THE

CHURCH OF CHRIST

CONSIDERED,

IN REFERENCE TO ITS

MEMBERS, OBJECTS, DUTIES, OFFICERS,

GOVERNMENT, AND DISCIPLINE.

BY

GEORGE PAYNE, LL.D.,

EXETER.

LONDON:

HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW:

SOLD BY BLACK, EDINBURGH ; AND

ROBERTS AND BALLE, EXETER.

1837,

WILLIAM TYLER,

PRINTER,

BOLT COUBT, FLEET-STREET.

CONTENTS.

SECTION I.

THE MEANING OF THE TERM CHURCH.

The two senses it bears :-first, the assembly of the redeemed

which will meet in heaven, p. 1; second, a single congregation

of believers meeting for religious purposes on earth, 2-mis-

taken meanings sometimes attached to it, such as the material

edifice, 2,3—a collection of congregations, or a denomination,

3—the office-bearers, &c., 4-definition of a church, 4, 5-

what the definition implies, 5.

SECTION II.

THE DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS OF WHOM A CHURCH

SHOULD CONSIST.

Of truly religious men and women, p. 6-proof of this, the primi.

tive churches consisted of such, p. 7-objection answered, 8-

none others are capable of promoting the object of Christian

fellowship, 9-none else can discharge its duties, 9, 10.

SECTION III.

THE PRINCIPLES WHICH ARE DEVELOPED IN, AND LEAD

TO, THE FORMATION OF A CHURCH,

Its members come together by voluntary consent, p. 10—this was

the case originally, 11-proved by the nature of the case, 11

by history, il-ought to be so now, 12—all religious connex-

ions must be volunta.y, 12-Christians are indeed under obli-

gation to God to unite in fellowship, 12—but to no one else,

12—causes which operate to bring them into union, love to

Christ, 13—to each other, 13—to the truth, 14-fellowship in

the same privileges, &c., 15.

SECTION IV.

THE OBJECTS WHICH A CHURCH SHOULD AIM TO SECURE.

First, personal edification, p. 16, 17—how promoted by Christian

fellowship, 17-all should seek to impart, as well as to receive

good, 17—second, the Divine glory, 18—this is secured by the

act which brings them together, 19-by the public and united

religious exercises of the body, 19-this is to be regarded as

the supreme object, 20-to be placed before personal comfort,

or even edification, 20—third, the preservation and extension

of Divine truth, 20—the church is bound to aim at this, 21-

competent to secure it, 21-necessary results of these state-

ments, 21-a church may exist under any form of civil govern-

ment, 21, 22.

SECTION V.

THE DUTIES WHICH ARE INCUMBENT UPON THE MEMBERS

OF A CHURCH.

All arise out of the new relations into which they have entered,

p. 23—first, the duties they owe to Christ, viz., a determination

to submit to no authority but his, 24-supreme reverence for

his authority, 24—diligent study of his laws, 24, 25—care to

execute them, 25–second, to each other-love, 25, 26—mu-

tual watchfulness, 26–28—faithfulness of reproof, 28, 29—

forgiveness, 29—32—forbearance 32, 33-general cordiality of

bearing and conduct, 33, 34-sympathy with the poor, 35-

third, to the world, 35-should aim at its salvation by exhi.

biting a holy example, 36-by securing an efficient administra-

tion of Divine ordinances, 37—by diffusing the light of truth

in the vicinity, county, country, world, 40, 41.

SECTION VI.

THE OFFICERS OF A CHURCH.

First, extraordinary, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, &c.

—these could have no successors, 43—were to cease when the

church had reached maturity, 44—Second, ordinary, as pas-

tors, elders, bishops, &c., 44, 45—whether different orders, or

different names of the same office, 45-opinion of Episcopalians

opposed, 45--the office of bishop and presbyter identical, 46–

opinion of Presbyterians concerning ruling and lay elders op-

posed, 47—the manner in which the bishop or pastor becomes

invested with office, 50-the first step, viz., election by the
people, 51-the right of the people to choose the pastor és.

tablished, 52-55-the second step, viz., solemn induction into

office or ordination explained, 56-in whom the power to ordain

is vested, 57, 58-the authority which ordination confers upon

the pastor explained, 59—is restricted to what comes within

the range of the pastoral office, 60—is ministerial, not legis.

lative, 60-is not distinct from that of Christ, 61, 62-the

deacon's office, 63—its origin, 63—the requisite qualifications

for it, 64-is not a spiritual office, 65—why the qualifications

mentioned in Timothy, &c., are required, 66-should not be

elected annually, 67, 68.

SECTION VII.

THE GOVERNMENT OF A CHURCH.

The opinion that no form of government is of Divine authority

examined, p. 69-arguments both à priori and à posteriori

against it, 69, 70—difference of opinion on this subject ac-

counted for, 71—the Popish form of government explained, 72

--the assumptions on which it rests, 72—these examined and

overthrown, 72–76—the Episcopalian form, &c., explained,

76_simple episcopacy, 76–diocesan episcopacy, 76, 77—the

ground on which episcopacy rests shown to be untenable, 77—

the Congregational and Presbyterian forms, &c., described, 77-

the essential principles of the former explained, 77—79—Dr.

Dick's account of Congregationalism shown to be incorrect, 80,

81-examination of the first great principle in contest between

Congregationalists and Presbyterians, viz., whether a single con.

gregation of believers is a complete church or not, 82_arguments

of the Presbyterians opposed, 83~the Congregational sense of

the term established, 83—86-examination of the second great

principle in contest, &c. &c. viz., whether every church, in the

Congregational sense, has the full power of government within

itself, 86—Dr. Dick's statements, especially his account of the

council at Antioch, examined, 87—that council shown to afford

no support to Presbyterianism, 93—direct arguments in sup-

port of the second principle of Congregationalism, 94-direct

arguments in support of both principles, 97—101.

SECTION VIII.

THE DISCIPLINE OF A CHURCH.

Discipline explained, 102-should be exercised, first, in the ad.

mission of members to the church, 102--the law of admis-
sion, 102—importance of acting upon it, 102-secondly, in