FORM OF Presbyterial Church-Government, Agreed upon by the Affembly of DIVINES at Westminfter; examined and approved, Anno 1645, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, &c. J The PREFACE. ESUS CHRIST, upon whose shoulders the government is, whose name is called wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace a, of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end, who fits upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice, from henceforth even for ever; having all power given unto him in heaven and in earth by the Father, who raised him from the dead, and fet him at his own right-hand, far above all principalities and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named,not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, whichis his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all: he being afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, received gifts for his church, and gave officers necessary for the edification of his church, and perfecting of his faints. b. Of a Ifa. ix. 6, 7. b Mat xxviii. 18, 19, 20. Eph, 1. 20, 21, 22, 23. sompared with Eph, iv. 8, 11. and Pfal. Ixviii. 18. V Of the church. THERE is one general church visible, held forth in the The ministry, Oracles, and ordinances of the New Testament, are given by Jesus Christ to the general church vifible, for the gathering and perfecting of it in this life, until his fecond coming b. Particular visible churches, members of the general church are also held forth in the New Testament c. Particular churches, in the primitive times, were made up of visible Saints, viz of such as, being in age, profefsed faith in Christ, and obedience unto Chrift, according to the rules of faith and a 1 Cor.12.12. For as the body is one, and hath manymembers, & all the members of that one body being many, are one body; so also is Chrift.v.13. v.13. For Forby by one spiritare weall baptized intoone body, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one spirit. v. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church; first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers: after that miracles, then giftsof healing, helps,governments diversities of tongues. Together with the rest of the chapter. br Cor.12.28.See before. Eph4. 14. There isonebody, and one, spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: v. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptifm. Compared with uro. Hethat defcended is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things v. 11. And he gave some apostles andfome prophets, & fome evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift: 2. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledgeofthe son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meafure of the stature of the fulness of life Christ, 0.15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: v. 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together, & compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the fectual working in the meafure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itfelfin love. e Gal. 1. 21. afterward's I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; v.22. And was unknownbyface unto the churches of Judea, which were in Christ. Rev. 1. 4. John to the seven churches of Afia Ha, grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, & which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. v. 20. The mystery of the seven stars whichthou fawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the leven candlesticks which thousawest, are the seven churches. Rev. 2. 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, these things faith he that holdeth the feven stars în his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks d Aus 1 life, taught by Christ and his apostles; and of their children d T Of the officers of the church. HE officers which Christ hath appointed for the edifi cation of his church, and the perfecting of the faints, are, some extraordinary, as apostles, evangelifts, and pro phets, which are ceased. Others ordinary and perpetual, as paftors, teachers, and others church-governors, and deacons. & Acts 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remiffion of fins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost. v. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; & the same day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls. 2. 47. PraisingGod, and having favour with all the people; and the Lordadded tothe church dailysuch às should be saved. Compared with Acts 5.14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men & women. 1 Cor.1.2. Unto the church of God which is atCorinth, to them that are sauctified in Chrift Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place, call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. compared with 2 Cor. 9.13. Whiles by the experiment of this miniftration, they glorify Godfor yourprofelled fubjection unto the gofpelof Chrift, and for your liberal diftribu tion unto them and unto all men. Acts 2.39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are a far of off, even as many Pastors. as the Lordour Godshallcall. Cor, 8.14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctifiedby the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy. Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy; arid if the root be holy, fo are the bran ches. Mark 10. 14. But when Je sus saw it, he was much difpleased, and faid unto them, fuffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them hot: for of such is the kingdom of God. Compared with Mat. 19. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that heshouldput hishand on them andpray, and thedisciples rebuked them. v. 14. But Jefus faid, fuffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me; for of fuch is the kingdom of heaven. Luke 18.15. And they brought untohimi also infants, that he would touch them; but when his disciples faw it, they rebuked them. v. 16. But Jesus called them unto him, and faid, suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of fuch is the kingdom of God. a jer HE paftor Paftors. is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the T church e. prophefying of the time of the gospel f. First, it belongs to his office, To pray for and with his flock, as the mouth of the people unto God g, Atts vi. 2, 3, 4. Acts xx. 36. Where preaching and prayer are joined as several parts of the fame office h. The office of the elder (that is, the Pastor) is to pray for the fick, even private, to which ablessing is especially promised; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the public execution of his office, as a part thereof i. To e Jer. 3. 15. And will give you of the body of Christ; v. 13. Till paftors according to mine heart, we all come in the unity of the which shall feed you with know- faith, and of the knowledge of the ledge and understanding. v. 16. Son of God, unto a perfect man, And it shall come to pass when ye unto the measure of the ftature of be multiplied and increased in the the fulness of Chrift. land; in those day's faith the Lord, gA Acts. 6.2. Then thetwelve calthey shall say no more, the ark of led the multitude of the disciples the covenant of the Lord; neither unto them, and faid, It is not reashall it come to mind, neither shall fon that we should leave the word theyremember it, neither shall they of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. vifit it, neither shall that be done Wherefore brethren, look ye out any more v. 17. At that time they among you sevenmen of honestreshall call Jerufalem the throne of port, full of the holy Ghost, and the Lord, and all the nations shall wisdom, whom we may appointobe gathered into it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither fhall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. ver this business. v. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to to the ministry of the word. Acts.20.36. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down & prayed with them all. h James 5. 14. Is any man sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them fi Pet. 5. 5.2. Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the overlight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, butof a ready mind v. 3. Neither as being lords over Gods pray over him, anointing him with heritage, but beingen samplestothe oil in the name of the Lord: 0.15. Hock.v.4. Andwhen the chiefshep- And the prayer of faith shall fave herd shall appear, ye shall receive the sick, and the Lord shall raise a crown of glory that fadeth not himup; and if he have committed away. Eph.4.11. And he gavesome sins, they shall be forgiven him. apoftles, and fome proplets, and i 1 Cor. 14.15. What is it then? fome evangelifts, and some paftors I will pray with the spirit, and I and teachers, t. 12. For the per- will pray with theunderstandingalfecting of the faints, for the work fo: I will fing with the spirit, and of the ministry, for the edifying I will fing with the understanding alfo A To read the Scriptures publicly; for the proof of which, 1. That the priests and Levites, in the Jewish church, were trusted with the public reading of the word, is proved k. 2. That the ministers of the gofpel have as ample a charge and commission to dispense the word, as well as other ordinances, as the priests and Levites had under the law, proved, Ifa. lxvi. 21. Mat. xxiii. 34. where our Saviour intituleth the officers of the New Testament, whom he will fend forth, by the fame names of the teachers of the old 1. Which propofitions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral nature) it followeth by just consequence, that the public reading of the Scriptures belongeth to the paftor's office. To feed the flock, by preaching of the word, according to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort m. alfo v. 16. Elfe when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, say amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing heunderstandeth not what thou sayest? k Deut 31.9. And Mofes wrote this law, and and delivered it unto the priefts the fons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Ifrael v. 10. And Mofes commanded them, faying, At the end of every seven years, is the folemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose; thou shalt read this law before all Ifrael in their hear ing. Neh. 8. 1. And all the people gatheredthemselvestogetherasone man, into the street that was before the water-gate, and they spake unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Mofes, which the Lord had commandedto Ifrael. v. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all thatcould hear withunderstanding, upon the first day of the feventh To month. v. 3. And he read therein v. 13. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 11fa. 66.21. And I will also take of them for priests, and for Levites, faith the Lord. Matth. 23. 34. Wherefore, behold, I fenduntoyou, prophets, andwisemen, and scrites, au fome of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and perfecute them from city to city. m1 Tim.3.2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftrution in righteousness: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Tit. 1. 9. Holding faft the faithful words as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers. Kk 2 nHc |