something more perfect, more sufficient, and more scriptural than they. One of the great truths brought up by the Reformation was individual responsibility and individual energy. The great ecclesiastical aggregate of ages was broken up, and each man made to feel his own importance and power. Then came the question, How are these individualities to be regulated and brought into harmonious action? What government is best for such a new state of things? What government, or principles for the construction of a government, are to be found in the New Testament? Different answers were given, and the results of these still remain impressed upon the different Protestant Churches of the world. Rome has retained its ancient method of ruling the irresponsible aggregate for which she thinks and believes and performs religion; but for men beginning to exercise the birthright of individual responsibility, something less despotic was necessary. Consciences were alive, and living consciences were not to be pressed down and crushed by mere weight and power. England answered the question in one way, Germany in another, Switzerland and Scotland in another. The object of the present volume is to investigate this great question, for great assuredly it is. The results of the author's investigations are now before the public. Let them be calmly studied. The subject has not been discussed superficially, but minutely and carefully, with learning and ability. The whole question has been most thoroughly gone into, yet without diffusiveness or irrelevant expansion. The volume is one specially for our students and for the members of our churches, that they may know why they are Presbyterians, and that they may be able to give a scriptural and intelligent reason to others for their adherence to the ecclesiastical government which John Knox reared, Andrew Melville consolidated, and Samuel Rutherford defended. HORATIUS BONAR. EDINBURGH, January 1872. OUTLINE OF CONTENTS.* The Kingdom.-The Monarch-Universal Sway-The Community. To be studied before each part or chapter is read. Answers to questions, afterwards to The visible Church subject solely to the Reason insufficient, being defective as fallen, and that defect having been supplied by God-Revelation disclosing truths unknown and absolutely neces- sary-Reason's office to test evidence of that gift-It must then give place to This statute-book perfect, decisive, com- plete Ministerial interpretations to impart Christ's teachings-The use of Bestowed for guidance, the Bible contains, The supreme end of the Church-Three- Existence of the office indisputable- 56 60 CHAPTER XV. THE GOSPEL MINISTRY. The promised gift of pastors bestowed, § 1. Communication of the office.-Aaron and the Levites - Where no distinct office, the duty left to all-The typical and ritualistic finished-A special mi- nisterial office bestowed on the Chris- tian Church, as foretold- From the Three-One Jehovah the ministry is §2. Specific titles. - Pastors, teachers, ministers, preachers, ambassadors, stewards, elders, labourers, &c.-Clearly 3. Qualifications. - Ability to reason and exhort, expound, and apply, as tested and approved-Feeling own in- § 4. Duties. Neglecting not-Publicly to preach-Administering sealing ordi- nances-Caring for the flock, by edify- ing doctrine-Being wholly devoted, § 5. Obligations of the people.-To know and esteem their pastors, obeying, en- couraging, and making suitable tem- § 6. Perpetual transmission of the office § 7. Special promises.-Divine presence, protecting, assisting, confirming, sym- The strength of the argument - An- PASTORS ARE ELDERS OR BISHOPS. Variously described, but bishop and pres- byter one office-Never spoken of as distinct offices-Terms interchangeably used Three positions, describing (1.) A plurality in every church-(2.) The labour divided-Pastors both taught and ruled-Elders who chiefly ruled, The eighth principle, 3. Ordination completes the title to office-(a) An apostle, (b) The deacons, (c) Barnabas and Saul, (d) The elders, (e) Timothy-In three cases, imposi- tion of hands-In four, a special ser- vice of prayer-The titles ordination,' by the presbytery,' scriptural-What ordination is-The duty of the elder- Imposition of hands, its meaning-A sign, no spiritual efficacy in itself-De- pendence on God for that blessing 87 90 |