CHAP.  IV.—­The special difference of church government from other governments, as to the special rule of it, viz., the Holy 53 Scriptures

CHAP.  V.—­The proper fountain from which church government is derived, so as to constitute it of divine authority, viz., Jesus Christ our Mediator 55

CHAP.  VI.—­The peculiar nature of this power and authority 57

CHAP.  VII.—­The several acts about which this power and authority is exercised, viz., doctrine and discipline 61

CHAP.  VIII.—­The end and design of this government of the church 67

CHAP.  IX.—­The peculiar subject intrusted by Christ with this power, and the execution thereof according to the Scriptures 70

SECT.  I.—­The power granted to the civil magistrate about the 92 Church

SECT.  II.—­The power utterly refused him in church affairs 94

CHAP.  X.—­That the community of the faithful, or body of the people, are not the immediate subject of the power of church 97 government

CHAP.  XI.—­That Christ’s own officers are the immediate subject of it; pastors and ruling elders 111

The divine right of the ruling elder at large 114

The divine right of the deacon 149

CHAP.  XII.—­The divine right of congregational elderships, or kirk sessions, for the government of the Church 172

CHAP.  XIII.—­The divine right of presbyteries, consisting of rulers from different neighboring congregations 177

CHAP.  XIV.—­The divine right of synods 197

CHAP.  XV.—­The subordination of particular congregations to greater assemblies, for their judicial determination of ecclesiastical causes, proved to be of divine right 210

APPENDIX.

No.  I.—­Of the qualifications and duties of church members 219

No.  II.—­Who have a right to preach the Gospel 237

No.  III.—­On the same subject 240

No.  IV.—­On the people’s right to choose their own pastors 249

No.  V.—­On the ordination and duty of ministers 256

No.  VI.—­Of ruling elders, from Dr. Owen 258

Conclusion 266

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 117:  The substance of this Number is extracted from Ford’s Gospel Church, printed 1675.]

[Footnote 118:  John xvi. 8, 9; 2 Cor. v. 5; Eph. ii. 1, 5.]