CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

CHURCH POLITY defined. How regarded under the Mosaic Dis-

pensation-On the introduction of Christianity. Simplicity of

order, the distinctive peculiarity of the first Christian churches,

page 1. The estimation of this subject by the Reformers of the

16th century. Impediment to a thorough reform of the polity of

the church, in those days, 2. The subject not much attended to,

until the latter part of the 16th or the early part of the 17th centu-

ry, 3. The interest felt by the Puritans; especially by the fathers

of New England, 4. Present indifference among Congregational-

ists. Causes: I. Anxiety to promote the union of different de-

nominations in benevolent enterprises, 4. No denominational or-

ganizations to promote Congregationalism, 6. II. Influence of

Theological Seminaries, 7. III. A false, but prevalent impression,

that it is unnecessary to make direct efforts to promote Congrega-

tional views, 8. IV. The dearth of books upon the subject, 8.

Note, Proposed history of the denomination, 10.

PART I.

PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.

A distinction made between principles and doctrines, page 11.

Congregationalism defined, 12. * Principles of the system: I. The

Scriptures are the only infallible guide to church order and discip-

line, 13. Necessity of this. Note, Dr. Campbell's admission, 14.

Consequences of denying this principle, 15. The character of the

apostolic churches explains the New Testament meaning of the

word Church, 16. Constitution of the Christian church designed

to be permanently the same, 17. The objections, that our circum-

stances are unlike those of the primitive Christians; and, that the

present prosperous state of the church, requires a more attractive

exterior, answered, 17-19. Congregationalists thorough Protes-

tants, 20.

II. A church is a voluntary association of professing Christians,

united by covenant, for the worship of God and the celebration of re-

ligious ordinances, 21. Correctness of this principle proved from

the Scriptures, 22-27.

III. A church should ordinarily consist of only so many as can

conveniently assemble together, 28. Scripture testimony upon this

point. Provincial churches unknown to the apostles, 29. Mil-

ner's objection, founded on the supposed numbers in some of the

primitive churches, answered, 30, 31. Slater's representations,

corrected, 31-36. Episcopalian admissions, 36. Inference from

these admitted facts, 37.

IV. All ecclesiastical power in those who compose the church, 37.

Scripture testimony. Elections of officers by apostolic churches,

38. Discipline of erring members, 39, 40. Christ's directions,

Matt. 18: 15-18. Congregationalists, alone, can follow these di-

rections, 41, 42.
Note, Dr. Campbell's remark on "a church

representative," 43.

PART II.

DOCTRINES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.

I. There are but two orders of church officers, Elders and Deacons,

page 45. Other helpers in the apostolic churches, 46. Inspiration

essential to them. Deaconesses, 47, 48. Elders, what? 49. Note,

on the word" ordained" (700Tongartes) Acts 14:21-23, pp. 49,

50. Why the primitive churches had a plurality of elders, 51.

Elders, the same as pastors, overseers and bishops-Proof, 52-54.

The term Elder, why applied to Christian teachers, 54. Why

called pastors, 55. Admissions of Bloomfield and Waddington.

John Owen's remarks, 56. Dr. Campbell's remarks, 57. Dea-

cons, original appointment of, design-à permanent office, 57-61.

Ruling elders, what? Their office work described, 57. Objec

tions considered, 62-68. Scripture testimony to the correctness

of our views, 68, 69.

Il. There should be an entire ecclesiastical equality among Chris-

tian ministers, 70. Gradations, how introduced into the ministry,

71. Views of the English reformers upon this subject, 72, note.

III. Councils have no authority over the churches, 72. Consocia-

tional form considered and objected to, 74. Testimony of Eccle-

siastical History against it, 75-78.

IV. The churches accountable to each other, 78. Communion of

churches, how exercised, 79. Note, illustrating the fellowship of

the New England churches previous to 1648, p. 79. Concluding

remarks. Why the fathers of New England loved Congregation-

alism, 81. A spiritual system, 83.

PART III.

TESTIMONY OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY TO THE CONGRE-

GATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE APOSTOLIC AND PRIMITIVE

CHURCHES.

This testimony corroborates our interpretation of the Scriptures,
page 85. Mosheim's testimony. The supreme power in the peo-

ple, 86. The apostles acknowledged this. The people chose their

own rulers and teachers. Rejected or confirmed laws. Disci-

plined offenders. Decided controversies. Determined the causes

of presbyters and deacons. Exercised supreme power, 87. Iden-

tity of presbyters, elders, and bishops. Distinction between teach-

ing and ruling elders, doubtful, 88. A bishop had charge of a sin-

gle congregation only, during the 1st and 2d centuries. Admis-

sions of Waddington, 89. How the character of a bishop was

changed. City bishops usurped authority over country bishops.

Notes, Bloomfield's explanation. Dr. Campbell on the indepen-

dency of the early Christian churches, 90. Mosheim, on the same

topic. All churches on an equality, 91. Deflection of the

churches in the 3d century. Clergy corrupted. Minor orders

added. These explained, 93. Philosophers corrupt the faith, and

princes etc. the order of the church. Influence of Constantine.

Assumes the supreme power over the church. Bishops encroach

upon the people, 94. Church and state accommodated to each

other, and united. Ecclesiastical nobles created, 95. Corrupt

state of the church. Blood-shed and house-burning by rival par-

ties for the bishopric of Rome. Choice of their bishops taken from

the people, 96.

TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS. Previous representa-

tions respecting the general order, etc. of the apostolic churches

corroborated. Clement, of Rome (A. D. 64–70), pp. 97-102.

Testimony of Polycarp (A. D. 108-Ì17), p. 102. Ignatius (A. D.

116). His Epistles corrupted and interpolated. Reliance on these

by Episcopalians to prove the existence of three orders in the min-

istry, 105. His testimony favors Congregational views in several

particulars, 106-110. Justin Martyr (A. D. 150). Dr. J. Owen's

remarks, 111. Tertullian (A. D. 200). Cyprian (A. D. 250). Dr.

Owen's proposition, viz. that for 200 years A. C. no other kind

of churches existed but Congregational, 103. Character, etc. of

Owen. Dr. Campbell's confirmation of Owen's opinion, 114.

Dr. Chauncy's collection of ecclesiastical witnesses in favor of

Congregationalism, note, 115.

PART IV.

ECCLESIASTICAL PRACTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

1. Organization of Churches. Number necessary, note, page 117.

II. Choice and consecration of church officers, 119. Choice of a

pastor. Trial. Call. Acceptance. Ordaining council, 120. Pro-

ceedings of council. Every pastor should be a member of his own

church, note, p. 121. Order of ordination services. Usages of

Congregational churches in Great Britain differ somewhat from

ours, note. Installation, 122. Imposing hands, early New England

practice, note. Choice and consecration of deacons. Ordination

of. Why neighboring churches not invited to assist, note, p. 123.

III. The church assembled for business, 124. Pastor moderator.

Clerk, 125. Majority decide all questions. Practice in Great

Britain, note, p. 126.

IV. Admission of Members. Candidates give a public relation of

religious experience. Diversity of practice, note, p. 127. Pro-

pounding. Admission, 128.

V. Dismission of members. No dismissions without recommend-

ations. Letters of introduction, note, p. 129. No private ways in

or out of our churches, 130.

How effected. Duty of pastor.

of disagreement about the matter

Practice of English and Scotch

VI. Dismission of a pastor.

Church. Council, 131. In case

between church and pastor, 132.

Congregationalists, note, p. 133.

VII. Church discipline. Importance of it, 133. Rule, Matt. 18:

15-18, explained, 134. Shall private steps be always taken?

135 and note. Final action of the church. Restoration of an ex-

communicated person. What are disciplinary offences? 136.

Christian watchfulness a duty, 137.

VIII. Discipline of pastors. In the hands of the church, 137.

Councils usually called. Mutual or ex parte. Doctrine of Cam-

bridge Platform. Reason for councils, 138.

IX. Who shall complain of offenders? If private, the first to whom

the offence is known. If public, one of the deacons, or other ex-

perienced person. Every church member bound to see that the

regular course is taken, 140. Discipline should not be hurried, 141.

X. Discipline of sister churches. Congregational churches mem-

bers of one family-Acknowledge their accountability to each

other. Doctrine of Cambridge Platform, 141. Procedure in the

discipline of an erring sister church, 142. Claim no power to dis-

band erring churches. Withdraw fellowship after the regular steps

have been taken without success, 143.

XI. Minor points on which Congregationalists differ among them-

selves. E. g. Raising the salaries of their pastors. By tax on prop-

erty or pews, by weekly contributions, or yearly subscriptions, etc.

etc. All Congregational pastors have a stipulated salary. This

usually very small, 144. Comparison between the fathers and the

children, on this point. Permanency of the pastoral relation,

rather theoretical, than practical, of late. Signs of better times,

145. Reasons for dwelling so long upon the ecclesiastical usages

of our churches. The system cannot be estimated properly by a

knowledge of its theory alone. Authorities for the preceding de-

tail. Other sources of information pointed out, note. Concluding

remarks upon this Part, 146, 147.

PART V.

ADVANTAGES OF CONGREGATIONALISM.

1. It is the most scriptural system of church government. All
governments classed as monarchical, aristocratical, or democrati-

cal, page 150. Episcopacy, monarchical; Presbyterianism, aristo-

cratical; Congregationalism, democratical. Episcopacy, Romish,

compared with Congregationalism. Church of England compared,

150. Its form, expensiveness, etc. 152. American Episcopacy,

identical with the English, 153. Order and government of, 154.

Points of difference between American Episcopacy and Congrega-

tionalism. Mistake of bishop Hobart, 155. Methodist Episcopal

Church compared, 158. Its organization, etc. 159. Anti-republi-

can. The people excluded from the government of. J. Wesley's

remark-Watson's. The system instituted by Mr. Wesley, 161.

Method of disciplining erring members, 162. Presbyterianism

considered, and compared with Congregationalism. Points of re

semblance, 164. Of difference. Provincial or national character

of Presbyterianism. The church session, 165. Presbytery. Sy-

nod. General Assembly, 166. Other denominations classed, 167.

Concluding remarks upon this head, 168.

11. Congregationalism encourages self-government, beyond any

other system, 169. Supposed republican tendency of the system,

the reason why its friends have been so persecuted. First civil

act of the Plymouth fathers, republican in its character, 170. In-

fluence on the civil institutions of New England. Report of En-

glish commissioners, 1664. Number of Congregationalists in New

England in 1760, p. 171. Note, Mr. Jefferson's opinion. London

Quarterly Review, on the connection between monarchy and Epis-

copacy, 172.

III. This system promotes intelligence, beyond any other. Intelli-

gence indispensable to Congregationalism. Note, views of a cor-

respondent. R. Watson's fears of a democracy in the government

of a church, 174. Influence of this system in establishing schools

and colleges, etc. 175.

IV. It furnishes an efficient barrier against heresy and general

corruption, 176. Independency of the churches, a barrier against

general corruption. The election of pastors by the churches, a

protection from heresy and corruption, 178. The accountability

of pastors to the churches, another protection, 179. The objection,

that there are, and have been, errors, etc. in Congregational church-

es, considered. No system exempt from liabilities to error, etc. 179.

Corruption of Romanism. Arminianism and tendency towards

Popery in the English Episcopal Church. Something of the same

in the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. Arianism and

Unitarianism, etc. among Presbyterians, 180. Conclusion. Pres-

ident Oaks's commendation of Congregationalism."

APPENDIX.

No. 1. A Letter Missive from persons wishing to be organized

into a Congregational church, page 185.

No. 2. Call from a church to a pastor elect, 185.

No. 3. Letter Missive from a Congregational church to a neigh-

boring church, to attend the ordination of a pastor, 187.

B