Scarcity of books on the subject.

known to their posterity;* and if known, are not now well adapted to general circulation.

Within a few years, it is true, several valuable works bearing upon this subject, have been published; among which may be named: Dr. Hawes' "Tribute to the Pilgrims," Mr. Bacon's "Church Manual," Prof. Pond's work "The Church," Mr. Mitchell's "Guide," and above all, Prof. Upham's "Ratio Disciplinae." These have found many readers; and have, doubtless, done much to awaken an interest in our excellent system of church government. Still, it may with truth be said, that our denomination is but partially supplied with the needful reading upon this subject. And this fact, while it is an

*To test the truth of these remarks, let any one set himself to buy or borrow almost any of the standard works of the English or American Congregational fathers. Let him begin at our bookstores, and inquire for the writings of John Robinson, or William Ames, or Joseph Caryl, or Thomas Goodwin, or John Owen, or John Cotton, or Thomas Hooker, or Increase Mather, or Samuel Mather; and what will be the result? My own experience leads me to doubt whether a copy of any of the above works, with a single exception, can be found in a bookstore in New England. Go next to the libraries of our Congregational pastors, and the inquiry will be nearly as fruitless. Next examine our public libraries. Begin at Andover, the oldest Theological Seminary in the country-and search for J. Robinson's works, or T. Hooker's, J. Cotton's, I. Mather's, or Samuel Mather's-the fathers of New England Congregationalism, and you will spend your strength for naught. At Cambridge, or in the Boston Atheneum you may find single copies of some of these valuable works—“ rari aves”—in some dark corner.

While this scarcity of standard works on Congregationalism prevails, Hooker's "Ecclesiastical Polity" and Slater's "Original Draught"-the Atlases of Episcopacy—will meet you at every

turn.

Scarcity of books on the subject.

evidence of the apathy of our churches, may also be regarded as a cause of this undesirable state of things.

To whatever causes this indifference respecting our simple and scriptural church polity may be attributed, the existence of this indifference will not be denied by any one conversant with our churches.

While the general design of this little work is the same with those just named, the plan of it, the selection of topics, and the method of treating them, will be found very unlike either of its predecessors. It is strictly—a treatise on Church Polity.*

* It was a part of the original plan of this work, to present a succinct History of the denomination, with a view of its present state in different parts of the world. Considerable progress has been made in the execution of this design. But the unexpected increase of materials for the History; the unavoidable delay in the collection of statistics by means of correspondence; the difficulty of availing myself of some important helps in this work; and above all, the recent announcement of an English work on the Antiquities of Congregational churches in Great Britain, which may render important aid in this undertaking, and the opinion of several esteemed friends and correspondents that a small work upon Church Polity for general circulation was still a desideratum-have induced me to divide the work, and to publish the following sheets, while I delay, for a while, the publication of what is in readiness of the History of Congregationalism.

PART I.

PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.

OUR attention is to be directed, in the first place, to a consideration of the PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.

It will be perceived that a distinction is recognized in these pages, between the principles and the doctrines of the system. Many writers disregard this distinction, and class the two together. This course is deemed objectionable, because principles and doctrines are not always convertible terms. A principle is necessarily a doctrine, that is, an important truth; but a doctrine is not necessarily a principle or a fundamental truth. The doctrines of a system may be somewhat modified, or even materially altered, and some of them entirely abandoned, and yet the system remain substantially the same. But the principles of a system cannot be materially altered, or any of them abandoned, and yet the system itself be unchanged. Principles are the corner-stones, the under-pinning and foundation of the structure not one of them can be removed without materially affecting the superstructure erected upon them.

This distinction between principles and doctrines, the writer has endeavored to make throughout the following pages, and for reasons which will appear more obvious in the sequel.

By the principles of Congregationalism, then, are meant, the essential, fundamental truths of the system, which cannot be abandoned or materially altered without an aban

Congregationalism defined,

donment or alteration of the system itself. What, then, are the principles of this system? Or, in other words: WHAT IS CONGREGATIONALISM? Congregationalism is that system of church government in which the Scriptures are recognized as the only infallible guide respecting church order and discipline; - and which maintains that, according to the Scriptures, a church is a company of professed Christians, who, having covenanted and associated together to worship God, and to celebrate religious ordinances, are authorized to elect necessary officers, to make by-laws, to discipline offending members, and to act, authoritatively and conclusively, upon all appropriate business, independently of the control of any person or persons whatsoever.

This definition is believed to embrace the fundamental, distinctive principles of Congregationalism. Some of these it holds in common with other systems of church government; others, are peculiar to itself; but all are essential to sound Congregationalism. No man-let his doctrinal creed be what it may—is entitled to the name of a consistent and thorough Congregationalist, who does not embrace all of these principles of church order and govern

ment.

Who will deny, that a system based on principles like these, has, independently of any direct proof, much to commend it to our confidence: its Protestantism, in taking the Bible for its only infallible guide; its tendency to promote true religion, by combining into organized bodies those who love the cause of Christ, and thus enabling them more effectually and successfully, to cultivate personal piety, and to promote the Redeemer's kingdom; its recognition of the inalienable rights of man, in giving to the church the power to choose its own officers, and to ad

A priori arguments-First principle of the System.

minister its own affairs; its provision for securing the purity of the church, by giving the right of discipline to those most interested in the maintenance of that purity; its care for the rights and privileges of every church, however small, manifested by its recognition of the independency of each *- These, and such like considerations, might be urged as a priori arguments in favor of the Congregational system. But for the sake of brevity and directness, I shall waive, for the present, all particular consideration of these topics, and proceed, at once, to discuss the principles which have been brought to view in the definition of Congregationalism.

In this discussion the Scriptures will be appealed to as the only standard of truth. The argument from Ecclesiastical History will receive attention in the sequel.

What, then, say the Scriptures? Are the principles of this system of church order and government recognized and authorized by the infallible word of God?

We will consider these principles in detail, and apply this test to each of them.

I. It is a principle of Congregationalism, that the Scriptures are the only infallible guide in matters of church order and discipline.

By this is meant, that the injunctions of Christ and his apostles, and the authorized practice of the apostolic churches, are a sufficient guide in all ages, to the order and discipline of the churches of Christ. Or, in other words, that the churches founded by the apostles, are the

* The terms "independency" and "independent" as applied to Congregational churches, are never used in these pages as synonymous with unaccountability and unaccountable, but to denote completeness of church powers and privileges.