一、为了更好的行政和进一步造就教会，应该有通常称为总会或议会的聚会（徒15:2,4,6）：各教会的监督和其他治理者，凭着他们的职分，以及基督所赋予他们为了造就、而非毁坏的权柄，有权成立这种聚会（徒15:1-35），并在他们认为对教会有益的时候定期召开（徒15:1-35；20:17）。（译注：OPC版对本节有修订，并整段删除了1647年版的第二节。）

For the better government and further edification of the church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils: and 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; and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the church.

二、总会和议会有权决定信仰的争论和良心的案件；制定规则和指示，以便更好地安排对神的公开敬拜和教会的行政；接受行政失当的投诉，并权威性地作出裁决：这些命令和决定，如果符合神的圣言，应当恭敬顺服地接受，不仅因为它们与圣言一致，而且因为制定它们所依据的权柄是神的命令，指定于祂的圣言之中（徒15:15,19,24,27-31；16:4；太18:17-20）。

It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially, to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of His church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively 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 made, as being an ordinance of God, appointed thereunto in His Word.

三、自从使徒时代以来，所有的总会或议会，无论是全体的、还是地方性的，都有可能犯错误，而且有许多已经犯错；因此，不可将它们所规定的当作信仰或行为的准则，而应作为两者的辅助（弗2:20；徒17:11；林前2:5；林后1:24；赛8:19-20；太15:9）。

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.

四、总会和议会只处理或总结教会的事务：并且不得干预涉及国家的民事事务，除非在特殊情况下，通过谦卑请愿的方式；或应民政官员的要求，为满足良心而提出忠告（路12:13-14；约18:36；太22 :21）。

Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern 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.