_Soc._ Therefore I use the help and direction of my spiritual Guides; consider their reasons; do not rashly depart from their judgment; but yet [37]_The due submission of my assent, and belief to them is only to be conditional, with reservation of evidence in God's Word. For in matter of faith_ (as Dr. _Ferne_ saith) _I cannot submit to any company of men by resignation of my judgment and belief to receive for faith all that they shall define, for such resignation stands excluded by the condition of the authority which is not infallible; and by the condition of the matter, faith, of high concernment to our own souls, and to be accounted for by_ our selves: _who therefore stand bound to make present, and diligent search for that evidence and demonstration from God's Word, upon which we may finally and securely stay our belief_----And [38]_The Church determining matter of faith_ (saith he) _ought to manifest it out of_ God's Word: _and we may expect such Churches, proof, before we yield absolute assent of belief._ And so Dr. _Stillingfleet_ saith[39]----_All men ought to be left to judge according to the Pandects of the divine Laws, because each member of this Society is bound to take care of his Soul, and of all things that tend thereto._ Now I for my part see no solid ground out of the Scripture for _Consubstantiality_, but rather for the contrary; which several of our Writers have made appear to the world. And therefore unless the Church were either infallible in all she determined, or at least in distinguishing those necessaries wherein she cannot err from the rest, it seems no way justifiable, that she puts this her definition into the Creed; she, as I conceive, thus requiring from all an absolute consent thereto; and not only (as some[40] would perswade me) a conditional for some of them, _viz._ whenever I shall be clearly convinced, that such point is of divine Revelation. [25] _Stillingfl. p._ 58, 59. [26] _Stillingfl. p._ 72. [27] See before _Dis._ 3. §. 52. [28] _See Petavius in Epipha. Hær._ 69. [29] _Apud Epipha. Hær._ 69.--_Theodor. l._ 1. _c._ 5. [30] _De Synod._ [31] _Still. p._ 59. [32] _Stillingfl. p._ 133. [33] _Stilling. p._ 154, 152.--_Chillingw. p._ 150.--_Dr. Hammond, Defence of the Lord Falkl. p._ 23. [34] _Stillingfl. p._ 59. [35] _Stilling. ib._ [36] _Stillingfl. p._ 70, 71. [37] _Dr. Ferne, Considerations_, _p._ 10. [38] _The Case between the Churches_, _p._ 40. [39] _p._ 133. [40] _Still. p._ 70. CONFERENCE III. His Plea, for his not holding any thing contrary to the Definitions of _lawful General Councils_, the just conditions thereof observed. _That he conceives he ows no obedience to the Council of_ Nice.