This Dutch theologian gives powerful third-party testimony to the purity of Westminsterian Puritanism and Scottish Presbyterianism, over against the schismatic papal inclinations of the Anglican establishment (i.e. the “crypto-papists”).… Read More Mastricht on 16-17th Century Religion in Britain
William Apollonius (1602-1657)A Consideration of Certain Controversies (1644), pp. 130-143. Whether it be lawful for churches to prescribe to themselves constituted laws and forms, and certain canons, by ecclesiastical authority, wherein articles of faith, and things necessarily required by God for the government and discipline of the churches, are out of the holy Scriptures expounded… Read More The Discretionary Power of the Church | Willem Apollonius
William Apollonius (1602-1657)A Consideration of Certain Controversies (1644)VI. Of Classes, and Synods, and their Authority, pp. 90-130. Question 1. Whether Classes and Synods have an authoritative power, whereby they may authoritatively judge causes ecclesiastical, with ecclesiastical jurisdiction; so as that particular Churches ought to submit themselves to their decrees, under the penalty of ecclesiastical censure? We judge… Read More Synodal Authority Proven From Scripture | Willem Apollonius
Question: Whether the exercise of preaching is a perpetual institution in the Church of God, whereby private men who bear no church office, may, for the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit, publicly before the whole body of the church preach the Word of God with all authority in the name of God, and explain and apply it, for instruction, confutation, reprehension, and consolation of the hearers?… Read More Private Men May Not Preach | Willem Apollonius
Whether no other external visible church be described in Scripture, and acknowledged by the Word of God, but a parochial or particular church: which is confined to such limits, as that of necessity it must be such as may be contained, and ought to meet, ordinarily in one place, for the celebrating of God’s public worship, and all the ordinances of God with mutual edification: so that the constitution of such a church, which by reason of their multitude, or some other cause, cannot in all their members meet ordinarily in one place for the celebration of the worship of God and exercise of all God’s ordinances, is unlawful and repugnant to the Word of God and the Apostles institutions concerning the constitution of a church described in the holy Scripture?… Read More The Church as an Institution | Willem Apollonius
Whether there be none to be admitted into the communion of the external visible Church, but who is endued with the real internal holiness of regeneration, and with justifying faith in Christ: or, who upon strict examination doth manifest such evident signs of true faith, and real internal holiness, as may convince the consciences of the Church to which he joineth himself, of his sincere faith, repentance and communion in Christ: and that if any congregation admit others, in whom there is not evident proof of these signs, they admit impure and false church members?… Read More What is a Church Member? | Willem Apollonius
Purely Presbyterian 