III. It belonp^th to synod;* and councils ministerially to

determine controversies of faith, and tases of conscience; to set down rirfes and direction* for the better ordering of the fiublick worship of God, and ^ov»-rjniient of his churcli ; tp receive complaints in c^j^s of nial-adiainistration, and au- thoritatively 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 tlw? j)ower whereby they are made, as iKMiig an ordiiiance of God, appointed theretmto in his word''.