Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici The Divine Right of Church Government Conclusion, pp. 136-141. What is meant by church government? That particular form and order, which Christ has fixed in his Church, for the proper management thereof. How does it appear that there is a particular form of government appointed in the New Testament Church? As… Read More Proof that Presbyterianism is Biblical
James Durham A Commentarie Upon the Book of Revelation pp. 511-516. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which… Read More National Churches Under the New Testament
Excerpted from his book, An Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland CHAPTER I. OF THE WORDS ELDER, LAY ELDER, RULING ELDER. THE word elder answereth to zaken in the Hebrew, and presbuteroV in the Greek. It hath four different significations: (1.) It noteth age; (2.) Antiquity; (3.) Venerability; (4.) An office. In the first… Read More The Biblical Basis for Ruling Elders
John Brown of Haddington, Systematic Theology, pp. 568-569. It is plain from Scripture declarations that Christ has appointed rulers in his church that are not appointed to preach the gospel (Rom 12:7-8; Heb 13:7,17). Different gifts qualify men for teaching and for ruling (Eph 4:7). Such rulers are necessary for the assistance of pastors (Gal… Read More The Difference Between Elders and Pastors
The church of Jerusalem in Judea contained in it more congregations than one. This may be convincingly evidenced divers ways, particularly from, 1. The multitude of believers in that church. 2. The multitude of church officers there. 3. The variety of languages there. 4. The manner of the Christians’ public meetings in those primitive times,… Read More Was the Church of Jerusalem a Single Congregation or a Presbytery?
The church of Antioch, in Syria, consisted also of more congregations than one. This appears, 1. From the multitude of believers at Antioch, and 2. From the multitudes of prophets and preachers that ministered at Antioch. 1. From the multitude of believers at Antioch. 1. After the dispersion upon Saul’s persecution, the Lord Jesus was preached at… Read More Was the Church of Antioch a Single Congregation or a Presbytery?
The church of Ephesus (in Asia Minor, Acts 19:22) had in it more congregations than one. Due to 1. The number of prophets and preachers; 2. The gifts of tongues conferred upon those prophets; and, 3. The multitude of believers which so abounded at Ephesus: how is it possible to imagine, upon any solid ground, that… Read More Was the Church of Ephesus a Single Congregation or a Presbytery?
The church of Corinth in Greece comprised in it also more congregations than one, as may be justly concluded from, 1. The multitude of believers. 2. The plenty of ministers. 3. The diversity of tongues and languages. 4. And the plurality of churches at Corinth. Let all these be well compared together. 1. From the… Read More Was the Church of Corinth a Single Congregation or a Presbytery?
Wilhelmus à Brakel The Christian’s Reasonable Service Vol. 2, pp. 168-180 The Relationship of the Civil Government to the Church This generates another question: Does the civil government have any authority at all with regard to the church? If yes, what does or does this not consist of? We wish to preface our answer to… Read More The Relationship of the Civil Government to the Church
That this Author saith, God commanded those that transgressed his holy Law with an high hand, and presumptuously to be killed, lest they should live and profane his holy things; I defend not: But sure Erastus erreth, who will have all such to be killed by the Magistrate under the New Testament, because they were… Read More The Judicial Law, as Judicial, has been Abolished | Samuel Rutherford
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