The church, like the family and the state, is an institution of divine appointment. B. The church, unlike the family and the state, is a voluntary society. II. Organization of the Church. 1. The fact of organization. 2. The nature of this organization. 3. The genesis of this organization. III. Government of the Church. 1. Nature of this government in general. A. Proof that the government of the church is democratic or congregational. B. Erroneous views as to church government refuted by the foregoing passages. 2. Officers of the Church. A. The number of offices in the church is two:—first, the office of bishop, presbyter, or pastor; and, secondly, the office of deacon. B. The duties belonging to these offices. C. Ordination of officers. (a) What is ordination? (b) Who are to ordain? 3. Discipline of the Church. IV. Relation of Local Churches to one another. 1. The general nature of this relation is that of fellowship between equals. 2. This fellowship involves the duty of special consultation with regard to matters affecting the common interest. 3. This fellowship may be broken by manifest departures from the faith or practice of the Scriptures, on the part of any church. Chapter II. The Ordinances Of The Church. I. Baptism. 1. Baptism an Ordinance of Christ. 2. The Mode of Baptism. A. The command to baptize is a command to immerse. B. No church has the right to modify or dispense with this command of Christ. 3. The Symbolism of Baptism. A. Expansion of this statement as to the symbolism of baptism. B. Inferences from the passages referred to. 4. The Subjects of Baptism. A. Proof that only persons giving evidence of being regenerated are proper subjects of baptism. B. Inferences from the fact that only persons giving evidence of being regenerate are proper subjects of baptism. C. Infant Baptism. (a) Infant baptism is without warrant, either express or implied, in the Scripture. (b) Infant baptism is expressly contradicted. (c) The rise of infant baptism in the history of the church. (d) The reasoning by which it is supported is unscriptural, unsound, and dangerous in its tendency. (e) The lack of agreement among pedobaptists. (f) The evil effects of infant baptism. II. The Lord’s Supper. 1. The Lord’s Supper an ordinance instituted by Christ. 2. The Mode of administering the Lord’s Supper. 3. The Symbolism of the Lord’s Supper.