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CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
CHURCH POLITY defined. How regarded under the Mosaic Dis-
pensation-On the introduction of Christianity. Simplicity of
order, the distinctive peculiarity of the first Christian churches,
page 1. The estimation of this subject by the Reformers of the
16th century. Impediment to a thorough reform of the polity of
the church, in those days, 2. The subject not much attended to,
until the latter part of the 16th or the early part of the 17th centu-
ry, 3. The interest felt by the Puritans; especially by the fathers
of New England, 4. Present indifference among Congregational-
ists. Causes: I. Anxiety to promote the union of different de-
nominations in benevolent enterprises, 4. No denominational or-
ganizations to promote Congregationalism, 6. II. Influence of
Theological Seminaries, 7. III. A false, but prevalent impression,
that it is unnecessary to make direct efforts to promote Congrega-
tional views, 8. IV. The dearth of books upon the subject, 8.
Note, Proposed history of the denomination, 10.
PART I.
PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.
A distinction made between principles and doctrines, page 11.
Congregationalism defined, 12. * Principles of the system: I. The
Scriptures are the only infallible guide to church order and discip-
line, 13. Necessity of this. Note, Dr. Campbell's admission, 14.
Consequences of denying this principle, 15. The character of the
apostolic churches explains the New Testament meaning of the
word Church, 16. Constitution of the Christian church designed
to be permanently the same, 17. The objections, that our circum-
stances are unlike those of the primitive Christians; and, that the
present prosperous state of the church, requires a more attractive
exterior, answered, 17-19. Congregationalists thorough Protes-
tants, 20.
II. A church is a voluntary association of professing Christians,
united by covenant, for the worship of God and the celebration of re-
ligious ordinances, 21. Correctness of this principle proved from
the Scriptures, 22-27.
III. A church should ordinarily consist of only so many as can
conveniently assemble together, 28. Scripture testimony upon this
point. Provincial churches unknown to the apostles, 29. Mil-
ner's objection, founded on the supposed numbers in some of the
primitive churches, answered, 30, 31. Slater's representations,
corrected, 31-36. Episcopalian admissions, 36. Inference from
these admitted facts, 37.
IV. All ecclesiastical power in those who compose the church, 37.
Scripture testimony. Elections of officers by apostolic churches,
38. Discipline of erring members, 39, 40. Christ's directions,
Matt. 18: 15-18. Congregationalists, alone, can follow these di-
rections, 41, 42. Note, Dr. Campbell's remark on "a church
representative," 43.
PART II.
DOCTRINES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.
I. There are but two orders of church officers, Elders and Deacons,
page 45. Other helpers in the apostolic churches, 46. Inspiration
essential to them. Deaconesses, 47, 48. Elders, what? 49. Note,
on the word" ordained" (700Tongartes) Acts 14:21-23, pp. 49,
50. Why the primitive churches had a plurality of elders, 51.
Elders, the same as pastors, overseers and bishops-Proof, 52-54.
The term Elder, why applied to Christian teachers, 54. Why
called pastors, 55. Admissions of Bloomfield and Waddington.
John Owen's remarks, 56. Dr. Campbell's remarks, 57. Dea-
cons, original appointment of, design-à permanent office, 57-61.
Ruling elders, what? Their office work described, 57. Objec
tions considered, 62-68. Scripture testimony to the correctness
of our views, 68, 69.
Il. There should be an entire ecclesiastical equality among Chris-
tian ministers, 70. Gradations, how introduced into the ministry,
71. Views of the English reformers upon this subject, 72, note.
III. Councils have no authority over the churches, 72. Consocia-
tional form considered and objected to, 74. Testimony of Eccle-
siastical History against it, 75-78.
IV. The churches accountable to each other, 78. Communion of
churches, how exercised, 79. Note, illustrating the fellowship of
the New England churches previous to 1648, p. 79. Concluding
remarks. Why the fathers of New England loved Congregation-
alism, 81. A spiritual system, 83.
PART III.
TESTIMONY OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY TO THE CONGRE-
GATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE APOSTOLIC AND PRIMITIVE
CHURCHES.
This testimony corroborates our interpretation of the Scriptures, page 85. Mosheim's testimony. The supreme power in the peo-
ple, 86. The apostles acknowledged this. The people chose their
own rulers and teachers. Rejected or confirmed laws. Disci-
plined offenders. Decided controversies. Determined the causes
of presbyters and deacons. Exercised supreme power, 87. Iden-
tity of presbyters, elders, and bishops. Distinction between teach-
ing and ruling elders, doubtful, 88. A bishop had charge of a sin-
gle congregation only, during the 1st and 2d centuries. Admis-
sions of Waddington, 89. How the character of a bishop was
changed. City bishops usurped authority over country bishops.
Notes, Bloomfield's explanation. Dr. Campbell on the indepen-
dency of the early Christian churches, 90. Mosheim, on the same
topic. All churches on an equality, 91. Deflection of the
churches in the 3d century. Clergy corrupted. Minor orders
added. These explained, 93. Philosophers corrupt the faith, and
princes etc. the order of the church. Influence of Constantine.
Assumes the supreme power over the church. Bishops encroach
upon the people, 94. Church and state accommodated to each
other, and united. Ecclesiastical nobles created, 95. Corrupt
state of the church. Blood-shed and house-burning by rival par-
ties for the bishopric of Rome. Choice of their bishops taken from
the people, 96.
TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS. Previous representa-
tions respecting the general order, etc. of the apostolic churches
corroborated. Clement, of Rome (A. D. 64–70), pp. 97-102.
Testimony of Polycarp (A. D. 108-Ì17), p. 102. Ignatius (A. D.
116). His Epistles corrupted and interpolated. Reliance on these
by Episcopalians to prove the existence of three orders in the min-
istry, 105. His testimony favors Congregational views in several
particulars, 106-110. Justin Martyr (A. D. 150). Dr. J. Owen's
remarks, 111. Tertullian (A. D. 200). Cyprian (A. D. 250). Dr.
Owen's proposition, viz. that for 200 years A. C. no other kind
of churches existed but Congregational, 103. Character, etc. of
Owen. Dr. Campbell's confirmation of Owen's opinion, 114.
Dr. Chauncy's collection of ecclesiastical witnesses in favor of
Congregationalism, note, 115.
PART IV.
ECCLESIASTICAL PRACTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
1. Organization of Churches. Number necessary, note, page 117.
II. Choice and consecration of church officers, 119. Choice of a
pastor. Trial. Call. Acceptance. Ordaining council, 120. Pro-
ceedings of council. Every pastor should be a member of his own
church, note, p. 121. Order of ordination services. Usages of
Congregational churches in Great Britain differ somewhat from
ours, note. Installation, 122. Imposing hands, early New England
practice, note. Choice and consecration of deacons. Ordination
of. Why neighboring churches not invited to assist, note, p. 123.
III. The church assembled for business, 124. Pastor moderator.
Clerk, 125. Majority decide all questions. Practice in Great
Britain, note, p. 126.
IV. Admission of Members. Candidates give a public relation of
religious experience. Diversity of practice, note, p. 127. Pro-
pounding. Admission, 128.
V. Dismission of members. No dismissions without recommend-
ations. Letters of introduction, note, p. 129. No private ways in
or out of our churches, 130.
How effected. Duty of pastor.
of disagreement about the matter
Practice of English and Scotch
VI. Dismission of a pastor.
Church. Council, 131. In case
between church and pastor, 132.
Congregationalists, note, p. 133.
VII. Church discipline. Importance of it, 133. Rule, Matt. 18:
15-18, explained, 134. Shall private steps be always taken?
135 and note. Final action of the church. Restoration of an ex-
communicated person. What are disciplinary offences? 136.
Christian watchfulness a duty, 137.
VIII. Discipline of pastors. In the hands of the church, 137.
Councils usually called. Mutual or ex parte. Doctrine of Cam-
bridge Platform. Reason for councils, 138.
IX. Who shall complain of offenders? If private, the first to whom
the offence is known. If public, one of the deacons, or other ex-
perienced person. Every church member bound to see that the
regular course is taken, 140. Discipline should not be hurried, 141.
X. Discipline of sister churches. Congregational churches mem-
bers of one family-Acknowledge their accountability to each
other. Doctrine of Cambridge Platform, 141. Procedure in the
discipline of an erring sister church, 142. Claim no power to dis-
band erring churches. Withdraw fellowship after the regular steps
have been taken without success, 143.
XI. Minor points on which Congregationalists differ among them-
selves. E. g. Raising the salaries of their pastors. By tax on prop-
erty or pews, by weekly contributions, or yearly subscriptions, etc.
etc. All Congregational pastors have a stipulated salary. This
usually very small, 144. Comparison between the fathers and the
children, on this point. Permanency of the pastoral relation,
rather theoretical, than practical, of late. Signs of better times,
145. Reasons for dwelling so long upon the ecclesiastical usages
of our churches. The system cannot be estimated properly by a
knowledge of its theory alone. Authorities for the preceding de-
tail. Other sources of information pointed out, note. Concluding
remarks upon this Part, 146, 147.
PART V.
ADVANTAGES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.
1. It is the most scriptural system of church government. All governments classed as monarchical, aristocratical, or democrati-
cal, page 150. Episcopacy, monarchical; Presbyterianism, aristo-
cratical; Congregationalism, democratical. Episcopacy, Romish,
compared with Congregationalism. Church of England compared,
150. Its form, expensiveness, etc. 152. American Episcopacy,
identical with the English, 153. Order and government of, 154.
Points of difference between American Episcopacy and Congrega-
tionalism. Mistake of bishop Hobart, 155. Methodist Episcopal
Church compared, 158. Its organization, etc. 159. Anti-republi-
can. The people excluded from the government of. J. Wesley's
remark-Watson's. The system instituted by Mr. Wesley, 161.
Method of disciplining erring members, 162. Presbyterianism
considered, and compared with Congregationalism. Points of re
semblance, 164. Of difference. Provincial or national character
of Presbyterianism. The church session, 165. Presbytery. Sy-
nod. General Assembly, 166. Other denominations classed, 167.
Concluding remarks upon this head, 168.
11. Congregationalism encourages self-government, beyond any
other system, 169. Supposed republican tendency of the system,
the reason why its friends have been so persecuted. First civil
act of the Plymouth fathers, republican in its character, 170. In-
fluence on the civil institutions of New England. Report of En-
glish commissioners, 1664. Number of Congregationalists in New
England in 1760, p. 171. Note, Mr. Jefferson's opinion. London
Quarterly Review, on the connection between monarchy and Epis-
copacy, 172.
III. This system promotes intelligence, beyond any other. Intelli-
gence indispensable to Congregationalism. Note, views of a cor-
respondent. R. Watson's fears of a democracy in the government
of a church, 174. Influence of this system in establishing schools
and colleges, etc. 175.
IV. It furnishes an efficient barrier against heresy and general
corruption, 176. Independency of the churches, a barrier against
general corruption. The election of pastors by the churches, a
protection from heresy and corruption, 178. The accountability
of pastors to the churches, another protection, 179. The objection,
that there are, and have been, errors, etc. in Congregational church-
es, considered. No system exempt from liabilities to error, etc. 179.
Corruption of Romanism. Arminianism and tendency towards
Popery in the English Episcopal Church. Something of the same
in the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. Arianism and
Unitarianism, etc. among Presbyterians, 180. Conclusion. Pres-
ident Oaks's commendation of Congregationalism."
APPENDIX.
No. 1. A Letter Missive from persons wishing to be organized
into a Congregational church, page 185.
No. 2. Call from a church to a pastor elect, 185.
No. 3. Letter Missive from a Congregational church to a neigh-
boring church, to attend the ordination of a pastor, 187.
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