CHAPTER IX.

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

On the true Nature of Church Power.

In our conversation upon the subject of church government, it is very common to talk of the power, or authority of our churches. But in what does this power really consist, and how far does it extend? Every society has certainly an unquestionable right to regulate all its own temporal and spiritual affairs, to the entire exclusion of all human interference and control whatever. But we must be careful, not to carry the idea of independence so far as to trench upon the dominion of Jesus Christ. The power of a church is simply a right to put their own construction upon the laws of Christ, and to obey his laws, in the way in which they think will be most agreeable to him. This is neither understood nor remembered with as much distinctness as it should be. Hence it is a very usual thing for churches at their stated, or occasional meetings, to consider themselves as met to make laws, and set in order the affairs of the spiritual kingdom; and a great deal is said about “ our church," and "the rules that we have established in our church." Our church!! How came it ours? The church is

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Christ's. The rules we have established!! right of making laws, is with Him to whom the church belongs. The church is a kingdom, of which Christ is sole monarch, the New Testament is his spiritual code, and all the power we have, is to execute the laws which he has already established. In the whole business of church government, we are to acknowledge the authority, and consider ourselves as doing the will of Christ. Nothing is left to our will, to our wisdom, to our caprice; but in all things we are to be guided by the law of Jesus, laid down in his word.

We

In the choice of officers, in the admission of members, in the exercise of discipline, we are not to act upon views and principles of our own, but are to be guided by those we find in the New Testament. have no power to legislate, but merely to interpret the law and obey. When we meet, Christ is in the midst of us, not only by his essential presence, but by his revealed will; and every authoritative voice is hushed, but that which speaks to us from the sacred canon. When a member is proposed, we are not to ask, “Is he such an one as we think will add respectability to our communion; is he of long standing in the ways of God; is he peculiar in his habits?" but "Is he such an one as Christ has received?" When a measure is submitted for our adoption, we are not first to inquire into its policy, but whether it is in exact accordance with the general principles and spirit of the New Testament. Every act of church government must be an explicit acknowledgment of the authority of Jesus, as

King in Zion, and an act of obedience to his laws. With respect to all human authority, our power is legislatorial, but in reference to Christ purely executive.

On the Mode of conducting Church Meetings.

Every well regulated church will have its solemn and stated meetings for conducting the business necessarily connected with its existence and progress. Many ministers have imbibed a prejudice against these meetings, and like Charles the First, who not finding the parliament as suppliant as he could wish, detertermined to govern without parliaments altogether, they have resolved to rule without calling the church together, except, at least, on extraordinary emergencies. I admit that church meetings have been abused; but this has been more frequently the fault of the pastor, than the people. They have sometimes exhibited scenes of confusion, little recommendatory of the democratic form of church government. This, however, is not the error of the system, but the improper way in which it is administered. When ignorance or imprudence is elevated to the chair, order and decorum cannot be looked for in the assembly.

It would conduce to the order of church meetings, if it were much inculcated by the pastor, and generally understood by the people, that they were meetings for devotion, and not for debate. They should ever be attended with the usual services of a prayer-meeting, i. e. with singing, supplication, and ministerial exhortation. If business is to be done, it should be

thus introduced, and transacted in the spirit, and amidst the services of devotion. These times of assembling should be periodical; for when they are only occasional, they lose the character of devotional seasons, assume the form of business meetings, to which the members come prepared for protracted and general discussion.

All the proceedings at a church meeting, should either emanate directly from the pastor, or from others by his previous knowledge and consent. The president of every society, and of every meeting, ought to be acquainted with all the business which is to be transacted by the assembly. He announces and explains the object of their being convened, and regulates the discussions which ensue. Every case, therefore, that is to be laid before the church, should be stated by the pastor, who like the judge upon the bench, is to show what the law saith touching the business in hand. If this be neglected, and members are allowed to introduce any business which they please, our church meetings would very soon resemble the scene which was exhibited at the base of the tower of Babel. An attention to this single, simple circumstance, will verymuch tend to ensure the order and harmony of our meetings.

AS LITTLE DISCUSSION AS IS REALLY POSSIBLE, should take place at our church meetings. The admonition of the apostle is always in season, but never more so than in reference to the times of the assembling of the saints: "Let every man be slow to speak." Nothing but the most obvious necessity, should induce a single individual to utter a syllable; and when any

one does deliver his opinion, it should not be in a prating, dogmatical manner, but in few words modestly spoken. Not only the pastor, but the people themselves, should discourage those forward, obtrusive spirits, to whom no music or melody is so pleasant as the sound of their own voice. Talking assemblies, soon become disorderly ones. A wise and prudent minister will set his face against them; and a wise and prudent church will support him in this conduct.

It is, of course, no less the interest than the duty of the society, to support, at all its meetings, the just and scriptural authority of the pastor. He should never be addressed but in the most courteous and respectful manner, and every expression of rudeness, or insult, should be marked with the disapprobation of the members present.

On the Admission of Members to the Church.

When an individual is known to be desirous of fellowship, information of this should be conveyed without delay to the pastor, who upon conversing with the person, and making suitable inquiries about his character and conduct, must be considered at liberty, either to mention him as a candidate for fellowship, or not, according as his views shall dictate. No member should presume to bring forward a candidate, in opposition to the opinion of the pastor. It is of course to be expected, that he will never reject an individual, but upon grounds, which appear to him to be quite sufficient, and which he will without hesitation or reserve, communicate to the person himself.