THE FORM OF Prefbyterial Church-Government, Agreed upon by the Affembly of DIVINES at Weftminfter; examined and approved, Anno 1645, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, &c. JESUS The PREFACE. ESUS CHRIST, upon whofe shoulders the government is, whofe name is called wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace a, of the increafe of whofe government and peace there fhall 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 hea ven 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, which is 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 neceffary 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, Compared with Eph, iv. 8, 11. and Pfal. lxviii. 18. Of the church. HERE is one general church vifible, held forth in the The miniftry, Oracles, and ordinances of the New Teftament, are given by Jefus Chrift to the general church vifible, for the gathering and perfecting of it in this life, until his fecond coming b Particular vifible churches, members of the general church are alfo held forth in the New Teftament c. Particular churches, in the primitive times, were made up of visible Saints, viz of fuch as, being in age, profeffed faith in Christ, and obedience unto Christ, according to the rules of faith and a 1 Cor.12.12. For as the body is one,and hath many members,& all the members of that one body being many, are one body; fo alfo is Chrift.v.13.For by one fpiritare weall baptized intoone body,whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one fpirit. v. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church; firit apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers: after that miracles,then giftsof healing,helps,governments diverfities of tongues. Together with the rest of the chapter. bi Cor.12.28.See before.Eph4. 4.There isonebody,and one,fpirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: v. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Compared with v ro.He that defcended is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things v. 11. And he gave fome apoftles andfome prophets,& fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers; v 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift: 7. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith,and of the knowledgeofthe fon of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meafure of the ftature of the fulness of life Chrift, v.15.But speaking the truth in love,may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Chrift: v. 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together, & compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the fectual working in the measure 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 Chrift. Rev. 1. 4. John to the feven churches of Afia, 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 feven ftars whichthou faweft in my right hand, and the feven golden candleflicks. The feven stars are the angets of the feven churches and the leven candlesticks which thoufaweft,are the feven churches.Rev. 2. 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephefus write, thefe things faith he that holdeth the feven ftars in his right hand, who walketh in the midft of the feven golden candlesticks d Aus life, taught by Christ and his apostles; and of their children d' THE Of the officers of the church. HE officers which Chfift hath appointed for the edification of his church, and the perfecting of the faints, are, fome extraordinary, as apoftles, evangelifts, and prophets, which are ceafed. Others ordinary and perpetual, as paftors, teachers, and others church-governors, and deacons. a Acts 2. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, repent and be baptized in the name of Jefus Chrift for the remiffion of fins, and ye fhall receive the gift of the holy Ghoft. v. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; & the fame day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls. v. 47. PraifingGod,and having fayour with all the people; and the Lordadded tothe church dailyfuch as fhould be faved. 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 at Corinth, to them that are fauctified in Chrift Jefus, called to be faints, with all that in every place, call upon the name of Jefus Chrift our Lord, both theirs and ours. compared with 2Cor. 9.13. Whiles by the experiment of this miniftration,they glorify Godfor yourpro felled fubjection unto the gofpelof Christ,and for your liberal diftribution unto them and unto all men. Acts 2.39.For the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are a far off, even as many Paftors. as the Lord our Godfhallcall. Cor, 8.14. For the unbelieving husband is fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctificdby the hufband; elfe were your children unclean, but now are they holy. Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy; and if the root be holy, fo are the bran ches. Mark 10. 14. But when Jes fus faw it, he was much difpleafed, and faid unto them,fuffer the little children to come unto me,and forbid them hot: for of fuch is the kingdom of God. Compared with Mat. 19. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that hefhould put his hand on them and pray, and thedifciples rebuked them. v. 14. But Jefus faid, fuf fer 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 alfo infants, that he would touch them; but when his difciples faw it, they rebuked them. v. 16. But Jefus called them unto him, and faid, fuffer little children to come unto me,and forbid them not; for of fuch is the kingdom of God. Paftors. HE paftor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the 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, Acts vi, 2, 3, 4. Acts xx. 36. Where preaching and prayer are joined as feveral parts of the fame office h. The office of the elder (that is, the Paftor) is to pray for the fick, even private, to which a bleffing is especially promifed; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the public execution of his office, as a part thereof i.' Το e Jer. 3. 15. And will give you of the body of Chrift; v. 13. Till paftors according to mine heart, we all come in the unity of the which fhall feed you with know- faith, and of the knowledge of the ledge and underftanding. v. 16. Son of God, unto a perfect man, And it fhall come to pafs when ye unto the measure of the ftature of be multiplied and increafed in the the fulness of Chrift. land; in thofe day's faith the Lord, g A&ts. 6.2.Then thetwelve calthey fhall fay no more, the ark of led the multitude of the difciples the covenant of the Lord; neither unto them, and faid, It is not reafhall it come to mind,neither fhall fon that we should leave the word theyremember it,neither fhall they of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. vifit it, neither fhall that be done any more v. 17.At that time they fhall call Jerufalem the throne of the Lord,and all the nations fhall be gathered into it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither fall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you fevenmen of honeft report, full of the holy Ghost, and wifdom, whom we may appoint over this bufinefs. v. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,and to the miniftry of the word. Acts.20.36.And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down & prayed with them all. fi Pet. 5.2. Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the overlight thereof, not by con- h James 5. 14. Is any man fick ftraint, but willingly; not for fil- among you? Let him call for the thy lucre,butof a ready mind v. 3. elders of the church, and let them Neither as being lords over Gods pray over him,anointing him with heritage,but beingen famplestothe oil in the name of the Lord:v, 15. Hock..4.Andwhen the chieffhep- And the prayer of faith fhall fave herd fhall appear, ye fhall receive the fick, and the Lord fhall raise a crown of glory that fadeth not him up; and if he have committed away.Eph.4.11. And he gavefome fins, they fhall be forgiven him. apofles, and fome prophets, and i1 Cor. 14.15. What is it then? fome evangelifts, and fome paftors I will pray with the fpirit, and I and teachers, . 12. For the per- will pray with theunderftanding alfecting of the faints, for the work fo: I will fing with the fpirit, and of the miniftry, for the edifying I will fing with the understanding alfo 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 minifters of the gospel have as ample a charge and commiffion to difpenfe 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 Teftament, 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 juft confequence, 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 fhalt blefs with the fpirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing heunderstandeth not what thou fayeft? k Deut 31.9. And Mofes wrote this law, 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. 1o. And Mofes commanded them, faying, At the end of every feven years, is the folemnity of the year of release, in the fealt of tabernacles. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he fhall choose; thou fhalt read this faw before all Ifrael in their hear ing. Neh. 8. 1. And all the people gatheredthemselves togetherasone man,into the street that was before the water-gate, and they spake unto Ezra the fcribe, 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 with understanding, pon the first day of the feventh Το month. v. 3. And he read therein v. 13. And on the fecond day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the fcribe, even to understand the words of the law. 11fa. 66.21. And I will alfo take of them for priefts, and for Levites, faith the Lord. Matth. 23. 34. Wherefore,behold, I fenduntoyou, prophets,and wifemen,and fcribes, a fome of them ye fhall kill and crucify, and fome of them fhall ye fcourge in your fynagogues, and perfecute them from city to city. mr Tim.3.2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruetion in righteoufnefs: v. 17.That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Tit. 1. 9. Holding fall the faithful words as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers. n Hc Kk 2 |