The Divine Right of Church Government: Wherein it is proved that the Presbyterian government, by preaching and ruling elders, in sessional, Presbyterial and synodical assemblies, may lay the only lawful claim to a divine right, according to the Holy Scriptures
Religion
The Divine Right of Church Government: Wherein it is proved that the Presbyterian government, by preaching and ruling elders, in sessional, Presbyterial and synodical assemblies, may lay the only lawful claim to a divine right, according to the Holy Scriptures
Presbyterian Church -- Government
1. The former of these, viz. That every one of these was one church,
may be proved by induction of particulars. 1. All the believers in
Jerusalem were one church; hence they are often comprised under the word
church, of the singular number:--"Against the church which was at
Jerusalem," Acts viii. 1. "Then tidings of these things came unto the
ears of the church which was in Jerusalem," Acts ii. 22. "And when they
were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the
apostles and elders," Acts xv. 4. 2. All the believers in Antioch were
one church. "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain
prophets," Acts xiii. 1. "And when he had found him, he brought him to
Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch," Acts xi. 26. 3. All the
believers in Ephesus were one church: "And from Miletus he sent to
Ephesus, and called the elders of the church," Acts xx. 17. And after he
gives them this charge, "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all
the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God," ver. 28; all were but _one flock, one church_. "Unto
the angel of the church of Ephesus, write," Rev. ii. 1. 4. All the
believers in Corinth were one church, and comprised under that singular
word, church: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth," 1 Cor. i. 2.
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy our
brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth," 2 Cor. i. 1. Thus
in all these four instances it is clear beyond all contradiction, that
they were every of them respectively one church.
The latter of these, viz. that these primitive apostolical churches of
Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, and Corinth, were not every of them
severally and respectively only one single congregation, (as some
imagine,) but consisted every of them of more congregations than one.
This shall be manifested in these four churches severally, as followeth:
The church of Jerusalem in Judea contained in it more congregations than
one. This may be convincingly evidenced divers ways, particularly from,
1. The multitude of believers in that church. 2. The multitude of church
officers there. 3. The variety of languages there. 4. The manner of the
Christians' public meetings in those primitive times, both in the church
of Jerusalem, and in other churches.
1. From the multitude of believers in the church of Jerusalem. For it is
palpably evident to any impartial reader that will not wilfully shut his
eyes, and subject his reason unto the groundless dictates of men,
against the clear light of the Scripture, that there were more believers
in the church of Jerusalem, than could ordinarily meet in one
congregation, to partake of all the ordinances of Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account