AS DEFINED BY THE CHURCH COURTS? EIGHTH EDITION. REVISED AND ENLARGED. CONTAINING THE DECISIONS OF THE GENERAL AS- BY THE REV. J. ASPINWALL HODGE, D. D. PHILADELPHIA: AND SABBATH-SCHOOL WORK. 1914. COPYRIGHT, 1882, 1884, 1899, BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. Published March, 1882. Reprinted September, 1882; May, 1884; April, 1886; December, 1887; Pres H688w 1914 cop. 1 THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY CAMBRIDGE, MASS. PREFACE. THROUGHOUT my ministry of twenty-five years I have experienced the need of ready and authoritative answers to questions which constantly arise in Church work. As a young man, fresh from the seminary, I was embarrassed when suddenly made "the chief ruler," the Moderator of the Session. I was practically ignorant of its high duties, and was tempted to neglect them under the new and absorbing pressure of pulpit preparation. Questions of government and discipline were presented, and my opinions and the theories urged by others were useless. I needed to know how the Church had defined its constitution and applied its laws, and was thus led to record the interpretations and decisions of our highest judicatory. I soon found that Elders and Deacons, unexpectedly called to their responsible offices, gave their solemn assent to the constitution often after a very cursory reading, and were necessarily perplexed as to their duties. Candidates were frequently ordained when found "apt to teach," but unprepared "to rule" and "to take care of the Church of God." Communicants needed instruction as to the distinctive principles of Presbyterianism, their own privileges and work in the Church and their relation to other denominations of Christians. To meet these needs in my own congregation, I formed a class on Church Polity, and prepared questions on our "Form of Government" to help the members in their study. The interest excited and the good accomplished convinced me that all the officers and members of our churches would be greatly helped by authoritative answers to such questions. In this book I attempt to aid them, presenting, not my own views nor the theories of others, but PRESBYTERIAN LAW AS DEFINED BY THE CHURCH COURTS. Sound doctrine, the efficiency of officers, Christian activity and the maintenance of fellowship with other branches of Christ's Church, all depend very much upon a correct appreciation and proper use of our scriptural form of government; the principles of which have been developed and illustrated under both the Old and New Dispensations of the Church of God. Sabbath-school classes in Church Polity therefore would be a lasting spiritual edification to the whole. Church; and more practical instruction in the theological seminaries and thorough examinations before Presbytery would secure a ministry better fitted to teach and to rule. The real unity of the Church, as well as denominational courtesy, requires the recognition of the ministry, ordinances and discipline of other branches of the Christian Church. Christ brings all his worshipers into frequent ecclesiastical and personal relations for mutual improvement, and in anticipation of the perfect communion to be enjoyed hereafter. I have therefore stated the principal peculiarities of other churches, as far as possible, in the words of their acknowledged standards. I trust that this book may help to make us more loyal and efficient as Presbyterians, and more sympathetic with the whole body of Christ. J. ASPINWALL HODGE. HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, } |
