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
V. Finally, and primarily, by divine precepts, whatsoever in matters of
religion is commanded or forbidden by God in his word, that is
accordingly a duty or sin, by divine right: as, the duties of the whole
moral law, the ten words, commanded of God, Exod. xx.; Deut. v.
Believing in Christ, commanded of God, 1 John iii. 23. The plentiful and
honorable maintenance of ministers, commanded of God, 1 Tim. v. 17, 18;
1 Cor. ix. 9-11, 13, 14; Gal. vi. 6. The people's esteeming, loving, and
obeying their pastors and teachers, commanded of God, 1 Thess. v. 12;
Heb. xiii. 7, 17. Ministers' diligence and faithfulness, in feeding and
watching over their flocks, commanded of God, Acts xx. 28; 2 Tim. iv.
1-3; 1 Pet. iv. 1-3; with innumerable commands and precepts of all
sorts: now all things so commanded are evidently of divine right, and
without gainsaying, granted on all hands, even by Erastians themselves.
But the question will be, how far we shall extend this head of _divine
commands_. For clearness' sake, thus distinguish, thus resolve:
God's commands are either immediate or mediate.
1. Immediate divine commands: as those which God propounds and urges; as
the ten commandments, Exod. xx., Deut. v., and all other injunctions of
his in his word positively laid down. Of such commands, the apostle
saith, "I command, yet not I, but the Lord," 1 Cor. vii. 10.
Now these immediate commands of God, in regard of their manner of
publishing and propounding, are either explicit or implicit.
1. Explicit: which are expressly and in plain terms laid down, as the
letter of the commandments of the decalogue, Exod. xx. The commands of
Christ, "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep," John xxi.; "Go, disciple ye all
nations," &c., Matt, xxviii. 19; "Do this in remembrance of me," Matt,
xxvi; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, &c. Now whatsoever is expressly commanded of
God in plain, evident terms, that is of divine right, without all color
of controversy. Only take this caution, the divine right of things
enjoined by God's express command, is to be interpreted according to the
nature of the thing commanded, and the end or scope of the Lord in
commanding: e.g. 1. Some things God commands morally, to be of perpetual
use; as to honor father and mother, &c.; these are of divine right
forever. 2. Some things he commands but positively, to be of use for a
certain season; as the ceremonial administrations till Christ should
come, for the Jewish church, and the judicial observances for their
Jewish polity; and all these positive laws were of divine right till
Christ abrogated them. 3. Some things he commands only by way of trial,
not with intention that the things commanded should be done, but that
his people's fear, love, and obedience may be proved, tried, &c. Thus
God commanded Abraham to offer up his son Isaac for a burnt-offering,
Gen. xxii.: such things are of divine right only in such cases of
special infallible command. 4. Some things he commands extraordinarily
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