Abraham Anderson on the fallibility of the church

[Reformed Covenanter]

The Papists object, (1.) That the church is the supreme and infallible judge; from Deut. xvii. 8–13? Ans. There must be an umpire for the decision of controversies in church and state, for sake of order and peace, for determining rights and punishments; and in the visible church a judge is appointed for such a purpose, not to be a lord of our faith. And of such a judge, the passage in question speaks. This does not take away the right of private judgment, but only the right of persons to claim privileges in the church, against the judgment of others, on their own private judgment. Nor are these courts and judges infallible.

… They object, (2.) That God has granted infallibility and superior authority to the church; Matt. xviii. 17? Ans. (1.) In this passage Christ did not commit to the church infallible authority, nor authority to take away the right of private judgment, as accountable to God; but authority to regulate outward communion. (2.) The church has no promise of guidance infallible, nor any promise of guidance in taking away the right of private judgment, and substituting her own in its place. (3.) The church has the promise of guidance in her proper duty of regulating outward communion. ...

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Abraham Anderson on the fallibility of the church

The Papists object, (1.) That the church is the supreme and infallible judge; from Deut. xvii. 8–13? Ans. There must be an umpire for the decision of controversies in church and state, for sake of …

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