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 decrees of this assembly did oblige, as synodal decrees, not as apostolical and canonical Scripture:  this appears several ways: 

1.  The apostles, in framing these canons, did proceed in a way synodal and ecclesiastical, and far different from that which they used in dictating of Scripture, and publishing divine truths; their decrees were brought forth by much disputation, human disquisition, but divine oracles are published without human reasonings, from the immediate inditing of the Spirit, 2 Pet. i. 2.

2.  Besides the apostles, there were here commissioned elders and other brethren, men of ordinary rank, not divinely and infallibly inspired.  The apostles in the penning of Scripture consult not with elders and brethren, (as our opposites here say they did:) our brethren make mandates of ordinary believers divine and canonical Scripture.

3.  Divine writ is published only in the name of the Lord; but these in the name of man also, “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us,” Acts xv. 28.

4.  Canonical and apostolical writing of new Scripture shall not continue till Christ’s coming, because the canon is complete, Rev. xxii. 18, 19, &c.; but thus to decree through the assistance of the Holy Ghost, who remaineth with the Church to the end, and to be directed by Scripture, shall still continue.  Therefore this decreeing is not as the inditing of the Holy Scripture.  The minor is clear both from Christ’s promise, “Where two or three are met together,” Matt. xvii. 18-20; Matt. viii. 20; as also by the Spirit’s inspiring those councils of Nice of old, and Dort of late:  Therefore the apostles here laid aside their apostolical extraordinary power, descending to the places of ordinary pastors, to give them examples in future ages.

To conclude, it is plain, that all the essentials in this assembly were synodal, as whether we consider:  1.  The occasion of the meeting, a controversy; 2.  The deputation of commissioners from particular churches, for the deciding of that controversy; or 3.  The convention of those that were deputed; or 4.  The discussion of the question, they being so convened; or 5.  The determination of the question so discussed; or 6.  The imposition of the thing so determined; or 7.  The subjection to the thing so imposed.