blessed hope and the glorious appearing of their common God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

John 13:34. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Titus 3:3-5. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

CHAPTER II.

GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH.

53.

SECTION I.

Of church government in general.

What is meant by government?

Government, in its general meaning, signifies direction, regulation, or control. In reference to any particular state or nation, government signifies, that system of fundamental rules and principles to which it is subject.

54. Has the christian church, in its visible form, any system of government peculiar to itself?

Yes, the christian church, being a spiritual kingdom, whose only King, Head, and Governor is the Lord Jesus Christ, has a system of laws enjoined by Him, and by which alone it is, and of right ought to be, governed; and has therefore an inherent power of selfregulation and direction.

Isa. 9:6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Col. 1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. Eph. 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Matt. 23:8-10. But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ. See also John 18:36. Luke 12:14. John 6:15, and 8:15. Rom. 14:17. Col. 1:13.

55. In what respects is the church exclusively the kingdom of Christ?

The church is exclusively the kingdom of Christ, because it is based upon his institution; subject to his authority; regulated by his laws; animated by his spirit; devoted to his honor; blessed by his presence; and protected by his power, as head over all things to his church.

56. Where, then, is that system of laws to be found by which the church is to be governed?

In the word of God; the only infallible rule of christian faith and practice.

Isa. 8:20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Rev. 22:18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues which are in this book. Heb. 8:5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle for see (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

57. Why is such a form of government necessary to the church?

Because the christian church is a society, and no society can exist without laws and order; and because the church, having no civil power, or authority, requires a spiritual authority sufficient to preserve order, censure the disobedient, expel the rebellious, and encourage and sustain the pious.

Heb. 13:17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Isa. 33:20, 23. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken; for the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us.

58. From whence is this authority of the church derived?

The power of the church is derived from God the

Father; bestowed through the mediator, Christ Jesus; conferred by Christ; and to be exercised by those officers to whom Christ has committed the spiritual government of his church.

59. What is meant by the divine right of church government ?

By the divine right of church government, we are taught, that it is not the result of human prudence, but sanctioned by divine approbation, established by divine acts, and enforced by divine precepts.

60. In what sense do Romanists and high-church prelatists hold this opinion?

The Romanists and high-church prelatists hold, that a particular form of church government is not only appointed by God, but is so essential to the existence of the church, that there can be no true church without it.

61. Do any presbyterians maintain this kind of divine right, with respect to their form of church government? No, there are no presbyterians guilty of this extrav

agance.

62. In what sense do presbyterians hold the divine right of their system of government?

They maintain, that a particular form of church government, in its essential principles, was appointed by the authority of Christ; and that it is the duty of all churches to adopt this form; but they do not believe that the whole platform of government is laid down in detail in the word of God, nor that differences in such ecclesiastical arrangements merely, will destroy, or essentially vitiate, the character of a church.

63. Have different forms of church government been adopted by different churches of professing christians? Yes, there have been several different forms of church government adopted by different denominations of prossing christians.

64.

SECTION II.

Of the presbyterian form of church government

What form of church government do you believe to be most agreeable to the word of God, and therefore to be most properly entitled to the claim of divine right? That plan of church government which is denominated presbyterianism.

65. What is the origin of the word presbyterianism? The word is taken from scripture, in which the ministers of the church are called presbyters or elders.

Acts 14:23. And when they had ordained them elders (that is, presbyters) in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 1 Tim. 4:14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

66. Were there in the times of the apostles, churches which were called by different names, and which yet claimed to be the true churches of Christ, such as the episcopalian church, the Roman catholic church, &c.?

No, we read of no such names in scripture.

67. By what name, then, were believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, at that time, called?

Believers were at first called disciples, and afterwards christians, and their churches after the place in which they were located.

68. When were these various names, by which the church is now distinguished, introduced?

They were introduced at various times, as different opinions arose on the subjects to which these names refer.

69. Why was the term presbyterian applied to those by whom it is now received?

When those scriptural principles on which the equality of ministers, and the government of the church by presbyters depend, were subverted or denied, this name was adopted to hold forth the attachment of those who embraced it, to that form of church government, and to