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发帖数: 1776 | 1 第三十一章 论教会总会和议会
一．为了教会更好的管理和更深的造就，应有通称为总会或议会的聚会（徒15:2，
4，6）。
二．正如执政者可以合法地召集牧师及其他适当人选，开会商讨并咨询有关宗教事务（
赛49:23；提前2:1，2；代下19:8－11，29；30；太2:4，5；箴11:4）；照样，若国家官
员公然作教会的仇敌，基督的众牧师便可凭自己的职权，或是他们与其他代表各教会的
适当人选，自行在此种总会或会议中聚集（徒15:2，4，22，23，25）。
三．决定教义的争论和有关良心事项，制定法规以促进公共崇拜以及教会管理，接受失
职的控诉，并行使权威予以裁决，此类职权皆属教会总会和议会；此类教令和裁决，如
果符合圣经，我们便应当恭敬顺服，不仅因其符合圣经，而且因其制定者是遵照上帝的
命令，秉有圣经所赋与的权威（徒15:15，19，24，27－31；16:4；太18:17－20）。
四．自从使徒时代以来，所有的教会总会或议会，无论是普通的，还是特别的，都有可
能犯错误，而且有许多已经犯错；所以不可用这些会议所规定的，作为信仰与行为的准
则，只可用来帮助二者（弗2:20；徒17:11；林前2:5；林后1:24）。
五．教会总会和议会，除了有关教会的事务以外，不可处理或决定其他任何事情；又
不可干涉国政，除非是在特殊事件上，可以向公民政府请愿；或是为满足良心起见，公
民政府有所咨询时，可以提出忠告（路12:13-14；约18:36）。 | C****i
发帖数: 1776 | 2 CHAPTER XXXI
Of Synods and Councils
I. For the better government, and further edification of the church, there o
ught to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils:[560] a
nd it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular churches
, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for
edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies;[561] and to
convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the
good of the church.[562]
II. It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controve
rsies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions fo
r the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his ch
urch; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritative
ly to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to
the Word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission; not only
for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power whereby they are m
ade, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his Word.[563]
III. All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or
particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made
the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.[564]
IV. Synods and councils are to handle, or conclude nothing, but that which i
s ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concer
n the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary;
or, by way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto
required by the civil magistrate.[565]
[560] Acts 15:2, 4, 6. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissens
ion and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and c
ertain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders
about this question.... And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were rec
eived of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all t
hings that God had done with them.... And the apostles and elders came toget
her for to consider of this matter.
[561] Acts 15.
[562] Acts 15:22-23, 25. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the w
hole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul an
d Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the
brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and
elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentil
es in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.... It seemed good unto us, being assemb
led with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas a
nd Paul.
[563] Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31. And to this agree the words of the prophets
; as it is written.... Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, w
hich from among the Gentiles are turned to God.... Forasmuch as we have hear
d, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subvert
ing your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we
gave no such commandment.... We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who sh
all also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy G
host, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary thin
gs; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from th
ings strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye s
hall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioc
h: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epi
stle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. Acts 16:4
. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for t
o keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusale
m. Matthew 18:17-20. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an hea
then man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree o
n earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered togeth
er in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
[564] Ephesians 2:20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Acts 17:11. The
se were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the wor
d with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether tho
se things were so. 1 Corinthians 2:5. That your faith should not stand in th
e wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Corinthians 1:24. Not for that w
e have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith y
e stand.
[565] Luke 12:13-14. And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to
my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Ma
n, who made me a judge or a divider over you? John 18:36. Jesus answered, My
kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would
my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my
kingdom not from hence. |
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