Vindication of the Presbyterian Form of Church Government

The publication of these sheets has been delayed for fome time, that the Second Appendix, containing a Review of Mr. Haldane's book on Social Worship, as far as relates to the fubject of Government, might accompany the Letters.

ERRATA.

Except in p. 53. and Letter IX. Dr. Watt, not Dr. Ifaac Watts,

was intended to be quoted.

P. 236. 1. 25. for members, read the members.

INTRODUCTION.

LETTER I. Propriety of the conduct of Mr. Innes and

other Independents confidered, p. 1-5. Dr. Stuart's

view of the Church of Scotland as Antichrift, refuted,

5, 6. Note. The examination of Presbytery by Mr. Innes

extremely partial, 9, 10. Plan of difcuffion stated, 10.

LETTER II. On the Nature and Degree of the Power claimed

by Prefbyterians and Independents. Mifreprefentations

of Independents, 11, 12. The degree of power exer-

cifed by them, proved to be more than that of advice,

13, &c. and 14-19. Note. Inconfiftency between

the fentiments of Mr. Innes and Mr. Ewing, 21-26.

Unreasonable or imperious authority not claimed by

Prefbyterians, 28. The fcriptural terms expreffing the

power of church-rulers, 32-37. and the relation of

members confidered, 37-40. Sum of the preceding

remarks, 40, c.

LETTER III. Of the Perfons entitled to Authority in the

Church. Arguments to fhew that all the members can-

not have equal power in matters of government, 46, &c.

Power of ruling not indifcriminate, proved, from the

names given in fcripture to rulers, 49-53-to the

members, 54-58; and from the duties of the mem-

bers to the rulers, 58-60.

LETTER IV. Same fubject. The meaning of Matth. xvi. 19.

confidered, 61-71. Binding and loofing explained,

64-69; that it implies an exercise of authoritative

judicial power, and is committed to minifters only,

proved, 69-71.

LETTER V. Same fubject. The highest acts of govern-

ment and discipline fhewn to be performed by the

elders exclufively. Admiffion of members, 71-75.

Ordination of office-bearers, neceffary; 76-79; com-

mitted to pastors alone, 80-83. Power of difcipline

vefted in the office-bearers only, 84-86...

LETTER VI. Argument for Independency from Matth.

xviii. 15, 16, 17, as ftated by Mr. Innes, 86-88;

anfwered, from the meaning of the word church,

88-90, which is fhown to fignify, in this paffage

particularly, the elders and office-bearers ;-from the

allufion to the Jewish courts, in which the government

was not vefted in all who attended them, but in parti-

cular rulers, 92-100; and-from the common lan-

guage of fcripture on this fubject, 101-106.

LETTER VII. Argument for Independency from 1 Cor, v.

examined, and proved to be inconclufive, 107-118.

The tendency of the Independent plan to encourage
a schismatic spirit, even in matters of trivial importance,
confidered, 112-117. Note.

LETTER VIII. Argument from Acts xv. difcuffed, and

fhewn to be not only irrelevant, but favourable to

Prefbytery, 118-127.

APPENDIX to LETTER VIII. The conftitution of the

primitive church proved to have resembled Presbyterý

more than Independency, from the teftimony of Cy-

prian, 130-134-Clemens Romanus, 134-Jerome,

136-Ignatius, 137. Cyprian, whom Independents

rank among their defenders, further, fhewn to oppofe

their fentiments, 139-148.

LETTER IX. On the Order of Ruling Elders. This order

acknowledged by Watts, Cotton, Goodwin, &c. 149.

The authority of it proved, from the language of fcrip-

ture, as to plurality of elders, 150; from the extent of

infpection and fuperintendence required of them, 151—

their duties stated by Dr. Owen, 152-155; from

the propriety of checking the ambition of pastors,

156-158; from the qualifications of many of the

members, 159-162.

LETTER X. Scriptural Authority of this Order. Rom. xii.

6, 7, 8. explained, 162-172. The ruling mentioned,

an office in the church, 164-does not refer to gifts, 165,

nor to a family, 166-nor to an inspired prefident,

as M'Knight afferts, 169. Meaning of #gasnus, 171.

I Cor. xii. 28. confidered, 172-176. Opinion of

Chryfoftom on this text, 173.

LETTER XI. Same fubje&t. 1 Tim. v. 17. confidered:
acknowledged by Dr. Owen to be decifive on the
point, 177, and by Whitaker, ib. Objections exa-
mined, 179-186. Sentiments of the primitive fathers,
188-191.

LETTER XII. On Courts of Review. Difference of

opinion among Independents, 192. Affociation and

fubordination of courts contended for by Hooker,

Cotton, the Weftminfter Independents, and Goodwin,

193-196. Strong language of Dr. Owen to this.

purpose, 197-200. Authoritative rule, and not ad-

vice merely, implied in their statements, 202-204.

Sentiments of Independents in Holland, 204, 205. Note.

LETTER XIII. Same fubje&. Views of Independent

and Prefbyterians as ftated by Baillie and Ferguson,

206—209, and of Prefbytery by Hoornbeek, ib.

Note. Congregations not to be independent of each