seemed good unto us, being afiembled, with one Accord, to send chosen Men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, &c. Ver. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater Burden than these necestary Things. Fer, 29. That ye abstain from Meats offered to Idols, and from Blood, and from Things strangled, and from Fornication; from which if ve keep yourselves, ye shall do well, Fare ye well,

1 1 Pet, iv. 1 1. If any Man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of Gon.

• Gal. i. 8, 9. Though we, or an Angel from rm preach any other Gospel unto you, than

at which we have preached unto you, let him by accursed. As we said before, fo fay I now again, if any Man preach any other Gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be ac- Cursed, Vid. Art, VI. Note 2,

AKRKT1CLE:-XXI. e the? Auth5;iito ok Genecal Touncils,