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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 2:t 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^'■^•i''.-- ^■;'i '■'•' '!'''''. '•' ' t ' 1« ihe IpositaUc ^kntfk- WmcH Is Iff AN INQUIRY AT THE ORACLES OF GOD AS TO WHETHER ANY EXISTING FORM OP CMUKGH GOVERNMENT OF DIVINE RIGHT. BY THOMAS WITHEROW, PROFESSOR O^ GH.URCH HISTORY', LOMl50NDEHRV, " If a Divine v'»" '^ Chiucli Governmeiit be extriMiiesly nocon- ty, by what^uthority does any msin reject tJie apostolit tl?" -Dr. Carsoitv JAMES BAIl^ at S0N^« ■.taeaixltrxx^^ HHHf!^ tV. V mmbmi* tlMtaMMMM > A ^-^ ■O'- hi \ THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH. — •-* — I'koi'. wi 1 Hiokow. I 2.0"- Which Is It? AN INQUIRY AT THE ORACLES OF GOD AS TO WHETHER ANY EXISTING FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT IS OF DIVINE RIGHT. BY THOMAS WITHEROW, PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY, LONDONDERRY, " If a Divine plan jf Chiirch Government be extremely neces- sary, by what authority does any man reject the apostolical?" -Dr. Carson. JAMES BAIN & SON, TORONTO. CONTENTS «TATEMENr OF THE QCJESTfOV Meaning of the word ChurcJ, Government of the Church APOSTOLIC PRINCIPLES . The First Principle The Second Principle The Third Principle The Fourth Principle The Fifth Principle The Sixth Principle APPLICATION OF THE TEST Prelacy Independency Presbytery • . The Result ^iiACTlCAL LESSONS I'AOK 2 . i") 21 . 2'A 27 . 30 34 3f) 42 46 47 50 51 58 64 ^I^ I'AOK 2 {> 15 21 2;^ 27 . 30 42 46 47 50 5 J ati 64 pjti -*^.Vt7' 7/^d^ Apostolic Church. Statement of the Question. IT is very common for professing Christians to draw a distinction between ensentiais and non-essentiaU eij^ 1^ religion, and to infer that, if any fact or doctrine \^ rightly belongs to the latter class, it must be a * matter of very little importance, and may in prac- tice be safely set at nought. The great bulk of men take their opinions on trust ; they will not undergo the toil of thinking, searching, and reasoning about anything, and one of the most usual expedients adop -^ to save them the trouble cf inquiry, and to turn asid vne force of any disagreeable fact, is to meet it by saying, "The matter is not essential to salvation ; therefore we need give our- selves little concern on the subject," If the distinction herg specified is safe, the inference irawn from it is certainly dangerous. To say that, be- 3ause a fact of Divine revelation is not essential to salva- tion, it must of necessity be unimportant, and may or may not be received by us, is to assert a principle, the appli- cation of which would make havoc of our Christianity. For, what are the truths essential to salvation ? Are they not these:— That there is a God; that all men are sinners; that the Son of God died upon the cross to make atone- ment for the guilty ; and that whosoever believes on the a Matemeni of the Qmslfon. 'CU^Z^^^^T. LwTol' ^'— ••««od ,.„„. who ia w/unew Ht*.re mrr/Th.V.T.er-C «""?'""?'• ciples of the oracles of OnH *^L ^"e8e--the first prin Chnstiau system land if 80 no . th^/^n^^P^"^^* «^ *h' be counted absolutely essential to "l /"""^ '^"'^« ^'^ the other truths ot revelation ± «^'y*<^'«n- But if al . they happen to be non!essentil ^t //yr^"^^^^ ''«*'*"»« of God itself is in the Sn nniril I ''? H'^*^ *^« ^^ord greatest portion of iri«oc"»ZXt"'j ^'^'- ^^ ^^ t«he ledge of which, in tL c^se sun n!Zi • '' *^^ ^"°^- indispensible to the everlastin^hnfn ' '' "^^ absolutely does it alter the case, if we relardT^n ' ^^ "^?-. ^or mental truths to be iucnreater jl '"^"' °^ ^"'^^«- suade himself that importance ait^o^hl* "V*" ^'^"^ P^-"' 18 pleased to call essential^ Xtever Jh°- ^ *" ^^^^ ^« Je will, no doubt, shorten hilcreedi^''' 1"'"''°"' *"^ foundation of many controversies but H 'mJ ^^^^^ *^« aet aside all except a vernrall nVrf "A^ o '"• P'-^ctically «uch a principle does noTmutUate the r.k'' ^ •'.'^.*"''"'- ^^ much of it as trivial. JRevelatton i« «i? ?:, 'J stigmatises ness and purity, but the ?erv toui 1*^°^'*^^*'" P''"°^°"«- would tran'smufe the who'le'oTittToVror" ^ ^""^^^^^ there is essential to^some ir ^ r^"' y^* everything else it would not findTpkce i^f h. ^"^""Portant end? Human wisdom may be baffled^n .f ^^°''^^^^''*^ °^ ^'°^- the design of every truth that fnim'"^^'"^ ^ «P«cifv Divine revelation, but eternity w^^^^^ P*»^ oi tion of it is useless AU^nJ^ • ^ "^ ^^^^ "o Por- written therd^may nt"bf esTenTal' toT'**''^' ^ '^'' and yet it may be highly condupil. I ^""'*'' salvation, and gracious purpose fnVeeconimv^fT.' '*?'^ «''^*' necessary for our personal mm f^^^r^ ^^^-it may be life, or f Jr our grow^th in holin.?/ *'/°' ^^'^ 8"^^«°°« in essential to th! confp etenes« S ^^^ """'* ""^'^^"^^y ^^ ^^ truth. The law ofTetrdi' perfect %\*T °^''i^^°« B.ble the truch that seems tL^^^t^s^^;^^^^^^^^^ ^ I 1 18 good reaaor ^ in happinesa, -the first prin Iphabet of thf ine truths cat ►n. But if al V 1 rtant, because that the Word for by iar the ers, the know- I lot absolutely of men. Nor iber of funda- tian once per- 'y to what he • number, and !Ut away the ill practically criptures. If it stigmatises for precious- h. a principle annot be re- Jt everything portant end, '^ord of God. ig to specify nent part of that no por- ble. A fact n salvation, other great —it may be guidance in irtainly it is ^ of Divine e out of the icant of all, ^ I iStatement of the Question. 3 and the law of the Lord would not be perfect any more. In architecture, the pinning that fills a crevice in the wall occupies a subordinate position, in comparison ^vith the quoin ; but the builder lets us know that the one has an important purpose to serve as well as the other, and does its part to promote the stability and completeness of the house. In ship-building, the screws and bolt^ that gird the ship together are insignificant, as compared with the beams of oak and masts of pine, but they contribute their full share to the safety of the vessel and the security of the passenger. So in the Christian system, every fact, great or small, that God has been pleased to insert in the Bible, is, by its very position, invested with importance, answers its end, and, though perhaps justly considered as non-essential to salvation, does not deserve to be ac- counted as worthless. Every Divine truth is important, though it may be that all Divine truths are not of equal importance. The simplest statement of the Bible is a matter of more con- cern to an immortal being than the most sublime senti* ment of mere human genius The one carries with it what the other cannot show — the stamp of the approval of (iod. The one comes to us from heaven, the other savours of earth. The one has for us a special interest, as forming a constituent portion of that Word which is a message from God to each individual man ; the other is the production of a mind merely human, to which we and all our interests were alike unknown. Any truth merely human should weigh with iis light as a feather in com- parison with the most insignificant of the truths of God. The faith of a Christian should strive to reach and grasp everything that G«Td has honoured with a place in that Word, the design of which is to be a light to our feet as we thread our way through this dark world. Besides, this, unlike every other book, is not doomed to perish. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the words of Christ shall not oass away. The seal of eternity is stamped on every verse of the Bible. This fact is enough of itself to make every line of it important. '! i 4 Statement of the Question. far as to assert that ct a wt^^fchu'cTr'^"^^ «^ «« are essential to salvation ami vtf if • ^ Government importance it were folK 'm" 1/ ^^ }^ ? »"^ject whose Holy Spirit, srakin.. i the 1?^.^ *° depreciate. The theme. The CIihS wn! ik ^*"'^f.' *''^^t« ^^ this 'about it ever titf h Tel' m^tior w"''' "V'^^^"^- lourselves to any denomination nf^r: *• *" ''^'!''°* ^"^ch our influence efther t™ r" ror er^oron'Jhir''^"'^'^^"^ and the views we adont ,m f^J ,? ^^^^ point: colour our opinTons of matter \?%'^^^^^^ practice With such fact^ before us ^hou'lf "v. ^'^^^ ""^ regard the polity of tlie Npw riof ' 7 ^.^^ ^'^ "^^^ n^t tial to human solvation we I^of f^T f r?"'""^ ^« ^««^n- value its importance ^""^ ^^^^ ^* ^^^^^'^ ^^ under- exi^trafprest'Llh^Ch"'^ «-* - find under s^ome^Tr o?he/onw'/i """'i^' ."^"^^ '^« ^^^««^<1 these terms in an off.^isive sln^J* K , ^^ .''°* ^"^P^«y calculated to denote EresHf^ ^ f ^'"'" *^« ^^^^ that form of Church ^^ZlTTlfr^^"^^' ^'■«'«<^ is Ohrist subrctVt exl:n:,l^«.«"^^^ "«der has withii^-tself--nt8 omlCr''^'"".''^^*""^^' »>"* the materials of .oiernLnt .n f'' ^l^ niembers-ali in practical operadon amon^ rs^?'V' T'^ ^? ^« '^*^ P'-«''ent tists. Prtshutay W ?W f <^'^»g7g=iti()nalists and Bap- which is 'ZiZ:i ^^\:Z,1 ^^a^tM^""'^"^"^^"* Session, Proslf.fpj." o,V-i ^, ^°1 ^'^^''S' met in 1 * 'I t to introduce w would go so h Government subject whose preciate. The reats on this led in opinion cannot attach -without giving i very point ; ject go far to ian faith and li we may not irch as essen- srty to under- that we find ay be classed :— Pbelacv, not employ ing the best Prelacy is linistered by other eccle- rarchy j and Church, the 3. Indepen- lose diatinc- ion is under latever, but embers— all 3 at present 8 and Bap- Jovernment rs, met in )ly ; and is 1 Churches rhese three ent exten- The Three Systems. 5 sively prevalent in Christendom. Indeed, every other organization, that any considerable body of Christians has adopted, is only a modification or a mixture of some of the systems we have named. A very brief examination enables us to see that these three systems differ very widely in their characteristic features. Not only so, but Prelacy, in all its main prin- ciples, is opposed to Pre bytery; and Independency, in its main principles, is opposed to both. It follows that three forms, diflfering so very much, cannot all b ight, and cannot of course have equal claims on the atts* ^ment and support of enlightened and conscientious men. It is self-evident, moreover, that the Word of God, the only rule of faith and practice, cannot approve of all ; for, as the VVord of God never contradicts itself, it cannot sanc- tion contradictory systems. Some one of the three must be more in accoi dance with the will of God, as expressed in the Scriptures, than either of the others ; and to know which of them is so, should be a subject of deep interest to every child of God. A Christian, of all men, is bound to be a lover of the truth ; and we are warranted in sup- posing that, if a Christian could only see to which of these competing systems the Word of Truth bears witness, he would support it with all his might, and would lend no f ncouragement to the others. If a man, after he sees the difference, can hold what he knows to be merely human in the same estimation with what he knows to be Divine, let him bid farewell to his Christianity, and cease to pretend that he cherishes any attachment to the truth. The religion of the Lord Jesus, unless we mistake its spirit far, binds all who receive it to prefer the true to the alse, the right to the wrong, the good to the evil ; and tor us to be tempted by any consideration to hold them in equal reverence and render them equal support, is to from us. The influence of a Christian is often very little in this world, but whatever it is, it is a talent for which like his time, his money, or his intellectual power, he is accountable to God. and that influence ought ever to be on the aide of the truth, never against the truth. S S/ci/emtnt of the Question. Which, then, of the three forms of (Jhurch Government prevalent throughont the world is it the duty ofacS tian to select and support ? v^uris- fn3« i* !f '* 'i»*'«^'"" Vf «»•««* importance. It is, besides forced upon our consuloration in every locality where a dissenting chapel lifts its front, anci a church 8«enlo tapers nito air. Ami yet it must be aath walk to •grandfathora •efore. Some !»e Church to lucatioii, atid and lest they >ns and their hy the spirit is, that the government, rtaiu sound, are, we are !» who could we have not el of God." ion specially I where the l)<)died, give the subject. >meu live in acts bearing tioual pecu- or Presby- w all forms is the same ley have no absence of of circuni- ' no system. as may best sui*: their private convenience or promote their worldly ambition Ho it is that many who, m the judgment of charity, are Christians, regard the denomina- tion with which birth or accident has connected them, either with a blind attachment or a sinful indinercnce ; and though rival Hyfltems of Church pcdity have their representatives in every village, they plod the weary way of life in happy unconcern about such matters, and are never troubled wilh the (luestion that the very sight of a chur(!h spire huggests to other men.- Which of thine i» '^"iVIost people who withdraw from the communion of one Church to cimnect themselves with another, and thus ex- ercise their right (.f choice between the various forms of ecclesiastical government, are induced to give their prefer- ence from motives which 8h«)uld never influence an in- telligent Christian. They a.e guided by feeling rather than by judgment. They do not first ascertain the lead- ing principles of the denomination from its acknowledged standards, and then examine those principles in the light of the Word of God. The bulk of mankind are not intellectual enough to search for principles and weigh them. At least, they do not take the trouble, but are influenced in their choice, either by the authority of some ureat man, or the moral worth of some particular persons, or the piety and eloquence of some local minister— or perhaps by paltry pioue, or petty gain, or love of the rank or fashion of the world, or by some other equally low and vulgar consideration. But to decide the rival claims of Prelacy, Independency, and Presbytery by any such tests as these, is aLurd in the extreme. Try them^^y *^" authority of great meh ! There is not one of the three aystems that could not present a long catalogue of dis- liuguished men, who were its warm supporters till the last hour of life. Test them by moral worth ! There m ..i. „f *iw.~> +h a same denomination, there mavL ^,?""««tion with the ment wHici, obtain arprestn* ?f "th"™' t ''''""rch GovTrn- our g"i^e in matterrof „raLv^ ' ^1)'^''^ ^"t^^«r to be Bible furnishes xx^J\U^l?^ ^^ ^«" as of faith Th! opinion on thievery p>Jt^'it''M ^"'^"l^^^^ ^or fo min Jan organized in the wod elhteenS "'/^ ? ^'^^"^^'^ ^ha ^as 'ounders of that Ohurcr^p" """^'T/^ ^^^^^^ ^go- The acting by the author tv of P . a|)ostle8 and prophets certainty about the orti^^Ii^/^t^- .^r-^^y fact known with preserved in the Bible ^ev^IvTvf:'^''"*'"" °^ t^^e Church ia "Hly hearsay and {mditlo^^ w"/.^T''^^^^ «'««^-^e^^^^ many facts that enable ..,f:. i ^ ""^"^^ ^"^ Scripture verv J^e history, doct Tine^^I^rlh ;"?„f ^^ *^^^^^^^« ^^-^ <-.hurch which existed in «nno; f."''jSovernment of that of government set up in a cC''' f '^^,'^- '^^« Principles inspired men, must 1 ai" had J" . ^'^' ^^^ foinded by 'f «0d. Corruptions ^n covernn. 7"'^' *^« approbation trine, sprang up at a verv pTh, *'"^i, '^ ^«" «» in doc° apostolic dav««"lJ5^^,f^y period, but the nhi-'-Mn sequent times: The'iZt >" '* ""^'' has been ntb -nving at the truth Tto t;;;rrerr"m'' /^-«^"- o'f " inpare our modern systems n. f of such pergous if we examine iy there vcaxy bt fluent man a'u' k in the gardei lud vvho, when « Divine Word ction with the ther side of the med to hum to Hies of testing le unsure and factory way of hurch Govern- that is, to test the Word of out the path ' in all other A.uthor to be f faith. The >r forming an irch that was fs ago. The la prophets, known with »e Church is elsewhere is ipture very bie accuracy 2nt of that e principles founded by ipprohatioD as in doc- " - • • « fch ill •en in sub- orefore, of u systems The Best Test, 9 of ecclesiastical government with the model presented in the Holy Scriptures. That which bears the closest resemblance to the Divine original is most likely to be Divine. The warmest friends of existing ecclesiastical systems cannot fairly object to such a test. There is scarcely a Church on the earth that is not loud in its pretentions to apostolicity. The Prelatic Churches claim to be apostolic. The Presbyterian Churches claim to be apostolic. Each r,f these denominations professes to maintain the same doctrine, worship, and government that distinguished thg Church which was planted by the apostles of the Lord. On one of these points — that of ecclesiastical government —we propose to examine these claims by the very test that themselves have chosen. Divesting ourselves of all prejudice, we come to the law and to the testimony, desirous to know what God says on the topic in question, and determined to follow where the Scripture points, let that be where it may. Let us search the Bible, to see what it teaches on this great theme. If, on a thorough examination, we fail to discover there any clear and de- finite principles of Church Government, the conclusion of necessity follows, that Prelacy, Independency, and Presbytery are upon a level— none of them is based upon Divine authority— and it becomes a matter of mere expediency or convenience which form we support. If we find, on the other hand, that certain great principles of Church Government are embodied in the Scriptures, then, when we have ascertained accurately what these principles are, we have reached the mind of God upon the ^matter, and we have diseovei'jd a touch-stone, wherewith we can try the value of existing systems, and determine how much is human and how much Divine in every one of them. I Meaning of the Word Church. The word Church in our common discourse is used in a lO SMement oj m, (^uesUon. and corrupt the uaeaLingVS ^^ '^f^^^^' da^l^d Church n, Scripture hf« li "® revelalion. The w^^ •«*««. 1 He Greek word^<^v./« ."'.^««— a mcudy of Chris, "the phrase «oae<» o/Xt^ ^^'^"^ ^«»id be impaired themselv J^^'? r...?^_ *^'« fact M^iJl nof ft*'. ?„ ^''^«^«r themselvl^o?!?' ^^_ *^'«. fact M^iJl not fo,j .- , , We give a fewT' ."l"" ^"^ ^^'^'^'ar with th« wl" -^"?«^?t j hous( I so sn fdwel I Ac I the e I itiuf I cludi i thou j Chui him the sii^ni peof thei also whe terri com i< tirst afte men are in tion. ifies the material retimes the people yr; sometimes the guished from the professihg Chria :"age, it does not y of eignifications winters ; nor can nvenience arises ig circumstances Ijich the word ig » roig,»tten that. I word God, the Je term is alto- ted, darken and ^«»- The word a""'g. and one society of Chris- "lary and civil tor any purpose and reJigiouj, i 18 invariably the Scriptures you find that '""ig but that feels disposed V 1*"^ passage a be impaired, ^tum aasembly 8, we are per- » in Scripture application 'f the writer, or however L *° suggest »^ord of uod. lich are in Meaning of the Word C hutch. ir Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his- house " There the term is applied to a society ofUmstuxm so small as to be able to find accommodation in a private dwelling-house. . , , . *. Actsxi 22.— " Then tidings of these things came unte the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem." There it means a society of Chrhtiam in the same city, and m- eluding, as we know on excellent authority, several thousand persons. , . • .i. Acts vii. 38.-" This is he (Moses) that was in the Church in the Wilderness with the angel which spake to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers : wno received the lively oracles to give unto us." Here the word si»4nifie8 a socidy of Christiam-nu assembly of (^od* neople so large as to include a whole nation, consisting at the time of at least two millions in number. The term i» also applied to the people of God in the days of David, when residing in Canaan, spread over a great extent ot territory, and amounting to many millions. Heb. n. i^, compared with Paalm xxii. 22—25. • ^v r>u v, I Cor xii 28.—" And God hath set some m the Church, first, apostles ; secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, teachers ? after that miracles ; then gifts of healings, helps, govern- ments. diversities of tongues." Here the term means the society of Christians residing on earth ; for it was among them! not among the saints in glory that God raised up- men endowed with apostolical and prophetical gitts. Eph. V. 25.— "Husbands, love your wives, even as- Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it. The word is here used tasignify the society of Christians m^ the largest sense-all for whom Christ died-the whole family of God— all saints in heaven and all believers on earth, viewed as one great company. Let it be observed, however, that, amid all this variety,, of application, the wura L^nuiCii ncrv. ~ — Its meaning in every occurence is the same However applied, it never ceases to signify a society of Christians but whether the society that the inspired writer has in view is great or small, general or particular, is to b* 12 Statement of f/i. n .- ^J tfie Question. ^^iter io* t ^"^'^ocietvnfr-k . "^^it, that ^vp !,..„ ^ "y the contpvf « 7 ^' taking i,n „ ^. Scripture ar* ;"« significations np^^^ *? ''^ ^^^e oS' ^« »^««n «hoH^f appended aIinosff~^®'^^^^'ng bv thS ^ *'^"se numer- J^e Worl3^^:/«"£He. of emJ^i^^^JJ^l ^ictionadea ^ *P suppose thaT'fK^'' '^ obviously .v>,i*^u'"^''''*«tion of "^'Snifying aomethi^^ J^^'^ Church half ^^' ^^^ "^anv ^ersaJ body o7 hi ^ different n^hen r!f ^'^^ meaiuncs-? /he truth in f i,:I ^l connected wifl. V * when denotiin^ ^«* it has LM^4\^ r'-d Church ts'T^'^^^'- ^"«aU y^ «e^er conveya In v ?^ "^^ ^P^^i^ations ^ rft °"^ "meaning «^e c„„^ 3^sany dea but a society of A *"':^ «^ itseff «- conTeTtS^f ^'^^ ^"t a sS?y oJ^'A*^' Particular appicftion"^^^^'?'^ ^eten^ines I''' ' - " ^«re. to mainSin fi ^- ^' '« n^amfestll •' '^^ Seneral or ^'P^text, ente^'l'i**.«« '"^ea, invar 1 .^."«.«^" '"ate, there 7°text, ente^'"„'i**f « ''^ea, invarlfc';^^^"'-ate, there! *" mnst admit ?^ l^^ leaning of th« f^^'^^'ed by the «ot suggest either ^]*^-'"' ^Part^from th "" ' ^''^^^' as «ad we occasro * ^""'^^^ ^^ "niver^al « ' r''"*^^^. do^ gregations of i *° ^P^ak of the «pI *PP 'cation, capacity, ]t tull Car •'' «a?i:r^o\?"«'i-n con- Churches of itri^"" ?^"«»tly thf An±t "^ *^«* 4Ton" Ciinstians in 1^3 ^{ the individual?. ^^'*' «<>, if •scatter«H «,:„" fr^'and— the senorsf *i *^"ngrregationo \" 'on. ^he circumstances ?«tance it is from ». tnat ve are f^ /"tended by 'the t^e coinpaiv o " >^ «f those 01 , ate house. Th< . >^ Scripture arc ■ Jdea conveyed ea as entenW jas been sho^^n t those numer- ■^.niiiltitude— fl^iictionaries terpretation of nas led many ■" nieanings-l 'g to the uni. '^en denotini? ular Jocality one meaninff' ^rm of itself stians ; it is ' general or irate, there- eyed by the ' i ^'hen, as 'itext, does !ition. istian con- »• separate the Scrip. »at region, aks of the 'a. . So, if jatfonH of societies ate them 'g in ex. The Church of a Nation, i^ I isting ecclesiastical usages to make such language either uniutftlligible or liable to be misunderstood. But it deserves to be noticed that, when we use such phrases as the "Established Church of Scotland," the "Episcopal Church of America," or the "Presbyterian Church of Ireland," there is lo departure whatever from the Scrip- tural sense of the word. The meaning of the word in Scripture, as we have seen, invariably is a society of Christians, and this is precisely its meaning in any of the above phrases ; the context, at the same time, limiting the Christians in question to those professing certain principles, and belonging to a particular country. When M'e employ, for instance, such a designation as the Presby- terian Church of Ireltwd, the word Church is used precisely in the Scriptural sense to denote a society of Christians, which we learn from the context professes Presbyterian principles and resides in Ireland. The propriety of applying tne term to signify the Christian people of the country, does not arise from the fact that they are ever assembled in one congregation, either personally or by representatives, but from the fact that the mind contemplates them as a collective body. All saints in heaven and believers on earth are styled th»j Church, not because they are assembled either literally or figuratively, but because, in the view of the mind, they are regarded as a great society, separated from the world, and united by common principles into one great brother hood. And so the Christians of any denomination, though composing a multitude of congregations, may, in their aggregate capacity, be properly styled a Church, not because they are either figuratively or literally assembled, but because, in the view of the nand, they are regarded as a collective body, distinguished from others, and united among themselves, by the profession of a common creed. It was once doubted whether the Scriptures contain an example of the word Church being applied to the Chris- tians of a country. The science of Biblical Criticism has now set that question at rest in all time coming. The true reading of Acts ix. 31, is, " Then had the Churdt u S:tatement 0/ //„ q,„^,;^,^_ and ^l\kmain\hl^\ '^"''!*' ^nd Oalilee «n^ « of the Ho V Ghopf ^^*'' "^ *he Lord S in * k ^''"'*"* J filiffhtest n.^f !•' "^"^ multiplied » ' St *^® ^«"»^ort l«inK at once ?h. „ ™°''' "" '"« «>an A B P~t5° '^'^'"^ ' ^hey "areatawV- ^^ common princinll t Tt «'*^»* Jesii« " T^ • *" *''"«8 truly an/? ..l^T ^. ^' ^"* because Jhe lase""'%1f' W"«»«™" tat "f rW"^ '"« *'™ ofaprovince nLf '^*''*"^ "^ a ;iv .r:K*,^„^/ .^^«^ " are at all *■ *^® «a™e reasons •"hr;' t""'i^«'"'y designate « all times truly an^ »f ', ®*^ause they also «« There is „„ ,ense X wZ?ch'^IKV.^^'"""«1 i» L« » 'ition. ^ .and Samaria;! aj^ m the comfort ^ ^o man, with the can now hesitate of the text, when A^C.; these four ^ pable manuscripts I otto speak of the I others, the un; ;e(I I settle the correct I the original read- I d to that passage ' ce of the word ^a country, view- | "ity divided into I -i' !; account of the [community of ' ed in Scripture ^ as one great les, but because y assembled in t the mind ever 'oymg the term : does not alter ar district, or ny designated hey also " are ed in Jesus," s on earth and the Christians iWed. If the 8. Take the v net, or a pro- 23 in common, nurch, exact- » SociETy OF Government of the Church. 1 5 The Christian society on earth, or, m it is usually called, the Church, is represented in the Scriptures as a kingdom. It was of his Church that the Lord Jesus spake, when He said to Pilate, " My kingdom is not of this world" (John xviii. 36.) The fact of its being a kingdom necessarily implies at least three things — first, a king or governor ; secondly, sicbjects ; thirdly, laws. In the Church or kingdom of God, the king is Christ ; the subjects are believers ; the laws are the Scriptures of truth. y_ J, Every king has officers under him, who are charged with the execution of his laws, and who have authority from the crown to do justice and judgement. Judges and magistrates are the office bearers of a kingdom, deriving their power from the monarch under whom they serve, and putting the laws in force among all ranks and classes of people. Hence a very palpable division of a kingdom is into rulers and rttfed— those whose duty is to administer the law, and those who are bound to obey it. The same distinction holds in the kingdom of Christ. It also con- bists of rulers and ruled— the office-bearers entrusted with the dispensation of the laws, and the people who are commanded to yield them submission. This is very plain, from Heb. xiii. 17~" Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves ; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account." It is clear trom this passage that there are some in the Church whose duty is to rule ; they are the office-bearers of the Church. It 18 no less clear that there are others in the Church, whose duty is to obey ; they are the private members— the subjects of the kingdom — the people. But in every society where it is the acknowledged duty of some parties to exercise authority, and of others to practise submission, there must be what is called govern- ment i for in such authority exercised on the one hand, and in such submission rendered on the other, the essence of all government consists. Even was there no pas age in the Scriptures but that last quoted, bearing upon the subject, it is undeniab>*» <^liat irnvernmeut was established vl| SMemcnt oj //„ 0,„„^^_ in the Apoatolic Church if has never vpt .''^'' '^"'^^^ th« becinmnir "' t^^e govern'^:nrVirtr' ^-'-«">oT wZut ^^^^^ *^^^« »t becomes a realit ?' ' J i^ ™"'»^'^* ^t Puts forf>.^"* '° venerable bv LI *^" * ^^ast^rpiece of 1- ^ ^"man I can exh bit^ afd f''.!' f^^^^^nendod by exnp l^''"-"^^^^^ ^ -obiL-diSs^^F^^^ Chur^ch;'^ *^"* ^^^ established ia ?Cl?ew t'I''^''^^*^'" necessary to enw;!^ ^ organization did « 3. • ,°"^se 8ocietv Tn^^""*" detailed descr^Afin °°.* J"^ge it oecas:?;any%ttr SA^-.« bet^Xraf^ S."H" and hi {L\\lt% ^*^ bearing on V\^tl^l ^^^y do and f.k ""':"'% f Prevaiii^^S:^^ ^vernment, the per.,,.,, '.i^'Zf^ suggestive "and "intejIS-K^'^x*^ disti.nt .u'v* . T f ■ -^ addresssed, but bv ,?<, ^^^^^g^ble to widely .W:,; U 'r^^g° ^^ -iti-y, and amnn' '"'^^ ^^^« ^« a 3^ -^ - .t, they are not so ea:nyrd';^,3?--^^ ion. ent existed, aome ^Pted ; for to say om of Christ gov^ 'absurd. History cal wonders, but witntssed iu the ng of time, there thout a forjn of ^^oyerninent in 'Uts forth power, the world as a 'ostoJic Church, a, certain form, mine with pre! "f , great conse- .plan of Church he Lord, acting It carry with it »at no human wisdom-made 'ediency-ever ^ of Church far as it con- 1. But there of some diffi. of eccIcRiasti- "^ TestAjc-^enf; > were V-iieia- id of course aofc judge it of Christian '• ^eydo i jovernmeot, ™ These hints kelligibJe to ho live in a associations tood* Not Taught in Ddaii. »r 2. They do nut even arrange such facts as hear upon the question \\\ systimatic order. If man had had the making oi the liible, it would have been a very dilierent book; but as t),at circumstance was not left to our option, weinu Uake it as we iiud it. On examination, we se' it U ( aes nothing in scientific order. Even morality and doctrine are not there arranged in regular system, but are conveyed in detached portions, and our industry ia stimu- lated by having to gather the scattered fragments, to compare them with each other, and to work them up into order for ourselves. So ecclesiastical polity is not taught in Scripture methodically ; but away over the wide field ot revelation, facts and hints and circumstances lie scat- tered, which we aie to search for, and examine, and combine, and classify. Now, all do not agreo in the arrangement of these facts, nor in the inferences that legitimately flow from them, nor in the mode of construct- ing a system from the detached material. These things make it difHcult to ascertain with accuracy, and still more so with unanimity, the form of Church government that existed in Apostolic days. But difficult as it seems, it is proved quite possible, by a thorough and unprejudiced examination of the Scriptures, to discover the main principles that entered into the constitution of the primitive Church. We say the ?«amjort/Hv/>/e«— more than these we need not expect to find. The Word of God, except in some rare instances, never enters into details--it states principles. This is a very noticeable pec Jiriity of the Divine legislatic" that deserves a passing remark. In every civilized country, it may be observed how those entrusted with the duty of government aina to provide a law for every specific case. The human legislator descends ^^o details. The result of this in our own country is, that the common and statute laws of England are so bulky that the books in which they are written would make of themselves a magnificent library ; Parliament m€ ots every year for the express purpose of ODnstruct'ng new, and amending old laws, to suit the ever varying circumstances of the country and the times ; and i8 Statement of the Question, S^nlSe tf t!^!-- -- dan, in the p„Uic courts led^e that the exfsfcinSws d^r'' ^^^^^ *° ^^know! observe how the Divine J;.^? determiue nothing. But different. It rarely entersl^r?''''^"" ^ »^«<^h«d qu1?e down general princin^ea I ^^T^^ ^^^^ils, but lava cient to decide^a whole muftifc.?r f ^^"^^ ^^ q"ite Vuffi instance of attempt "ng t^ de crt.""^ '"'^'- I"«tead, for 't 18 right for a man to perform^ f r'^ ^^•'"'^ "^ good that ^eing aH writ earned in the pocket ^'^t«*«.»^« ^'^^^^^ J-hurch government a^ ,> V V "® Scripture teaches «« furnish minute derails buMt's'^n' T'"^'^' ^^ d^s not f RmciPLEs that entered in. o f L^^''^,' ''"'^ "«eat leadino ^^hurch. What these tam or .t" ^"^'^^ "^ *^« Apos^dic purpose to ascertain.* " P^n^iples were, it is now our i^" !!_A® common practice of ^,,;t.-, -•- ,. -mi.Ox.«„, am^j^^j. ^^ ecclesiastica JouL'" '""i"''''"'^^ the „ '^ This paragraph «as «„.. . J! government, to select Rom. xiv. . ^ "^ -a. suggested by rea/fh '"''T^'' tions ambulatory. For ti,. ., '„" , f^^*^' *"^ ^^eir func- dinary ministers or naVfn^a •^^^""^'' "-^^"re was a set of or- Thus a,.«,nod f„r the prc.ont ; it Mi,, be proved afterwards. t their sphere of but extended to srs of any Chris- ey resided for a d, and their au- A. re, on the other lurch. The bish- ilders. * and past- nse duty it was he deacons had trusted with the ;ies of the poor, id of these two al and temporal erved, with re- jy were mainly their duty was 'hets, and evau- n the bounds of li they were ap- necessity that the temporary similitude froir i:quer a king- thing to govern 'ssession which he same expe- 'or the first of uary ministers tary forces in- > a particular ' to conquer, id their func- 4s a set of or- 3 civil govern - ict charges or d afterwards. ApOStOClC I'rtllCtpUs. 2 • precincts, to which their services were chiefly to be con- tined. in order to instruct the people, to preside in the pubhc worship and religious ordinances, and to give them the necessary assistance for the regulation of their conduct Without this second arrangement, ti.e acquisitions made could not have been long retained. There must have eu- Bued ail universal relapse into idolatry and iuHdelity This distinction of ministers into extraordinary and ordi^ nary, has been admitted by controvertists on both sides and therefore cannot justly be considered as introduced (which sometimes happens to distinctions) to serve an hy- pothesis." * With these preliminary observations, we proceed m search of — The First Principle. All offices in the Christian Church take origin from the Lord Jesus Hmiself is the Author and embodiment of them all ; lie is the Apostle of our profession ; He is aa Evangelist, preaching peace to them that are afar off and to tnem that are nigh ; He is the great Pastor or Shep. herd of the sheep— the Bishop of souls ; and He is the Deacon, or servant, who came not to be ministered to, but to minister. All offices in the Church are embodied iu the person of Christ. The Apostles were the only office-bearers chosen during the lifetime of the Lord. They held their appointments immediately from Himself. They were called to the work of the ministry by His voice, and they received their commission at his hands. " Simon and Andrew were cast- ' ing their nets into the Lake of Galilee, aa Jesus walked upon the beach, but at his call they left their nets to follow Him through the world. The sons of Zebedee heard His voice, and forth witli they forgot both father an^ mnther in t^.eir auibition to become fishers of men. When Christ said. Follow me, Levi forsook the receipt of custom, and was a publican no more. The personal call • /-ecturos on Ecclesiastical History. Lecture iv., 3rd Edition. 24 appointment of OJ/ice- „earen. %^ time, was not the oasannTf ,.f ^^ *^"® b"'*" out of ,1,,. -try or apostleahr E weTe^nr" ^^*^- to the^'n;!"^ tife U 'r''« ^°'^« "^ the LoTd Jesus T» ^"^ '^^'^ "««« the Master, and the vacancv I^f f i n ^ H^ departure of »>y the aeath of J„das aav«^ ^^\ "^ '^'^^ ^'stof Apostlp, -J'er^tion a new prirfcU Vl- h''*?^^^' ^«'- ^^'^^mll^ <>f the Apostles brings ?h: whif ^''' 't^P'-^ «f the^icts specially examine ;£rpas8^Sfrr^^^<>'-«-^'-^. Let us Sn";'"' ',"!! P«««--on'^:fX7a1ts It ^^-'^-that we the interval between fho a„ . ^^* ^t appears thaf ft, cost, the discipres rnet for n "''"" ^'^^ **»^^V of Pente Jjpper room of^the dtl of P,'■^^«^*"d supplication in an" brethren of Jesus w^ t.tZTt'''' '^^' "^"ther and Apostles. Taken together thev T'" f^^^ ^''« eleven and twenty in all. Teter' til InT^'^^T^ ^"^ ^""^red Pa.ny. ffe reminded them of tL J ''*'^'^'-««««^d the oom- «^P. Judas who betrayed he M.r""^ '" *^« ^4>ostIe. office that he forfeited by his trl'''' ^^' ^^^'^^' *"d the [erred upon another, ril states T.^'''''^" "^"«* ^e con! tions of him who was to Hp fK *^'^ necessary qualifica- must be one who Wl inf« ^ «"ccessor of JudaV h« the commencement of Chrfst^mfn'- r'^ *^'« elevfrf'mm states the duties of the new If/' ^'^ **^ *^^« ^lose- H^ the others a witness of ChT-ist's r ' ''^ ^^^ *« »>« v^'^t f the case that Peter nut bpfnri f S ^^^^^'-'-ection. 8uch xva, ' together in that u?per room nf "i"" ^"^^ brethren, n et read in verse 23-- THPV.T ^^ -Jerusalem. We the,. Harsabas, who tas s.^rnlmerZ^^ "'^."' Joseph calle'd ^onsequence of this doSchotp > ', ^'^^ Mattliias.- In e Darticularfv olser^ed th"t ^S'il''^''' ,««'^- ^t ' While Peter explained the carers. '. thn. 8uch was ' brethren, met "}• VVe then 3 Joseph called |J fatthias." In ^ ' necessary to true apostle ; '• But let it explained the The New Testament Bishop. 25 necebsary qualifications, and the peculiar duties of the office, the appointment of the person did not rest with Peter, but with the men and brethren to whom the ad- dress of Peter was directed. Farther, it is not to be for- gotten that the office to which Matthias succeeded is, in the 20th verse, termed a Imhoprivk, and how it is said in the 25th verse, he had " to take part of this ministry and apostleship." The men and brethren, at the instigation of Peter, exe cised the right of appointing a man to a bish- opric — that is, to the office of a bishop, and to take part in the ministry. In the Apostolic Church, the people ap- pointed Matthias to be a minister — a bishop — an apostle. The case recorded in Acts xiv. 23. isi to the same effect, thouah, from a mistranslation, the force of it is lost upon the English reader. The authorized version represents the two Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, as ordaining elders in every church ; whereas the true meaning of the word in the original is, "to elect by a show of hands," — a fact now admitted by the best expositors. * We must not allow a faulty translation to rob us of the testimony of Scri{)ture to an important fact — namely, that the elders of the New Testament Church were ajipointed to office by the popular vote. The sixth chapter of Acts comes next under considera- tion. At the period to which the narrative there recorded refers, the disciples at Jerusalem had grown numerous. The Grecians had began to complain against the Hebrews, how that their widows were neglected in the daily miniS" trations. Hitherto the twelve had attended to the wants of the poor ; but their hands were at the same time full of other work, and, among such a multitude, it is not sur- prising that some were neglected, nor is it very wonder- ful, c(»nsidering what human nature is. that some were found to murmur, even when apostles managed the busi- fifiss. What was now to be done t A division of offices was clearly a necessity. But, were the apostles to take it on themselves to select persons on whom should devolve the duty of attending to the temporal wants of the cc *See Dean AJford on tlie pasxage. I 26 apostolic Principles. — « '-"■I't/Jics munity? Har? fi , ' * '•i^'ht, or venture to Ph '"''",""• ^«^ would ^:. . «te»d of thL ^tW ''\ ""warranted 20"^/'^ *"" ^^e*- countable to „« o "^^^^Pted a course of°^'- ^"*' ^°- Pose'v nianai^lS /i^''-^^*^ierprincinJp%t P'^^^edure unac for future age ^rr'"'"^"*'' «"d th I fo'l'^''^''^ ^^>en together and explain 1 i^P°«'^«« sun mionp?! ^k* P'-ecedent jPnate business Is'l?; ^'« ^^^e. Tl eysa d t'h "^"^'^t"uW dispute their ,1" ^ th the exe . thonty. But, in. ?*P':«cedureunac. han that they pur- 7 «« would guide ^«e-bearera S^hen ^o'-m a precedent aid th "^"''^tu^e . s VVord of God. » iiave to neglect ■o temporal con- «n to look out character, gift. 9 might be ap. ^ness, and who uties peculiarly yof the Word U'^e : and thev 'J Sunon, and ^ had prayed, '•,.5. 6.) The tills occasion ' called 80 in ^e been such, 'ffice-bearers '««en by the ficient to be >i Acts sup. n and breth- apostJe and It the eiders page. The ^ole multi. *e deacons. I Every Elder is a Bishop. 27- )u these three facts, clear and irresistible, we found tho )rinciple of popular election. The conclusion that follows from this evidence, we riud it absolutely impossi- )le to evade, namely — that in the Apostolic Church the hffice-bearers were chosen by the people. The Second Principle, There is a class of office-bearers very frequently men [tioned as existing in the early Church, and to which, as iyet, we have only made a slight allusion. We mean the thltr or prenbyter, as he is frequently ca^'ed. This church- officer is often mentioned in the Acts and Epistles ; but an attentive reader will not fail to remark that no passage of Scripture ever speaks of him as holding an office dis- tinct from the bishop. The same verse never speaks of bishops and elders. When Paul, for example, writes to the Philipian Church (i. i), he mentions the bishops and deacons, but says nothing of elders. When James direcfs- the sick to call for the elders of the Church (v. 14), he says nothing of bishops. If the offices of bishop and elder were quite distinct — if a bishop were an office-bearer bearing rule over a number of elders, it does seem strange that no passage of Scripture speaks at the same time of bishops and elders. There is one supposition, and only one, that would furnish a satisfactory reason for this fact. If the two terms be only diSurent names fur the same office, then to speak of hi.s/cops and eldura would be a vio- lation of the laws of language — it would be tautology — it wobld be the same thing as to speak of presbyters and elders, or of bishops and bishops. To suppose that the two offices were identical accounts sufficiently for the sig- nificant fdct that they are never mentioned together m> the same passage of the Word of G jd ; for it is plain that one of the terms being adequate to indicate the offict*- bearer intended, there was no need to introduce the otht"- at the same time 38 Apostolic Principles. t.8 to oonsuft the Sori^tf,'e?L' '."'" '°«\"""-- Thia 0^,3 f » the .t^wa/^if ^Z "'• D," i;'^""? ™-? betteir tv^-e/ffioi"Lt 1SV0& j» *he c„^r,LTr^^ IS irnuoasihlo .{t "*^. ^"® oisliop ? Tf n«f -"^^ not this et the mayor and chief magis han fritu3. ;hat 1 iiignc the tik 'not ui (Icsigr tion, cohere Agj A post the el( Next A post are ai witiiei were that t a step eral i tliat e andP that a quire This \ We re at Ep ininist being Jesus Jerus£ sayino Audh "the reader is awa •Dr ^s. :erthana presump ^nclu8ion, while Mer must have 'cause a b^iop Does not this . wentification ypr of London lief magistrate ^vould not the e chief magis- ise, the reprfi= Id the mayor other person or and chief Every Elder i a Bishop. 29:' magistrate hie not more identified in this comparison han are the elder and bishop in Paul's instructions to fj'itu3."* Ft must he evident to every unprejudiced man hat the Apostle would never state as a reason for ordain iig none but men of good moral character to the office or jthe eldership, that a biahop must be blameless, if he did [ijot understand that elder and bishop were only diflfei ut designations for the same office. On any other supposi- tion, the language of the Apostle would be without coherence, and without sense. Again, we turn to 2 John i., and we find how the Apostle John styles himself an ehlcr — "The elder unto- the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth." > "the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them o» '/■•(<-/■.•< " — thut is, bi'ihop.'i, as the word is elsewhere- rendered. Every reader acquainted with the originnL is aware that the word translated overseera, in Acts xx. 28, 'Dr. Knjif's Exposition and Defence, pp. 17(5-7. Etiinr., 1653. 30 ^posMic ^rindptes. ^i^V:ZTXT. 'tjf ';»r« *"%« in Phi, i , Church, tSe op^x 'T"^'""^^' *^^t. ?x Jk .'^"'^"^'*«| T'" Third Principle. es. hops in Phil i. J ,., ^^«Pirati«n. that 'the appomtme it of the "^ i-easoning stronJ ; seen were elder^ ^; A ins conducts ^N TIIK ApoSTOLirf LDKK WKKK IDENtm siiop, no, a bishopi oftee bearer who; •^J"e to the opinion! LV question of doc- hed historian wasj t^ct, and may hei m favour of anv^ ition f o judge im. '%'. of the govern. '■ '5'' to the Coun- tions of reJigiou "Jinisteis of the two opi,,iiatio,„ (it^(i>»,fui>i/ied the ^''»« name of ■ t-atJier of their '/^denoted their ■ the Christians Tht Third rrincihle. 31 w ascertained 'f orUiin^ only I oltce- bearer, to satisfy us »re bishops, in he apostolic Church. We are warranted, therefore, to egard this fact as fully substantiated, while we proceed the discovery of a third principle. The fourteenth chapter of Acts describes a missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. There was an attempt lade to stone them at leonium, but they fled to Lystra ,nd Derbe, When Paul made a cripple at Lycaonia leap ,nd walk, the priest of Jupiter brouj^ht oxen and garlands to the gates, and it was with some difficulty the people in their pagan ignorance were restrained from paying uivine honours to the two p eachers. Eat so fickle are the senti- ments of the multitude that, shortly afterwards, the great Apostle was stoned nearly to death at the very place where he had been almost worshipped as u god. Barely escaping with his life, Paul and his companion revisited Derbe, and Lystra, and Iconium, and Autioch, preaching the Gospel, confirming the souls of the diciples, and ex- horting them to continue in the faith. And the sacred historian, in the narrative of this evangelistic tciur, informs us of this important fact, that iluy appointed eldera in every Church. His words are — "And when they had chosen for them, by sufiFrage, elders in every Church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed " (Acts xiv. 23). We have seen already that a Church in Scrioture signifies any assembly of Christians, however great or small. It was the primitive practice to call the believers residing in any town, however large, or in any village, however small, the Church of that place. Many of these societies, col- lected from among the heathen by these pioneers of Christianity, organized in the face of difficulty, and thin- ned by intimidation, must have been weak in point of numbers. 8till, the two Apostles were not satisfied with appointing one elder or bishop in eacVi society, however «mall in numbers ; but as we aro taught by the Holy Spirit, XT fcucy appOiuteu ELDERS IN KVEicV ('liUR(:iI. re 11. then, the Evangelist Luke, speaking as he was moved by the Holy Ghost, is a true witness, there were more elders than one in each congregation of the Apostolic Church. 33 Apostolic Principles. We proceed once more to tl,. . .- Here Paul « repre.eZl as" L'Sf "*■??'" "' ^A way to Jerusalem. Havina "'';^^""g f'om Greece on hi J f«Vi,^^.^*'^-^^x miles south of Jvi*^^' * seaport of verse 28 its elders are callM S ^^^®*^lv seen that in i^giuie as the leaves of thp ^vK,) .^'^"Ptu^•e be as unin. ^StnT? Zt'^'^i'^^ i" tf'e Churc^h at FnT ^^"^ « P^'^y . SJtill farther. Philinr.i x^TJ •. ■'^P^'eaus. -^ ana Lassujs, m a pitched haffH 17 ^'^^sted from Brutus *:> the (^iiristian it is relarta fl *^'^^°^P"- of the wo M J^urupe where the banner of thip' ^''"^ ''^'^ ^''st «Pot n that were sp^L'n" A™ "^A'^ll ''^^^^^ *^,^,,«^"-'fc/f divination out of a sootl ' "'^*' ^"^ «^ t' ou i ao to be H.air<:>^i 9»> T >i - ""ti — 'Sirs n'h-f Cnurch was organrze,)' fl,. u*^^' *^^^» of Phiiinm- ^ opposition; and,':re\^or^we?v/'^^ ^^ ^«'--"-l °' *'*'®^^® years after Paul's 'S. ^re, we are not in.! was a plurality oil th chapter of Acts 'om Greece on hi,l veek at Troas, he '>y sea and some, 'ish capital before "s, a seaport of Resent a message Ihe words of sent to Ephesus, (Acts XX. 17) j esus had not ouJv ^dy seen that, ij IJnlesa language Pturebeasunifi. ' was a pluralitu sus, " 'e confines of an- 8 known as the e«l from Brutus '« of the world • the first spot in f unfurled, and jiere the heart fi to the things lat, for casting Paul and iSiJas T^ feet made »d hour of the m shook, and ; man's chains ison apked two iion that was -"Sirs ».rK..4. Of Philippi a 'I determined I after Paul's The Bishops of the Congregation. 3^ first visi^ he thought it right to address to this Church a • fu* ^y^^^l. ^^^ ^^^"^ preserved. It finds a place Jlipistle to the Phihppians. One has some curiosity to- read what an apostle thought it good to write to the , Church, at the head of whose roll of members stood the names of Lydia and the Jailer. As might be expected, it. 18 full to the brim of precious and consoling truths • but what IS more to our purpose at present, we find 'these words m the first verse of the first chapter : " Paul and J imotheus the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints" iri Christ Jesus which are in Philippi, with the bishops and deac()n8. Philippi was, no doubt, a considerable town ; but, in point of population and importance, it was no more to such a city as Dublin or Liverpool than a par- ish 18 to a diocese. Yet, in modern times, one bishop is thought sufficient even for London, where professing Christians are numbered by millions, whereas a singli Christian congregation gathered out of a heathen popula- tion possessing ecclesiastical existence only for ten or twelve years, exposed to contumely and suffering for Cbrist s sake and located in a contemptible town on the outskirts of Macedonia had a plurality of bishops Paul in writing to that Church, addresses his epistle to the bishops and deacons. Let the candid reader glance again at the ground over which we have passed. He sees that Paul, in writing his epistle to the Church at Philippi, addressed it to the O|.s/^' r""'"'?"^^^^ ^ ^-- Tim. IV. 14 ; V. 22). The Jifh] ' ^ ' ''"'• ^'^ J and i powers cannot therefore be rJf'I™^"^ ""^ miraculous dinations, the practice ^houRe'^t? ''T"" Y^^' ^* op- tion of hands in such cases nl.. fu'"^^ ' *^« imposi- Parting the Holy Ghost bnfnT "^.f *^^ ™^^'"'» of im- with ecclesiastical office ^^ **'" ^'^^"^ ^^ investing i3 the7cr:LrilS^ ^1' -Aether it elders, of a bishop or a presbvtTrv^' ''tk^^A!^'^^'' «'* "^^^^y may give a special caH to anv Kbi J^** ^}^ ^^''^ Je«"« work in His vinevard nnnfi^ labourer, and send him to Jittle doubt alsoTat if .n" '"P^^^' "^^^'^ «*" be very the earth, he wouM tie the S^^ thought it right to do so Li •* '"■'^^''' ^^°"®' ^f he If t could show as xftus could t^h.V '"'"" "^*?*^^"^ «^*»gel- him behind for the specTal n„rn *VP««tlehad left him the right conferred «pChimbST-K\*""' ^"^ ^i'-*"^ o^ have the privilege of or Sin J ^T^^^'^P''^"''' ^°"ld therefore, claiming thn H„jff ^^j ^'^"^ *• ^ • Any one ^«t did, would^ qfure tofhow thT^f " J^** ^'^ «^*"g«'- possesses, like Tifcii« f h! .u • *' '^ "ot an apostle he an apostli. Bu he;e everf ru W^ ^^^^S**^^ *« him by fail. It remains, therefore ^w'" '^""^ ^'^'""-^^ "^"«t r^a^ oJtc di'';.^!, ran'"??' 'i"f «^-- '»' Laying on of Hands, 35 especially to ascertain if this power was lodged in one in- dividual or m more. First, we turn to I Tim. iv. 14. We have there the or- (lination of Timothy. The Apostle exhorts his son in the faith to employ to good purpose the gift of the ministry that had b en conferred upon him. He intimates that this gift had been given by prophecy-tbat is, in conse- quence of certain intimations of the prophets, who were numerous in that age of spiritual gifts, marking him out as one who would be an eminent minister. Hi adds that the gift was conferred w\th the laying on of the hands of thej)re,bi/tenj-th&t is, by the presbyters or elders in their collective capacity. The words of the Apostle are- Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands op thf PRESBYTERY '' These words are decisive as to the parties with whom the power of ordination is lodged. Again, we turn to Acts xiii. 1-3. It appears that, in the Church of Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers whose names are there recorded They min'ster- ed to the Lord and fasted ; and, while thus employed it was intimated to them by the Holy Ghost that they should separate Barnabas and Saul for missionary work among the Gentiles Both had been preachers of the Gosnel previously ; but now they were to enter on a new sphere and engage in a new department of the work. It was right, therefore, that the prophets and teachers should solemnly set apart the two brethren to the miseionarv work by the act of ordination. We read, accordingly, in verse 3, that "when tlw,, had fasted and prayed, and /a 3 their hands on th^m, they sent them away " The act of ordination was here evidently not the work of one teacher but of several. A plurality took part in it ' Another instance of a plurality of Church rulers takinc part in this rite 18 recorded in Ant» vi « "'^■^ h ^i-— - the ordination of the deacons. The Church at Jerosalem chose seven men to attend to the necessities of the poor whom they set before the apostles : and when they had prayed, thetj laid their Iiands upon them." This is parti- 3^ Apostolic Prinapies. cularly valuable, as it proves thaf «,h -4. or practicable for a pluramv of ?».« ? . T^' oonvenient A. Of ordination, tLTp^;^^^^^^^ paSir It^::?L*J:^^^^^^^^^^ - We now appointed by an apostle for t hi P°«*^®' "^ ^^^ ^ii-ectl y form alone the ac?of ordk^^tfon X^'fL ^^T^^' *« P^*"^ singly where it ^Z Z^Zt .^""^ ^>^^ ^'^ '^'^^ ^^L^ Where a plurality ^ould^ be had o'n '^''" J° ^^^^^ir^.i^. case of the deacons, it was cont^ ^"7«'^'«»tly, as in the take part in the ceJenTony Z tL /h"'"'' 'V^^ °"« *« we ha^re seen, in the case of's.„? *^%absence of apostles was the act of certaL prophfts in^"^. Barnabas, ordfnatioa case of Timothy it waTZ !of At^*^''^" ' »°d' ^^ the conducts us to o'ur fCth princ h.?^ *^' Presbytery. This Apostolic Church? 0RDCTioi'w!r'^' *^^*' ^^ ™« PBESBYTEKY-of a p urali^y of eWers ^""^ ^'^ ^' ^"« ^//^ /t;^?/^ Principle, ^^^<^^t%ttZr1t:'Z^^^ *- i-« to be here him open the Bibi; and read thaf h^T''^^^ ^""'^^^'^ !«* the commencement to the close Tf^^' '^f^^"">^ ^^^m of truth, and disposed to reeefvp // ^^ •! '^^"^ »» search perusal of that ohapter wm Lit- J 'u • '*^ simplicity, the ing facts are thus emCued L'^'''^^ ^"" *^** *^« ^^^low AntTaTdtu^KrS^^^^^ Judea to necessary to salvation. S ^iTR^** ?^^^"°^«'«'on ia selves to oppose these teacWs but in v"^*^*?.""* *^«^^- agreed that certain of the (T,',r^K p T^'"/ ^^ ^^^s then in their number Barnabas and Pa,^, \ "^Vj^och. including salem and lay the cTe before th^ ''"ll «^ "P *« Jeru^ When the V reao»^"H T^"- , the apostles and fiM^^^ lis of Christiani^7-thn;t^^^^^ the .,e"t7opo: to consider ^^' ^^^^^^''irL^t^rTT^^^ eld^ I it was convenient ) take part in the '■es preferred that icli we have now le, or one directly purpose, to per- ley did not ordain 2m to associate, iently, as in the more than one to Jence of apostles Qabas, ordination ers ; and, in the resbytery. This ly, that, IN THE 'HB ACT OF THE 3 long to be here *eds farther, let carefully from eally m search simplicity, the hat the follow- from Judea to circumcision ia tbas set them- . It was then och, including go up to Jeru- !S and elders. > the i»etropo- came together I was in tho The Fifth Principle. 37 assembly a considerable difference of opinion. Peter at last rose to speak. He reminded them how God had honoured him in making him the instrument of first preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, and how it had pleased God, without respect of persons, to bestow the Holy Ghost upon them as well as upon the Jewish be- lievers. He argues, therefore, that to make circumcision necessary to salvation— to bind a yoke upon the Gentiles which even the Jews were not able to bear— would be to tempt God ; and he closes by enunciatiuc; the great truth that Jews and Gentiles, both alike, obtain salvation through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Barnabas and Paul followed, -^ stated impose upon fhe rpniJi ^^^^ ^host and to them to absPtiaence'f'mtaSXVriao. "? '"^u^f'^ «^^«P^ thing, strangled, and from fnrn; ^?^'' ^'"""^ ^^^^d, from substance of the ettPrf ho /"'*'"'"• '^"ch was the by the deputt: torn 'e^rembT '^^ t"" \'' ^"*^ ^^^^ multitude gathered to hear ?t ^f 1^ ^*^ Jerusalem. The and the people rejoicfed for tL 7^' delivered and read. Silas adSed their' exhor ta ions S'' he T* .^'^^ ^"^ confirmed in the faith Sharft.T the brothren were had some diflFerence w.>h r ^ . '■'^^''^'' ^ ''"^' havi fellow-traveller! anSs^t out onTn'^H' "'^"^^ .^"^« ^« ^^^ ney, the object of which was to v^°"V'' "^^''^""^''^^ J«"»- city where he had preacS thlvv^^^ T^^'*« ^^^ ^very how they did. Commended bv th J^^^.u"^ ^•^^' ^"^ ««« of God Paul and Sila^ departed frol a ^''•"^*° *^^ g^^<^« tnrongh Syria and Cilicia confirm inrhf'^K'''" u* ^"^ ^^'^^^ and Lyatra and other cities of As a^ft.*'"''"^"': • ^^'^^ this occasion ; and as thpv ^.t^X."" ^^^« ^^^'ted on delivered tc» tLmtCiecreerfor fn?"^^ *^u^- '^*^'^^' *^«y ;ia.ned of the apostles and elders tha^'"^ ""H'^r ""^'^ «^- (Acts xvi. 4), ^®^® ^'^^^^ were at Jerusalem Every candi I man must arlmif fh»4. xu- • sentation of all facts Sn/^ fv *^ t*".'' '^ * ^^^^ ^-^Pre- us in the fifteenth and slxteenth^h' '?^^''*c' *' P'^* ^^^ore be remarked that, iSthe slmnl^ . P*^!-" ^'^ ^«*«' ^^t it . facts stand noticekWy out -? \h'7 r'""' ?« ^°"owi«g had a dispute about drcumcisL wff h ^^'^^^ ,*"^ P«"* era who cAm« down from Sa 2 Th"'*^*-''' ^^}'^ *^^°h. settled in the Church of AnHnth u ^^^^ dispute was not Tl.e matter was referred 1 In T^"'". ^* ^"ginated. 3. sembly consisting ortheaDost?P«'fTf, «<^«i««iastical as! 4. This assembfy met publ dv tn ^li^Tt ^* ^^^^^^lem. question. 5. They pronminced * ^ deliberate on the decision the Church of An? nnh * ?e"8ion. 6. To this and Ciiifiia v;«i,r!j _5..A"tioch and the Churches of Sv^H The Council of Jerusalem. 3^ and that a record of them is inserted in the Holy Serin- tures, seems stransre if these things did not happen for an example to us. Were it enough for the Church of Antioch to be made certain of the mind of God upon the point in •T- i nM". ' ^^"^ ^'^^ present, could have declared this >vith infalhb e accuracy ; for he was one who not only spake when he was moved by the Holy Ghost, but who often decided matters equally important by a word from his lips or a stroke of his pen. A single sentence f.-om the very apostle who was then at Antioch is admitted by the Church of God to be decisive on any point of Christian faith or Christian duty ; so that, if an infallible decision was the only thing required, one does nob see why the matter was ever carried farther. When the case di.l come up to Jerusalem, had the appeal been to inspiration only, one does not see what business the elders had to meet the apostles to consider the matter ; surely the apostles were competent to declare the mind of God with- out the aid of uninspired men. [f nothing was necessary but tor the apostles to pronounce an infallible deliverance why was there such a thing as disputing in the assembly' or even the semblance of deliberation, or why should one apostle after another s^ate his opinion ? We would sup. pose the deliverance of a single inspired man quite suffi- cient. If the disputing that occurred in the assembly was only among the elders, the elders must have been very silly to dispute about a matter that inspiration was to settle, and with which they, as uninspire^ ^^d of and ^ere we to refer^Tr d ffe^ence/fn ""l*"""^ ^^^^'^^o"' this would be literal obediencp fn ft ^^ '"''^ *» assembly us m the Divine WorS But U- " '^u'^^^^ ?"* ^^^o^e sence, we refer our diffefences tn\? '^'"' P"''^""^! ^b- •elders and when the elders ^^711.! the assembly ,.f the ^ng8 of the apostles as contained l^.*'''c '"•^P^'-^d ^rit- nounce a deliverance on the question *^/^"P'"res, pro- deliverance we yield snhm roi^ ? ?' ^^^ ^^en to such than acting up S tt's^^^r t'^'is'"^^^^^ ^'^^ ""'« ''' "-'e Vt'^T^""' apost^S*ip,f "^ "P *« --y'hing ApoallL^fc,- tt^^^^^^ that, in the disputed matters 'to the decision of i'"^^^^^ '"^"'"""^ men external to the congrS-on ih^ ^'''T^> °^ ^'^^4 fhaffh-""^ fomposed oWe Xs .f 't^P^ '^^^^*^ °"- that this ecclesiastical assemblv in fK i^^"'^'^ ^ and apostles, consisting simply StL . i^^ ^>^"^^ ^^ the has a right to meet, tHe libera ! T ^^ *^« ^'^^"^ch. mand obedience to its decisions in \l "^r"""!^' ^"^ *« de! fold principle we desLnate /?.?»• -^ ^^''**- ^his two- '^^'^'My of elder,. Z^'urri^LTnn^''' "^ "^^^^«^ '^ '^^ ~:t\r.t.i.^: rrr^ rt^ ^ -don the were it not that some parties hav^^^^ ""K 'Jerusalem! foundation for special 01?^^^? ""^^^ *'»« ^^ct the arately from the apostles Lnd t\A ""^^'^ mentioned sep! that the ''brethrSr- must hfv:^'*'''r *^' "« ^^ear members of the Church, or t In ^?i*^*^ M""official would be called, the laity, 'xhat th^ '^"''^ *''»"« ^^ey thff'^r*!"^' *^*<= they concur ed STi ^T P-''^^^"' ^t that the letter sent down to Anf.- u ^'^® decision ; and c'oVv "^" ^? "' throf*tiifa?r:^,r,ir4"- ^"^ '^^^' -ur opinion, undeniable facts— naVp-^f;.?!,.^' *''«' »n ««»t.ve. But .e have „„^ Che' Cs'S? t^ It ' «f the Church sties were alive , and by aid of 'erring decision, ch an assembly »ple put before '»• personal ab- sembly (,f the ^ inspired writ- scriptures, pro- whea to such ^, this is more > to everything 2t that, in the :e of referring tnbly of living ■h dispute ori- Church ; and bsence of the the Church, B, and to de- • This two- appeal to the exercised by word on the Jerusalem, !»s fact the ntioned sep. to us clear nou- official timps they present at Jision ; and ten in their ors, are, in "ace of the fie case be The Brethren were present. 41 fore ns, except we observe, Urst, that the original refer- ence from Autioch was not to the brethren, but to the apostles and elders (verse 2) ; second, that it is not said that the brethren assembled to deliberate on the question, but that •• the apostles and elders came together to con- sider of this matter" (verse 6) ; third, that we do not read of any of the brethren speaking on the subject submitted, but that they " kept silence" while others spoke (verse 12) ; fourth, that the decrees are not said to be ordained of the brethren, but "of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem" (Acts xvi 4). The unprejudiced inquirer will observe that the private members of the Church, here designated the " brethren," did not ordain ihe decrees, nor speak in the meeting, nor assemble to deliberate, nor was it to them that the appeal from Anti- och was brought. He will, on the other hand, remark that they were present in the assembly, that they concur- reil in the finding, and that, as it was important to show that all the Christians of Jerusalem were unanimous on the subject, the letter embodying the decision was written lu their name as well as in that of the apostles and elders. From motives of courtesy, and for the purpose of Christian salutation, Silvanus and Timotheua are represented as uniting with Paul, in the First Epistle to the Thessaloni- ans, but th s floes n<.t imply that Silvanus and Timotheus were inspired men, much less that they were conjoii ?d in the authorship of the letter. And, in the same way, the letter addressed to the Gentiles of Antioch, Syria, and ^Cilicia, was the letter of the apostles and elders— the , name of the brethren being added to show, not that they took part in the composition, but that they concurred in the sentiments. Persons, therefore, who desire to convince us that private Christians in the Apostolic Church were not only present as auditors at assemblies of Church rulers, but also shared in the deliberations, and acted as constituent members of eccltsiasticai courts, would require to produce something much more explicit on the subject than the 15th chapter of Acts. To us it seems clear that the apostles and elders assembled, deliberated. 42 Apostolic Princtples. *na decreed • fh v. who gave thS, „"'■'' "-e brethren ZVZ' ^ *" """''l OF ELDER?^';;!?^ I'HIVILE<;e oAp^e'L ^i*/"°^™ed Up in ^//^ Sixth Principle. mSinfv" ""."""^O's »ny of |?i^ '""'fwtical chief ™U of O J,'l' '""A"* 'hat he heU it 'P'^"?' without «. "•y man, but by Jesus oi'VP"""' <"<>« of TO'e^ Tl^' raised Him from ?k. J "> """l «od the p!?h ''"l" apostolic tin,.. "" dead)," etc T„ .1 "a"'"'- who detect no iSP^'l-t^'^'" 'he New Te« ° f'"*"" <>f "»al domiiTon 7a2,Vt ^i?,"'"" -^--^^SXr °?" |PintuaI nmttera he wL*5%^_?g'.«t'-«te of a vmjf *?^ ! does not alter th* ^aae to say that ve Jook in vain for tl '*» listened, and e. as we would e only auditors, the rulers. summed up in ' THE ASSEMBLY P EXERCISED BV 'c government f obedience to Jastical chief. s without re- eship by the *^e. as an ex- men, neither Father who e picture of nent, we can fing the spir- onsenting to any tempor- on made in ouch less of iw of Scrip, gs that are (Mark xii. ae Aposto- >edience to ^ed ; in al ier power. »ws of the ^J^i^ge I in ar on his M Royal or Papal Supremacy. 43. such an example to the Scriptures, owing to the fact that, in the primitive age, no temporal prince was made a con- vert to Christianity, and therefore none was in circum- stances to dispense ecclesiastical patronage and serve as the depository of spiritual power. But God is not limited by want of instruments. The same grace that subdued Saul at Tarsus, at a time when he was breathing out slaughter againac the saints of the Lord, could have con- verted Pilate, or Agrippa, or C£e*ar at Rome. Had the example been useful, the nece&sary means of supplying the ex'.mplo would not have ^een lacking to God. The very fact that, in apostolic days, God did not take some heathen prince and make a Christian of him, in order that he might fill the office of temporal head of the Church on earth, is in itself an instructive fact— fraught with a moral. And let it be remarked that the Scriptures make no provision for such an occurrence in after times. They contain no principle authorizing the prince either to claim or exercise authority in ecclesiastical matters, when in the- course of ages a Christian potentate would appear. If there be such a principle it is unknown to us ; and it is certainly incumbent on those who approve of such an ar« rangement to produce from the Scriptures, if they can, their warrant for maintaining that a Christian king has a right to exercise supremacy over the Church in spiritual niatters. Till this is done we must be excused for be- li<^ving that no temporal prince has a right to act as a lord over the heritage of God. Nor was supreme spiritual power lodged in the hands of any office-bearer of the Church, however distinguished by his gifts, his sufferings, or his abundant labours. The private members, indeed, had it in command to obey the rulers or elders of the Church ; but the elders, on their part, were enjoined not to act as lords over God's heritage, but to be examples to the flock (i Fet. v. 3). Even the apostles did not claim to have dominion over the people's faith, but only to be helpers of their joy (2 Cor. i. 24). And among these apostles it does not appear that pre- eminence was vested in any. Peter is the only one for- 44 Apostolic Principles. ating to ecclesi^tW? «ffi *^® Scriptures as nomin- noted occasion when hp ^vhfhff J ^ Church. On one, are told of Sh^r aposVetno wtt^^^^^^^^^ -«' because he was to be blamed ?rJui if ^'t^ *°o*^« /^°«' therefore, furnishes no ground wLiverforl^L'"^*.^'^' supreme spiritual power is dPt^nS 1 1^ bel»evmg that own righVCd "the hTvoni^Xrf rab^v™ ,f •?" cipalitv, and power anH mio-iV f !f I' far above all prm- name {hat is nared nnt^^K ' ^^u-^^""""""' *"^ ^W that which 8 to^ome and h^.h" *^'„^.^^'^' »^»* ^^^o in !hey have ifd u« tn f h^ attentive consideration : and >h„.*h 7 --^ - - *? *n« h"n>an body Christ is tn 4- I ever claimed : ays acted with f the cross of ures as nomin> g any peculiar rch. On one, [iversation, waj m to the face, rhe Scripture, believing that ecclesiastical • as well as on the following all spiritual It in Christ, Him at His )ove all prin- 1, and every , but also in [8 under His > the Church, ^lleth all in of the wife, d he is the the body, the a from the ■eminence." the Holy id practice, ation : and headship of Jtolic days. is t-Q the ids, so the st and the I\7o Head but Christ. 45- Pope nor Christ and the monarch. To us there seems no- middle way in this matter. We must either reject the authority of the Bible, or believe what it teaches- name- ly, that ChrUt w liead over all things to the Church We choose the latter. The Headship of Christ is the sixth principle of government that we find in operation in apostolic days. Let us observe the consequence of this principle ; for as Christ is the Head of the Church, the members of the Church are to be subject to Him ; and, as we have no way of ascertaining the mind of Christ except through the Scriptures, it follows that the affairs of the Church are to be managed by those officers whom the Lo.d Jesus has entrusted with that power, and are, without the interfeeence of any external authority, to be regulated according to the miud of God as expressed in His Word^ "^-S^ I Application of the Test. -^; will be satisfie/that ?here t n- ""^^ """u*^^"^ ^^ saying that the princinles of ^i.- w^'"® authority for are the realization, w^e 'in pTacttJ^" ^"""^'"^ ^*^t« Apostolic Church -1 Practical operation in the 2: J: otcTo^^Sp^^^Vet '^ *v p^^^'«- 3. There was a pluralitt nf !u ^^' ^'lentical. 4. Ordination wrthe a^t of i n'' k T^ '^^'''^^' plural-ty of elders ""^ * P'^sbytery-that is, of a eld'ers' 'rndX t'v?e7ofTo:' '^^"^^^ *« *^« -«--% of the™ i„ their assJ^irefpfcity""^"* ^^« exercisedV ^^6.^Ihe only Head of the ChU .as the Lo,d Jesus wh^ot%CSf ?)L^^lill"^ ^-*« --r the portance above that whth nr!^"?'" '/^"^ "«'«g in im! series, from Popular Electbn^l ?''.;*' ^5 ^" ascending Lord We have been conducted to th^ "^^.'^^P ^^ *h? cess of wiredrawn logic, but bv rpl? • ™' fl"*' ^^^ *»y P^o- -not «a„.i.e tl.e%i",a^iVS;\:^^e\lenrJ: evidence sub- we think he authority for >llowing facts '■ation in the 2opIe. ical. !)hurch. -that is, of a assembly of Jxercised by Loid Josus 8 cover the ■ising in im- i ascending ship of th? by any pro- Scriptures, i 3ive them, e contrary, ar\rt^ . % ^ A »d honest, lave speci- Prelacy on Trial. 47 fied, and fail to see that these six great principles were all embo-hed in the government of the Apostolic Church liut whether they are embodied in those forms of ecclesi- astical government at present existing in the world is another and a very important question— a question which It IS now our business to answer. We proceed, therefore to brmg the existmg systems in succession to the test of the apostolic standard. Prelacy. As already explained, Prelacy i3 that system of Church Government which is dispensed by archbishops, bishops, priests, deans, deacons, and other office-bearers. It i^ exemplified in the Church of Rome and in the Church of Jingland, both of which are prelatic in their government • the diflFerence being, that the prelacy of Rome vests the ecclesiastical supremacy in the Pope, while the prelacy of England vests it m the reigning monarch. With this excep- tion, the two Churches, however widely they may differ in doctrine, are, in every imporiant point of government, the same. As many may be dipposed to consider the pre- lacy of a Protestant Church much less objectionable than the prelacy of Rome and as we have neither neces??ty nor desire to take any unfair advantage in argument, we pre- fer to bring the prelacy of Protestantism into comparison with the apostolic standard. The fountain of jurisdiction in the Church of England is the monarch for the time being, who inherits the throne by hereditary descent, and who, irrespective of all char- acter is, by act of Parlia nent, the only supreme head of the Church of England and Ireland (37 Henry VIII. *!?"3Ji" No person can be received into the ministry of that Church till he subscribe this article :— •' That the Kiiigs majesty, under God, is the only supreme governor ot this realm, and of all other his highness' dominions and countries, as well in all Hinritual, or ecdc-^laxtUal thim/H or causes, as tempor.il " (Canon 36). The appointment of all 48 Apostolic Principles, l| ^hi.h'j!'^''-^^''^'-*^? ^^'^^''P" ^« ^«s*ed « the Crown which IS guided m the selection bv the nnliHooi o^I,- • ' tration of the day-a body compoLi :f 'pttns t^l hue of rehpous profession, and only kept in Us place K the majority of votes it can command in Parliament Th^ thf t* 1,T!«r*'*^"%^ office-bearers under thrCrcwnVre J?^ Archbishops of whom thero are two in En^ Ind W Th^'f T? "t^""*!^^"''>^ ^"d York, an^ twoClr;." land-the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin. Each of ^^^^^l "f ^' ^'"? * number of suffragan bishops and each bishop has under hi« care the inferL clergTof hU diocese, who preach and dispense the ordinancfj of re hgion to such inhabitants of their parishes as are pleasld appointed by the Crown, m others by the bishops in «uch is Prelacy in its most favourable form as present ed in the Protestant Establishment of Engkud^ Tet ug' compare it with the system of government wS we have Tn tLT"''*f?-'^t? ^^l«* ^° *^« ApostoirChur^h.*^ In the Apostolic (Jhurch, the office-bearers were chosen by the people ; but, in the Church of EnglanrarchbTsh ops, and bishops are fchosen by the Crown and the subordinate clergy are appointed to their charLes either by the diocesan, or by some landed proprietor or bv =ch^^el.3-tt^;;^4^^^^^^^^ Tetttltte^^"-^ '' ^^^^^^^'r^^^^^^:. In the Apostolic Church, the office of bishop and elder was Identical ; the elders of Ephesus were thXshops o the flock; but, in the Church Establishment, it is verv d fferent. The apostolic elder, being a teacher and ruler of a congregation, resembles more closely tl e narih clergyman than any other office-bearer in ?h«i,h"?4 of £aigiaud But it is very evident that, in that" Church a parish clergyman holds a position widely different from a fcishop. The rector wields the jurisdiction of a parSh Pfeiacy found Wanting. 49 but the bishop governs a diocese, that usually includes a whole multitude of parishes. The one piesides over a single congregation ; the other, over many congregations. The one exercises authority over the laity, but a Church of England bishop is the ruler of a band of clergy. If, then, the parish clergyman correspond to the presbyter or tlder of apostolic timeS) it is very clear that, in the Es- tabjishment, the bishop and elder are not identical in office, tn the Establisbud Church every elder is subiect t) his bishop ; but, in the Apostolic Church, every elder was a bishop himself. In the Church of i »!vfirtnd each congregation is under the care of one presl j l^; . When a second is called in, he is a mere curate in the employment of another, and void of all e-jclesiastical jurisdiction. It is not very common, and certainly not essential to the system, to have more than one presbyter or elder in each Church ; whereas, we have seen that, in each Church of apostolic times, there was a plurality of elders. In the Church of England ordination is an act exclus- ively performed by a prelate ; he may ask others to unite with him, but it is his presence not theirs that is essential to the act : whereas, in the Apostolic Church, it was the practice to ordain men to the office of the ministry with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. In the Church of England, no matter whr.t ecclesiasti- cal grievance may exist, there is no power of appeal excep- to the courts of law, or the Queen's Privy Council, or some such tribunal. The. practice 's unknown in the de- nomination of bringing any matter for consideration be- fore the assembly of elders for them to decide upon, in accordance with the apostles' word. But this, as we have seen, was the mode in which affairs were managed in the Apostolic Church. In our Protestant Establishment the monarch is, by act of Pii.rlin.mBnh Vinnrl of fh« <'!lnirnVi anri fr* fVio \r\t.n r\v queen, as the case may be, the 37th Article informs us that "the chief government of all estates of the realm, whether they be ecclesiastical or civil, in all causett^ doth 50 Application of the Test. Ill .ht wefeel„{.«etr.trSTo\Ve7o^t:L:^°[h:? "J ??' """ great principles of ecc]esia=.frol „ ^*\ °^ *^® s^x the ApostoirChurcr there is n^r'n^^'^^u ^^"* ^«* "* Prelacy of the Church of Fn^? ^ «^r ^P^odie I in the that Jhile thlV&'hlf;tt-titird%o'''' *^"'^^^' «8 a human system maintaiL^ \, ! r *t? ^''^^^ respect numbering in itsTanks manv . .- ^ m^ °^ Parliament, and ground whatever forreSfn^t^^^^'PfPi^' *^^^^ i« ^^^ *8 an Apostolic crurcfAt^th'n ^"/"V^ fi^^"'"^«"^ tiou we feel bounrf,?'^.? P''"^ '^^ excommunica- to vernLnt of the Ci^*u"J^^^^^^ that the Word of God. * i-ngland -.s repugnant to the Independency, orde?ap^Ted b^SptdtT^^^^ ecclesiastical aware that they h^itrembodl^dVi " '""• ""^T^ *'* ^°* Scriptures teach on the "ubitf ,1 ''''''' °^ ^^'^^ *^« and as every conVreLS «f ^ -^^^^ *'^'"™°« ^or°»«l»» other, may dfffer someSes w?^ ? ^"^ ^^"-'^ ^'^"^ «^«^V We are. tLrefore iS? 1^;^^ •^^•'"'P°'*^"* Points, polity from th^le L ^^^ Church them, and fromS'L'cTpts'^dvocTd^L'^^^^^^ tTen^:birtrc4a^^^^^^^^^^^ Government wirtre^:p^rto^i^ra£^ ^'^"-^ up^n^witY'the ki '' s'l^S^^^^^^^^^^ ?*"""l Ecclesiastical agreed Bo.k and Homily'soiet; (1S2) is'^'l^fP"''"^''.^^ ''.V thePra>er that ^^^ i;;^!;;'^;;!^ i^tJ^.S^'^r '"'^•^"^■^" "- '^^ of God ; let him he exc.miMuiM^c uVd w . ^ f '^^Pl'ff"^''* to the Word repeat, aud publicly revo.o Juca S mclld ei^-lll-^'-f^ ^""^*""« "11 he Independency on Trial. 51 The principle of popular election existed, as we have X:^lZ^"^ Pnmit,ve Church, and had the sanation of , rfnXl ' ""^ *^^ ^T^- . ^°^°°g *^« Independents this principle 13 preserved in its integrity: with them everv eoclesiastical office-bearer is chosen b^^ the people ''^ In the Aposto he Church the office of bishop and elder was identica ; the bishop did not exercise any authorirv over the elder; on the contrary, every bishop was an :itr 't::rof ^?.'j^'^p- ^° ^* i^ withTndTpLd" ents. Every one of their pastors fills the office of bishop and elder and none of them claims authorrtv over others. With them a bishop and elder are onlv diffeS names for the same office-be^arers, as it was i/ apoSc We have seen how, in Apostolic times, there was a plurality of elders in each Church. Here th; Independent Bvstem fails. On the principles of that theory of Church Rovernoient. it is scarcely possible to have a Vurali v of elders and in practice it rarely, if ever, occurs. Amona them there is only one minister, or bishop, or ekir if each congregation Practicallv, their system adm^s on ly of one elder to each Church. If an apostle were writ?nj mTflt\ '■''• ^"^^.^P^"'^^"* ^^hurch, he would neve? thmkof addressing it to the hmhops, as well as to the deacons, for the simple reason that, with them there is usually but one bishop to one Church : nor could an rplrjnf ^1/"^*^'^'^f^^^ ^^ independent ChurX thJ ?n 2^\ A *^'^ f^V%^^ ^P^^«"^' ^""^ the plain reason that, m an Independeii i. Church, there is usually but one older. A sing e pastor, with deacons nnder h m . govern! ing a Church, is the prominent feature that the InTpe;. dent system everywhere presents-an arrangementThaa which none can be more opposed to the plurality of elder* that existed m each congregation in primitive times Some Independents attempt to nalliaf« fb-^- /.p!:!r._: from apostolic precedent. ' by 8a.ying"that 'a" pluram^of eiders is desirable, bnt their Churches are Lot able to reTthat th''"- ^'^l '' ''''"' «*"^« ^^' esteemed breth' iea that there must be some remarkable disparity between « 52 Application of the Test. the apostolic system and theirs, when the richest of their Churches now cannot atfonl to possess what was possessed by the very poorest Churches in the days of the apostles > It 18 the Word of God that says of Paul and BarnabM- , they ordained elders in every Church " .nTiVf?.''^'i'-^*f ''^ °^ f'^ Apostolic Ohurch were set apart to the discharge of their peculiar duties with th.- laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Among Ind": 1 pendents, however, ordination of any sort is not essential • frequently it is counted unnecessary. Instances are' known of persons acting as pastors of Churches for a life- time, who were never inducted to office with the imposi- tion of hands and prayer. Ordination is not requiredbv the system. With them it is a mere matter of taste left in each case to the individual choice. If the newlv-ele-ted pastor choose to have himself ordained, it can only be done in a way inconsistent with Independent principles ' le congregation, being destitute of a plurality of elders' his ordination can only come from the people, who have no Scriptural right to confer it, or from the neighbouring pastor But who does not see that the latter practice is entirely at variance with the foundation principle of Inde- pendency, namely, that each congregation has wtWtm itself conaplete materials for government ? So much is this felt to be the case that, while some ask the assistance of the pastors of the district on such occasions, those who choose to carry out their Conaregationalist principle with a little more consistency make light of ordination, think it unnecessary, and prefer to go without it. In the Apostolic Church there was the privilege of an- peal to the assembly of elders. Among the Independents nothing of this kind can exist. The distinctive principle of their system precludes all appeal. The decision of the pastor, and deacons, and people, assembled in a church- meeting is final in every case. No matter how partial or unjust their decision is felt to be, there is no «ower -^ bringing the sentence under review of a less preiudiced ana more enlightened tribunal. The judgement of the Churcn mav be m strict accordance with justice, or ii may Independency found Wanting, 53 ichest of their was possesseri the apostles V d Barnabas — rch were set ties with th(.- Among Inde- not essential ; nstances are hes for a life- li the imposi- ; required by of taste, left lewly-eleated can only be it principles, ity of elders, e, who have tieitjhbouring r practice is iiple of Inde- I within itself ki is this felt •ssistance of I, those who aciple with a on, think it alege of ap- idependents ve principle vision of the II a church- w partial or »" £^^,- TT \Jl. "_* 1 I prejudiced lent of the e. or ii may be the offspring of prejudice or malevolance in a few of the leaders of the meeting, masked, of course, under zeal for purity of communion, and for the cause of religion ; but, no matter how supei ficial the investigation, or how deep the wrong, the system deprives the injured man of the privilege of appeal, and clothes the perpetrators with irresponsible power. By denying and repudiating all association, it enables the rulers to be, if they please, the tyrants of the C^huich, and strips the injured of the possi- bility of redress. "Independency," says Dr. Wardlaw, "is the competency of every distiuct Church to manage, loithoitt aj^imd, its own aifairs." * This is an ingenious mode of disguising the most repulsive feature of t1ie sys- tem. Very few would deny t at a Church is competent to manage its own affairs in such a way as to obviate the necesuty of appeal ; but what we assert is, that, when the Church lacks the necessary wisdom and discretion to do 80, appeal among Independents is not permitted, the injured is deprived of redress, and power, for which the possessor is irresponsible to man, degenerates into tyranny when it is unwisely exercised, and there is nothing to keep it in check. The case of Antioeh shows that, when a difference arose in the primitive Church, there was a right of referring the matter to the assembly of elders, who, under the guidance of the apostles, settled the busi- ness. Elders might still meet, and the written word of the anostles is accessible to all, and a decision pronounced by parties removed from the scene of controversy, un- tainted by local prejudices, and standing far away from the partizanship of the leaders, might go far now, as in ancient days, to calm dissensions, should they unfortun- ately arise. But Independents, in this respect, repudiate the apostolic example. Their principle is to refuse all recognition of external authority, to make the decision of the Church-meeting final in every case, and to deny to whem "who are aggrieved the privilege of appeal. The Headship of Christ was a principle of apostolic * Dr- Wardlaw's Congregational Indedendency. d. 232. Glas' gow. 18J18. 5^ Application of the Test, Jfi times, Independents, we are happy to say, acknowledce this principle m its integrity. «wKuowieagd The result of our comparison is, tha^ there are thret* principles of the Apostolic Church that we find fully ac! "en^lm'^lv ''*^^ "P- among the InlpeSient D.ethren namely, popular election, the identity of nres- foil T^' ,^"* *^?''e are three apostolic principles that we fail to hnd in their system, namely, the plurality of eldrrs in each Church, ordination with the laying on of^tbe hands of the presbytery, and the privilege of appeal. We con! elude, therefore, that, while the Independen system o government advances to the pattern li primitive tSies Ttr.T^'l '^^i*i^ *^*" *^^* ^^'«h exists in the Churches ^ISf.^'''^ and Home still it is not the system entitled to plead the precedent of the Apostolic Church. Presbyter, It only now remains that we compare the Presbvtprifln motr The/^' standard of the^Iaw and of tKeZ mony. The term Pre%^ principle. Churches throughout Brit^u and America lirhTh^*-"? The Ruling and Teachifig Elders. g^ and Presbyterians have often shown tbat thev count it more precious than gold. ^ ^ " In the primitive age. the office of bishop and elder was Identical. An elder was not inferior, in point of offidal standing, to a bishop, nor a bishop to an elder. It is so in the Presbyterian Church. Every elder is a bishop or overseer of the Hock ; and every bishop is an e der^onl whose office is to rule in the house of God. S are two departments in the office of the elder-that of teach- m^ and that of ruling ; but the office itself is one There was a plurahty of elders or bishops in each con- gregation of the Apostolic Church. Such is the practice in every Presbyterian Church at the present day ^ Them IS m each of their congregations a number of persons or! darned to the office of the eldership, one of whom at Lit gives himself to the work of the ministry ilitT varS wh^L f'iir n.'A ^^'^''''t'^y t.'^-t of public instruct on! th« r>, ?*^'n ^J^^^i^^'' principal attention to ruling in the Church of God Teaching and ruling, as we have a - Tnd U w1' "'' ^'^r""' tP^^^-"^"* '''''^ same office ; ?h^nS^i t ^^'■^- ''tK '""u"'' ^^•"'^^ *'^**= *^o-^« appointed to the office have, m the abstract, a right to fill both depart- L"r fi ' -^1 / ^^, P'-^^*^^?' it i3 found more convenient and affIf•'^^^°';u^'^"Pl^*^^* ^^^^ «^^«^ gi^e most of his attention to that department whose duties he is best quali! fied to discharge A 11 elders, being bishops, have an equal nght according to the Scripture., to preach, baptise.\d- mimster the Lord's Supper; and ordain ; but these duties it IS arranged to devolve on one of the elders, called bv distinction the minister who is specially trained to his ; work, and is by general consent, admitted to possess most ' gifts and attainments, and who, in consequence, is the' best qualified to make these ordinances, edifying to the Chuioh ; while the majority of the elders only rule, visit the sick, siinfirm+^^opd W^hlnf^ ~f-K--1- ^3 i .., -- _.-ii_ !.!. ..noaTii-ocnwuis, conduct prayer- meetings, and make themselves useful in other ways. Presbyterians, thenfore, maintain a plurality of elders in every Church ; and, as it was in apostolic days, it is cus- tomary among them for elders to rule who do not labour ia 56 Applicaiion of the Test. word and doctrine. Any unpreju.lioed person may see from I Tim Y. 17, that the office of the elder.h p^Uvide.l Itself into two great departments of duty in prim tive times, even as at present. " Let the eldern that ^rnle well be counted worthy of double honour, especally they wh labor m word and doctrine." Dr. King's comment o^n This text must, for sense and truthfulness, commend itself to every intelligent man .— "These words," he says -coul ^uggest to an unbiassed reader only one meaning,' that al elders who rule well are worthy of abundant huAour, bu especially those of their number who. besides ruling well also labour m word and doctrine. Of course, the passage 80 interpreted, bears that, of the elders who rule weS •only some labour in word and doctrine-that is, therrare ruling elders and amony these teaching eiders, as we have 4it the present day. "* We are tempted thus to Lrrt the true exposi ion of this celebrated'^passage, of wS we have been often charged by our opponents^a^ giving mtrr! pretation.., the most grotesque and extravagant. But the reader IS requested to observe that the point which we have particularly in view at present is, that the^ PresbT terian, like the Apostolic Church, has, in every conrrecl tion, a plurality of elders. ^ congrega- Office-bearers were set apart to their different spheres •of duty in the Apostolic Church with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. The Presbyterian Church in trlZ^lw. ^'^^f^\ is. the only one known to7s that Tnfh. \ ««"P^"ral principle invariably into practice. In the Apostolic Church there was recognized the privi. lege of appeal and the right of government This priSe IB not only adnaitted, but it is one of the most d.gt^nSl ed principles of Presbyterianism Should any dSnce Zm^^^^ congregation, the members ar. compli t ?o shoula this fail, it is equally competent for them to refer the whole matter, eitlier for adWp« n. d-cH^i 1 A assembly of elders met in presb^^te^^yTh^' highest ecclesiastical court known to the system is the PrcS^y^ry; * Exposition and Defence, p. 115. Chunk Courts. 57 %U Synod being the name usually given to the presbytery of » province, and the Qemral Llmlhj being^tS Sm^ nation Th'l''r' ^^ "a"'^^?^^ '" '^^ presbvte^T; stnS*onwL^^"^'!^-^r"^^^y ^^« jurisdiction over a Syndd on y because it is a larger presbytery. Hence that mends of Presbyterianiam speak of as being a main fea- tare of the system. This is i.roved by the fact that a denomination, without either Synod or Assemblv and ?"srtZ"i«^'"^^\rr* "^'*^^- ex"dUt"ct Cv^ tT; fi^ ' ?^«^'«»- J^eless, a complete JPresbyterian body. Let there be only one assembly of elders to which a congregation can submit an appeal, and the aDo^toHc l?SL^ ' • preserved It is not Jven ceXn tha? repi^' sentaton is a mam feature of the system^ althouch a men'S^ Xf'-*"*^"" " **^^ '^«"^* of\xai„g a3ge bearS; In«In K ^!r''''*^*i«« «<> J*' as that a%w offiSe- bearers, chosen by the people on their first admission to office, transact business for the many. Nor are all office nearers privileged to tind admission to the highe? couVte for although all elders are. in the abstracrequd in S presbytery, yet, for convenience sake, it has been affreed upon that only a part of them shall at the same tiX^x- ercise this right. In the Presbyterian ChurcTof Ireland t has been the immemorial custom, and long exper ence has only served to conform its advantages, fof two elders the teaching elder or minister, and a ruling elder, t^t^ke mel'is thTtP'''^^*'7- ^^^ ^*^«"^* of%hese 'arrange' raents is, that a virtual representation occurs, and the p I ^of TiV'^'' "^-^^""'"Ses ; but to say it'isTmain p liar of Presbyterianism is contrary, in our opinion to Jhe facts of the case. Were the platform of the Sbv? (Sr ^'^fnV** *^8^^« ^^^^y «Wer a seat ^n our <.hurch courts, this would, in a irreafc m-oo.,.,^ a^ .^l with representation, and would ^' unwise for manv^roa. sons, but would not shake a pillar of the systei^ Tn «?; meantime, whatever may be thougiht of the pdnciole of representation and the subordiuadou of Ch/rch courts £■ i- 5S Apf nation of the Test. there can be no doubt tliat the PresbvtPnVn * ernment, in common with l\l^ IT^I .^^ '°*'°» o^ gov. aecares to the people the wtlf o?L^' Apostolic Chu?ch, govtrnment^;, privilege wST so if '^f* '^ '^^^^ ^^ enjoyed by no denomiaatTon that 's not ?n ^T ^ "«' '« meat, Presbyterian ^' ^° P*'^^* of govern- been charged with a virfnai a^. t } *"® otate, hare Ali Presb^terirChurches ran^^^ KT- *^" P^^^iP^^' ed, as well as clistinctive prfn iprerfhi'%™"^*^^^^^^^^^ Kxr^ and Head of His Srff \l J"'''^ "^"""^ '* Presbyterians have ever held th.f;. n, * /denomination, of the civil rulers! has Lntm^l ^'^^^^•"•^'h. independent rnatters, and that il oEbTaverra ''k^'" ^5 *" «Pi"*"al that jurisdiction in confomitv to f^^ bound to exercise expressed in His Word Th^p ^V.^^. """? .?f Ch'is*. as ' — -"■*-«*«« 111 uunro expressed in His Word "tu^ "a "T- """" ^t Christ, as recognized ami pr« cX "a^Ld C,'°''° ^^""g^- »" «" ^/ *>vpVo- We do nut. then, assert that the PreBbyterian Church Elders are not Lojimen. . wanting m the otlfpr . a.,!i ® "^** """st be f ever things tantingin^'re^'eth^^ *?-e are s'ome But mdoctrinf they are exLfclvthrf ^""""^ ^" the other. ) f the main principks offhe one^" «^"^« ^n government. There is no other'^Church on L/ft *T'^i."\.the (*ther statements can be made in truth w ""^ ""^'^^ t^« «an»e as put beyond al! reasonrble doubt ^JJ^J'^y'l *^«^«^<>»-«. ^am. ^o .Ae model o/a^ l^^^f^^^^ entitled, must, «rtC"LT^Sr '^ "'^^^ ^* ^ /f/- :iiat eznnt-i- i Practical Lessonju. [HE apostolic principles oi; Church government are the peculiarities of the Presbyterian system. That other Churches neithc practice nor acknowledge these principles, is the main ground why Presbyterians remain separate from them. I know of no good reason for ray being a Presbyterian rather than an Independent, except that I believe Presbyteriani^m has done what the rival system has failed to do — preserved the principles of apostolic government ; and, for this reason, possesses an amount of Scriptural warrant (not to speak of unity, coherence, and vigour), that Independency can never have. The absence of the apostolic principles in the Pre- Inic Establishment must always keep enlightened and conscientious Presbyterians out of its pale, no mattwr what be the modifications introduced into its articles, or what change wrought upon its ritual. If our distinctive principles are not apostolic and important, Presbyterian- ism is not only folly, but very great folly ; and, by stand- ing apart from other denominations upon such a ground, we only perpetuate needless divisions in the Church of God. if we discover that the peculiarities of the system are either not true, or truths of minor consequences, we should take speedy steps to heal the schism that exists, and exemplify Christian union on a large scale by uniting with some sister sect, whose principles are more Scriptural aad important than our own. But if, on the other hand, our distinctive principles are very important as well as Tfu Pulpit Dumb on the Subject. 65 "rTliSJ ""or'f S"??' y^ "^"'^ '" '»y that tiey a e S' """ ^T ^P^^* ^'•°°^ «*h«r «««t8; andret to teach these principles from the pulpit is usually viewed as an rstraVa"Sch"lTi''''' ^'"^P^^- OurTeplteex" iuence*our hll?, 1^^ our peculiarities with conse^ quence , our habitual forgetfulness of iniDressincr tl.Am upon the people, deepens! if it does iot^ p Se th^ popular notion that they are of no consequencrwhat^ver That expositions of onr principles ari very rarelvT' hvered from the pulpit, is a fact that few acquainted wfth the circumstances of the case will venture to deny Tsafe myself for years in various Presbyterian Churches of town and country ; I never failed to he'Lr tlL Gospel of 4^17 and the great precepts of Chri^iau morality%reached bv our ministers, and enforced always with grea^t LTthfult^s^ and sometimes with considerable power ; but 1 do not tSHetfemlnt'^'r ^'^^ 'r''^ ^" ^^^^ occa'sioT except at tne settlement of a minister, any attempt made to t^Jh ^reiawsis — and yet I never worahinnflri ^u..^.. *i,„_- „ not a parish church within a distance* of two mYles'1 Ltlirthrf-^ ""* i^^T "'^^'•«' ^^o tell m? they have member tnVirV" Pr«^y*«"^« Churches, and do not re! member to have heard on any Sabbath a single principle 66 Practical Lessons. of Presbyterian Church polity stated and explained. The " Plea of Preabyery"— one of the very ablest dfyfencea of Apostolic Church government and worship that the pre sent century has produced, testifies to a singular fac'i of the eileace of the pulpit on our distinctive principles. In the preface of this )u0ie, the authors of that work make the following observjitjoos ;—" Can he [Mr. Boyd] point to a single Presbyteriao miuiater in, U Liter, who had pre- viously addressed a ooj.gtt?git*,ion for four successive Sabbaths on th« pocvilii.. itiea of Presby teriauism ? Can ho name a Presbyterian minister who had previously em- ployed a single Sabbiith in the discussion of the subject I We are satLjied that he cannot plead even one such case as an apology for his agitation of the controversy." To all this there may be some honourable exceptions ; but still >'. cannot be fairly denied that the exposition of our Church polity has, in general, become unfao ionable and unusual. Even at ordinations, the explanatiou of our principles la beginning to be felt as a periodical encumbrance— incon- sistent with the liberality of modern times— whick immemorial custom has entailed upon us ; and good easy people, who wish, at any price, to stand well with their ijcighbours, and fear to give oflfence by telling honest truth, desire to have the discourse on Presbyterianism. customary on such occasions, either entirely abolished, or, what amounts to the same thing, so softened down as to please everybody. And from the press an exposition of Presbytterian principles rarely issues, except when some champion of another sect, animated by our apathy, 18 brave pnough to attack our system ; and then some Presbyterian warrior, clad in the panoply of battle, des- cerids into the field of controversy ; but before he strikes u ui- ^^^^^ *'*''® *" apologise for his intrusion upon the public, by alleging that he appeals in self-defence— which IS much the same as , ■ ing that he would not .. "■ troubled the world by tellii. the truth had he not h a provoked by the occasion, inis candid avowal prep^i the reader, at the very commencement, to regard t% warmth of the writer's zeal as only an ebullition of pt 1 laiiied. The (kfencsa of ;hat the pre- jular fac:; of nciples. lu t work make Boyd] point i^ho had pre. r successive m ? Can ho ivionsly em- he subject t such case as ly." To all 8 ; but still our Church nd unusual. )rinciple8 is nee — incon< [nes— which d good easy with their ling honest yterianism. (dished, or, down as to exposition :cept when lur apathy, then some battle, des* he strikes usion upon E-defence — Id not J, "• le not hiH-u. al prep^i. ; egard t% ' 80 neceesaiy to nrodiin. Z„.; . ^ ?""° """"' "«« '» perpetuate ^onr £r„r„nateTat:ncrt''h' "".' *» Silent, because to betrav strnnc; o*! I : . "t^®" keep ian principles seLs brgotenL ml'^'f m P"-!? ^yter- feres too rudely with tKln„ r TS*"**^'®' '^"^ i"t«''- our day-that\u forma of tfe P L?'?'^/" F-^?"'^'' ^" equally true and equSTdeserviL^h^ «'*''* /"''I'"'* *^« ajiement of Christians Bnf f hl^ • support and encour- of the pulpit on the 8ubi£?i„.^ "^*''' ^^^"'^ °^ *^« «"*^"ce among the minltrv that nli I !'™.^'^''^°? «° prevalent clearly wriSLri^the t^nff '^'"^''^^P^'^^^P^^* a^e so and th^at, theJe^fo^L/tt S^voracy of pS* .*°'^"' ism IS unnecessary This T am «!.„ 7 j • ^'^^oytenan- lusion, gross and gi jantic p?!k ?''• ^' " ?^^^"°*^ d«- indeed, clearly embodffi^' fh«R-&*^u\'' P"''^^P^«« are, forget that what i^ vprlr^i ?''^®' ^"^^ ^« »'e »ot to dark to another Thlnon^*/ ^ T^ "^*° '"^^ »>« very ness of every day life irbul*. ^'"n' ^ '^''*^ ^" *^« »>»«• of God, anYat Vverv sten nP J"k ^^^""""l ^ *^« «""^ wno36 ousmesa is tn Tir«o»K \*. .-j "TV,"' "'- .-^-igy- ^-*J* 'r~ -"r"". "* ""e iJiDie from childhn^l ;«,i .r_: ~' ant .£ the Ml^^e? fe ^o"" f^, ^Llif" t" ^; would not bo wise for the Preaoher nrlhf n '\ ,^" '' the ^.ultitude to disoo«r forrhemUvet» H n*?* w"? 63 Practical Lessons. to leave them without assistance fn their search for Pres- byteriauism. One a very little more advanced in know- ledge than ourselves can, in a few minutes, show us mean- ing in a passage of Scripture that we never saw in it j before, and can leave us wondering why we read it so often, and never viewed it till that moment in a light so beautiful and true. Besides, it seems clear that, if Church Government is a portion of the revealed will of God, duty ; demands that from every faithful minister it should receive, in the prelections of the pulpit, a place propor- tioned to its importance. There is peculiar need, more- over, that, in this department, the people should receive the assistance of the minister ; for, in dealing with the apostolic system, there is an amount of labour in the col- lection of passages, in the comparison of facts, and in tho deduction of inferences, that few minds, left to their own unaided efforts, are zealous enough to engage, and vigor- ous enough to accomplish. And whose duty is it to supply help, if not his, who is called by the Holy Ghost, and chosen by the voice of the people, to labour in word and doctrine ? " The priest's lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth." ' Whatever be the cause of the silence of the pulpit on the distinctive principles of the Presbyterian system, the sad results of it are manifest every day. The intelligent few who have attained to some acquaintance with our principles, have derived their knowledge from the Bible and from books, very seldom from the pulpit ; while the many, being uniformed on such subjects, act sometimes in open violation of them. Multitudes frequent the meet- ing-house, because they have beeu accustomed to do so from childhood, not because they have ever thought of the peculiar principles of the Presbyterian system, and from an examination of the Word of God are satisfied of their truth. They are Presbyterians by birth and habit only, very seldom by conviction. Not being svatemati- caily taught that the principles of government operating ia their own Church are exclusively apostolic, many of the Presbyterian people appear to regard all Protestant svstemati* Lykeiaarm Presbyterianism. 69 Churches as standing upon the same level of truth ; they ^?o" .,, ^".^'^**'.^™'''^^'^' ^''^^^ ^^"--^s of faith i in theiJ view the Westminster Confession and the Thirty-nine Aftjcles are only facsimiles of each other ; Prelacy. In- dependency, and Presbytery are all alike to them-it is only bigotry that pretends to see a difference. Opinions ot this sort are now so common that no odium attaches to rrfv!''i?''''i ^!'*'°' "^^^ ,*''® ^^^^'y popular, especially with rioh Presbyterians, who ape at fashion, and meditate at some early day renegadism to the Establishment. Nor is It very wonderful that many others, untaught to consider I resbytenan principles as a portion of Divine revelation, and surrounded by many circumstances tending to deepen the impression that all forms of Protestant faith are equaljy Scriptural, are kept in the Church only by the torce of habit, or personal attachment to some worthy minister, and are ready to fling the nominal profession of apostoho principles away from them, so soon as the time comes that a secession from the Presbyterian Church can advance tneir worldly interests, please their superiors, feed their revenge, or gratify a whim. There can be little doubt that ignorance of the Scriptural truth and practical value of our principles, has made the msbyterian community much colder to their own Church than otherwise they would be. T havo often remarked ?i?-^, ^^f^onia" Catholic, a Methodist, .«i Baptist— each thinks his own Church the purest and best iu th 5 world j whUe a Presbyterian is usually a man who regards any other Protestant Church as being at the very lewt a« good as his own. It is this popular persuasion that iu Ulster y lends proselytism all its power. Some of the smaller secta endeavour to diffuse the impression that the difforeucea between Protestant Churches are of no consequence, ond It 18 their interest to do so ; t!)-y havo little to loso and much to gain by such an imprr .on being abroad. Every — ,.v-i-vt «iiiOiig vucui wuu ku; ws his Duamess is, ot course a vigorous, and doubtless a conscientious supporter of the Evangelical Alliance. The prelatic clergy also, except in some rare cases, do their best to diUuae the same feeling 70 Practical Lessons. among Dissenters, because il gives them fre«r —ness to convey their Puseyism into Presbyteri'- u^u.oa an-^ because, being ^vise in their generation, they have the sagacity to see that, when the Presbyterian mind becomes saturated with the feeling, that there is no difference between the two Ohurches, the (luostion will soon follow —•Why tax our.i.lves for nothing ; why be at the expense of supporting,' a separate Church ; why not join the Estab- lishment' [f prosclytism gives us any annoyance, we have none but ourselves to blume. Were we faithful to our principles, the people would be faithful to us. The prevalent indifference to Prcsbytcriamsm that our defec- tive mstruc lion has produced, has loft us open to the in- cursions of every sect that cliooses to cjive is opposition, and which, iu so doing, may always saicly reckon on the countenance and Co-operation (.f soukj of ourselves. It has turned the Preabytciian Church of Ireland into a sort of ecclesiastical preserve, where foot of Papist dare not tres- pass, but where every marksman, who wears the mask of Protestaniam, is free to sport at pleasure and bag his game Let the blame be all our own, if the thoughtless among our people are, from time to time, ^.akei> in the snare of the fowler. Instead however of pour' uT fortl unav ding regvets over past deHciencies, perhap it wexe well lur all of us to consider tlie most likely expedient for communicating a new and better tone to the presbvterian mmd. This the ministry havi it in their pow.. C do the v.-y moment that they will it. The clergy vl no other denomination . are abie to wield over intelligent society an inlluc :9 equal to ours. The General Ac'sembly comprises thi: ..ssembled ministers ot the kingdom, and a gicat ma v mind, taking , advantage of his position in the house \v ite omo greac truths on the hearts of his audience, cars ^ivc i impulse to a principle that is, felt to the very e; -romitios of the ^"t\?"'i 4'*'*' ^^^^ '^^"^ *"* youth, each auditor is an arrow m the huuds of -a mighty man. TJie sentiment and prinei- ^. _ ,„,.u «tv Cunvcyeu. uy each uunioiier tonici respective sphere of labour j and in his hand sentiment Truth must be Planted, 7» er to ills becomes embodied in action. Scattered at duo intervals over all parts of the kintjdom, our ministers are each the centre of a circle peculiarly his own ; they come into con- tact with society at all points, from the highest to the lowest lu the scale of intclligenco ; thev address the people publicly at least once or twice a- week the whole year round, and they go forth to hold private inte -urso with every family at its own fireside ; they take part iu public meetings, presi 'e over the education of the youth, con- tribute to newspipers and magazines, and have access in many other dilTercnt ways, to the intellects and hearts of the people. It is n^iedlosH to Add that this gives us vast mfluence for good or for 'vil. Wo nave it in our power to mould the .^nioions of our own community, and to make deep imprcssio on society beyond. We have only to be unanimous for- .rinciple, and advocate it with enthusi- asm, in order to .asteii that principle very deeply in the intellect of the kirn, lom. There is as much mind in the Presbyterian mini •- at this moment as if wisely directed, cnuld rcvolutioniz.; the re' qious sentiment of the nation! Premising,' those things is obvious we liave only to enl ter vigorously on a new liuc of action, in order to turn the tide of popular feeling completely in favour of Presbyteri- anism. Jt is never to ))e forgotten that, as ministers of the Gospel, there is depo.",ited in our hands a very im- portant tnist. The duties of this trust are best discharged by each man striving to cultivate, to the utmost extent possible, that portion ol the vineyard committed to his in- dividual care. Zeal in ot.h'jr matters can never make up for '.Iciicicucy in this, let o^\t others. Let them redouble, if it be possible to redouble, tlieir attention to the people, and spare na nnina fr» .•'.nrrv f ho vnnstvnrtn i\( \\ia. •*■/» z^^roj.,. * .,»n.J„ t _4. |...i.. . — _. . . gji, IJI I, I., v'j' vrBrj ■ - —-i.\x\:, iJCU them visit the Fnik, comfort them that mourn, instruct the ignorant, sympathize with the poor and opreased, encoura;;e 7» Practical Lessons, tuisaions and lend a helping hand to every acheme that has for Its object the promotion of benevole Jce and W^ue Ix5k them, m everything, s^udy to show themselves an" C?; t"h *' God- workmen tha% need not to be ^ haJS' But let them be assured that they neither serve the Chnrch nor serve themselves, if they do not, by pulpit exposition I in^ff "''"^"/"tr^'"°' ''^^ ^^^i'- ^ff^'-t^ to e .grave deeilv 4 -on the nuu.ls of the people the distinctive principles of the ' Presbyterian system. I am far from saying that the«e - things should bo Muhstituted for the Gospel Jchrist bu? ^ we beheve they form an integral portion o D v"ne 'reve lation. It 13 our duty, as faithful niinisters of Christ to teach them to the people. I do not mean that any denorn^ nation should be systematically assailed in a Wtter aTd unchristian spirit ; but it seems to me that, if a preLher lLf7^Lrr'l *^'T' P^^^^^ only 'whatTe^Sn' Elders palatable to his audience, spare errors that are abroad in the community working much evil, and purposely keep back any portion of the truth for fea^ of bSTro EZ of r^'.'^^Tif"^ uncharitable, he ceases to be^he' minister of God, and becomes the servant of man. So long as we stand separate from the Establishment, it is no leaf ^r interest than our duty to make the Vesbyteriaa people thoroughly acquainted with our reasons ^0?^ t!,? n ^ ""a^ perpetuating a distinct ecclesiastical exi^tTnie Let our dissent rest upon the intelligence, not UDon th^ Ignorance, of the people ; and instantly it becomes ?ationat P°lr7'\\'"*i: ^"^."^ ^""'•^^ "^^•'^ fonnidable than eve? Personal attachment to a minister is a tie too weak to bind f people to the Church ; for death or a remox^fmav s. an itMunder any day. The bonds of custom! kindred an./ -early associanion. though in some instances no werfu enough are not too strong to be broken, as ,.rerience often shows. It remains that we teach our congregations W*\?" * ?""i''Pb'' /r"""S ^ t^ey do, a portion of the lyf w^^'l' '^^" ^^ ^^ *« ^" Clod's people, precious as itold. We shnniri inofm^*^ fK — „_ -/i- V.' F'^^^^ous as M..<^.v...i.^ • • ■" i-"-...,.v vacux pcixumcajiy aa to what Presbyteriamsm is Let each minister do this as m^dly *s he pleases, but let it be done faithfully and fiJmly^ Outy of JVesbyterians. 73 I^t him toi lu turned from his purpose by the murmurB of disaffected parties within, or the clamours of enemies J wj^1;ont, remembering that the patient cries most loudly wL.a th physician probes the sore. Let him leave no I man m doubt that he himself believes the principles of which he is the public representative, and that they are very dear to his heart. Let him take no steps tending to spread the popular error that our distinctive principles are trifles. While careful not to oppose other Christians who aim to advance the glory of God in their own way, he Bhonid neither aid nor encourage persons who systemati- cally repudiate what we report as great and important truths. And let him not fear to be called a bigot, for what 18 a bigot but the bad name which the world gives a man who ventures to have principles and is firm enough, to show through life a consistent attachment to them ? In a word, the aim of all of us should be to make every man who IS a Presbyterian by name a Presbyterian by convio- The lukewarm and odious indifference to Presbyterian principles that in this day meets one everywhere, calls loudly for a remedy of some kind. The best I know is from the textbook of the Divine Word to teach the people rmblicly and privately what Presbyterianisra really is. Had we entered into one vast conspiracy to let our princi- ples die out of the memory of the world, we could not adopt anv course more likely to accomplish our end than never to breath them from the pulpit. But if we wish the people to know and value them, it is very plain we must show that we know and value them ourselves. If we would drive any principles into the popular mind, and make them as "nails fastened by the master ot assem- blies, we must never cease to hammer at them, Senti- merits perpetually falling from the pulpit, the platform, and the press, connot, in the course of nature, for ever fall not a few, but l ley will modify the views even of persons Whose judgements have already attained maturity— they Will fasten with the greatest tenacity on young minds 74 Practical Lessons, u opening to thought-they will spread abroad in ever en- last. The pulpit is the proper sphere for the promulga- through fh^'"''' i*?"*^- ^''^' "«^^« »« effort to%r"ad it th« 3 ^ "^^'l^' ^"^^^ ^« *h« ««eds of nature, carried by maT bit tn,f h /*'' "^'^^^".^ ^*l" ""'^^'-^ «f the hu.band- ''has no „at^,r.l .r^/ ^°f ^°'*^ alone-the human heart 'affec?^trnrm?r J*'""" ^^' it-ignorance and prejudice force to ca?rvTf f h ^* "^.7 '*'Pr^* '•^^^^''^^ ^« impulsive selves but thlfl''"^^ *^? ''°''^^^- ^V««d« gr^^^ of them. theaLlnpV?. ^^^«r/eq">'*es a,l theskilUnd care that boS with^^^^^ ^'r' «P''""<^« ^^"kly inhuman Kd hanTl to ln7 ^f^ ""l """^'^ ' ^""^ *'"th needs some Sioifs truth nf "^t r*"' '*' ^"^ ^«^P it in sunshine. natuSl m?n^ ' ^ I" °*^^'''', P''^«^"t least charms to the Seoted to ^^^r"""?."^ ^^"^ *7^^ ^f *his nature can be ex- without rP^olv- '*' "^^y *'^''""g^ «»«h a world as ours. riow-I oannn^^ ^" •'"'P''"' ^^^"^ *he pulpit. I do not who at thenronL^r '""'"'^T' . ^* ^^ ^^^tain' that a man Ss irincbls and iT-%''"'^ P,'^""' states and illustrates pJLes them hin?..t ^ '^'' ^*^^''''" *^^^<^ ho bolievea and ?erts to Z v?.l ' If f"'*'' '^'^"^^ ^'^ ^^tor, to make con- opinions anV/nT ' ^"*-,^ "i'^" ^'^'^ i« ^»«^» to profess h?s own sincer tv aS' ''^'"* °",*^^^'"' r^i««« doubts as to uiB own sincerity, and never makes one rh,Lr '"''" *° l'^'^^ Presbyterianism the religion oi the Church universal, we must lot tlie world know that wo writ umToTh-l tT''^ f ttaohnu..?;'io i^^^ sWt and I vin^ oL nT^^^ two opinio,,,, clin^uing to one ceae to be a lukewarm a^rid'hv^- 1"""''^^''"' • ^^« should terests. as a d«nnminnti^.. ".,ff - J'"*' ^^ P"^''>'' «"^' >"- hesitation and (r^M\t^'^^' " * ' , ^" ""'' cii«u,nstances, Xivery pulpit wo can command in Call no man Master. 7=f the kingdom should strike instantly on a high Presbyterian tey. If, as a denomination, we would be faithful to the truth of God ; if we would have the people to understand and to love our system; if we would marshal public opinion against renegadism, and hold it up to contumely and scorn ; if we would push our Presbyterianism, and caU the attention of our fellow-Christians to its Scriptur- ahty and its vigour ; if we would have our friends to fol- low, and our enemies to fear us— then we should learn to regard our distinctive principles as our pride and glory and preach and teach them, till the people know them like the alphabet, and an unwilling world compelled to hsten. The Church that forgets to assert and teach her peculiar principles lives in such a world as this only by suflferance ; her own children are cold to her ; and, when she sinks to dust, she shall have few to lament her fall, But the Church that thunders its opinions in the ears of mankind, and which neither force nor flattery can silence, IS a Church that M'ill have many bitter enemies, and many warm friends -it will have many to hate, but it will have some to love, and some to die for it— it may be everywhere spoken against, but faithful to tho truth of God, it will have saints and martyrs, and, in due time bring the world to its feet. A word, in conclusion, to the Presbyterian people. This little book is sent to the world principally on your account, that you may know the Scriptural grounds on which the Presbyterian form of Church Government rests, and how its claims to apostolicity are so far superior to those of any rival system. I, at first, ojigaged in the study of the subject for my own personal profit and satisfaction, it afterwards occurred to me that a line of argument, which to me seems so clear and convincing, might be servicable to others, who are anxious, as I was, to know the mind of Christ on this much controverted subject. I entered on the investigation wit'i considerable misgivings, lest it ment with which I am connected is not divine in its origin. These misgivings were mainly produced by the plausible- 76 Practical Lessons. representations and confident assertions of Independent writers j and I do acknowledge that, had I given ear to their bravadoes, without consulting the Scriptures for my- self, I must have ceased to be a Presbyterian. But with me It has ever been a principle to call no man master, and to take my opinions on religious matter from the Word of Ood alone. 1 sought light from the Fountain of Light. I f Hi ir® guidance of the Divins Spirit. I went directly to the VVord of God, compared one passage with another and endeavoured to arrive at apostolic principles. I brought the existing systems of Church Government into juxtaposition with the Bible, and examined them in the light that shines from the Lamp of God. Lest any im- portant passage of Scripture, or any weighty argument might escape my notice, I read some of the most plausible attacks ever made on Presbytery, and I have studied Prelacy and Independency as presented in the pages of the very ablest of their advocates. The result is, that I am persuaded prelacy is a human system altogether— from top to bottom a fabric constructed by men. I txA satisfied Wat Independency, m so far as it differs from Presbyter- lanism, IS not so erroneous as it \? defective ; and that it stands in need or some one to " set in order the things that are wanting. I am, also, fully convinced that the Pres- byterian form of Church Government approaches more closely than any other to that which existed in the Apos- tolic Church. To dp full justice to all the arguments that n>ight be advanced in favour of this system of ecclesiasti- cal polity, would require a large book ; but, as large books are often written but seldom read, I thought it better to ^o directlv to the root of the matter, present you with the Scriptural view of the subject, and enable you to judge for yourselves. I have throughout studied to be brief, that you may have time to read, and plain that the very humblest of you may understand. \ have purposely shunned all elaborate discussion and intri.nfA ar"urn««f« tion, ana nave tried to present you with facts Irom the Word of God bearing on the case-leading the reader by the hand to that pure fountain, and permitting him to Call no ma?i Master, IT dependent van ear to es for my- But with icuiter, and e Word of Light. I it directly ii another, iciples. I iment into lem in the t any im< argument b plausible e studied ges of the that I am her — from u satisfied Presbyter- ad that it hings that the Pres- :he8 more the Apos- nents that cclesiasti- irge books better to 1 with the to judge be brief, b the very ptirposely from the reader by ig him to draw water for himself. I now invite you to view in all its parts the evidence here submitted ; examine if I have misquoted a text, falsified a fact, distorted a testimony, or taken the Scriptures in any other than their plain and natural sense ; put the reasoning here presented to the very severest test that in fairness and honesty you can ^'Pply ; give the statements of the Divine Word the weight to which they are justly entitled, and I am confident you will come to think with me that all the apostolic principles of ecclesiastical governmeat are found in the Presbyterian Church alone. It is something to you, surely, to have good reasons for knowing that 1 hat Church, with whose^ ordinances the thoughts of your childhood are entwined— within whose temples beloved friends, now in heaven, learned the way of salvation, and were taught the way of life — and whose psalms and services are fragrant with the memory of martyrs, is, in its government, no less than its doctrine and worship, founded on, and agreeable to, the Word of God. Satisfied of this, it is your duty through life to give it a cordial and consistent support, to attend upon its sanctuaries, receive its lessons, and take your part in the various departments of usefulness which it presents. There is such a thing as being a Presbyturian without being a Christian, as it is possible to be a Christian witlioilt being a Presbyterian. Depend upon it,"^it is best to be both. Make the atonement of Christ the refn^'e of your souls ; hold fast by every truth of God's Word, small and great ; lend no encouragement to opposing errors ;. take no pains to conceal your attachment to Presbyterian principles ; and strive to do honour to the system with which you claim connexion, by your love to Christ, by an upright and consistent life, and by earnest endeavou)s on yotir part to deserve the character which distinguisned the- saints of God in other and better da^a— *'» peculiar people, zealous of good works.'' ►^••J ,'/,? LIST OF BOOKS Published and for sale by JAMES BAIN & SON. KiNc; St. East, Toronto. The New Testament Elder,-Hia otfice. Powers ^ ^ aud Dutiiis, l>y Prof. T. VVitherow. . . . ].5as scriptural Baptism, Its Modes and Subjects, bv I'loi. T . Wirlierow , 15 ft^ Constitution & Procedure of the Presbyterian Church m Canada, ])ai.er covers, 85 cts Thomson^s^ (Dr. Andrew) Sacramenta^ Cate- New Year's Addresses" to the young, by Vev! Dr. I opp, Ihino., cloth '75 ^,^.^ Confession of Faith (Westminster) l2mo:. dotli Shorter Catechism of Westminster ■Assemblvtf SLr.*.^rrn * "^u^ ^^rwtuve. proofs. .25 cts. i>er doz. bhorter Catechism,— For young cliiidren, by Rev J..hn Brow 20 cts. per doz.'. Paterson s Concise Fystem of Theology, O a the JjMis of the Shorter Catechism c, . ,■■ • ISnio. , cloth, 50 cts Scriptural Form of Church Government, by Kev.' «^. O. .Stewart, 12mo. cloth jjjd qQ "^"ckllf^ Presbyterian Church in Canada, £?«4.^ • v??T With Psalms and Paraphrases .' Mi lu. Scottish Hymnal. U. P, Hymnal, Psalm Books. A,, T> , ■'='*C' Etc., Various Prices .-xMj ^uuu uuxiwa net; to any part uf Canatia on receii)t of priee. ^'.