Upon the Fourth, I have to answer, as I have here-to-fore answered on the same Subject, That willingly I will submit my self to the Decisions of the Consistory, so far as the Constitution and Discipline of our Churches require, and in all other things that are Just and Reasonable, and agreeable to the Word of God, to Truth, to Charity, and to Equity ; and I don't believe that a Reformed Protestant ought to engage himself otherwise to Submit to the Decision of any Body in the World, since he cannot submit himself blindly and without Examination, as I have shewed in my second Memorial. They must not ask here. Who shall judge of what is Just a?id Reasonable 1 For this is speaking as the Papists do, and I shall answer as a Calvinist, That the Word of God shall be Judge That Reason shall be Judge, That Charity shall be Judge, That Justice and Equity shall be Judge, &c. provided that People are Just, and Equitable, and Reasonable lovers of Truth, &c.

Fifthly. As for Referring the Decision of all this Aflfair to the Consistory of the Dutch Church) I have already signified in the

FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1177

precedent Discourse, (which has beeen delivered to the Gentlemen of the Consistory) the Inconveniences which I found therein, and it is easie to perceive several otliers. I shall only add here, Tliat to refer tlie Judgment of a Sentence Consistorial to another Consistory.) who are not of our Body, and who have no Authority over us, to decide our Affairs and Differences, and even to whom we cannot commodiously explain our selves, to understand one another, This doth not at all seem to me an Equivalent of an Jlppeal to a Colloquy, and much less to a Provincial or J^ational Synod, it is however q/" JVa^iona^ Equity, and no doubt, of the Spirit of our DiscipUne (as the Gentlemen of the Walloon Church in London do express themselves in their letter) that this Equivalent should be managed and reserved for Me.