Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-10-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Methodist (Buit J F'otesiani.
THOUGHT ON TIE AScuMP
TlON or MINISTERIAL POah Err
Ia The Church Of Christ.


BY y. BLAME, v. u NJ.
Tim, thou ,naye,t hI,uw how & btlInre thy
self in the ClurcI. Of Gui the pil..r an.
ground ur the lrnli."-rAuL TO riMoruy
IL will be admitted by All nnr'rj jnd.ccd
men. (aud to such only iGc write. here nd
dresses hlu,scll,) ,iai.lhe laws aud usage,
OF chris,iau churches, eau oui. have the
sanction ur divine authority; when they
are in accordance with The pr"rrplS aud
examples of Holy SCRIPTURE; ana Ia he
so, they must be- enacted by. and wI,h The
expires, consent of The iri"ie Church, aud
Adminis.ruied. not by a Bi-hnp. Elder. or
Pastor. alone. or hy Il conclaNc ni such
persons united, hut by the whole church,
pastor aud people c"njuin'ly; "r, il thai
be in,praclicnblc on the part Of The mem'
bership. us may he the case under so'ne
circumstances, then a number OF Per,ous
may he depu,cd from the Whole al The
members nf a church. " ho shall, i'y them
DC authorised TO represent iauly, and fully
| all their interests. desires, aud opiulons.-
In tie Apostolic churches. all government
was administered IN the prcsrnre. ani hy
the uni,cd authority Of The brethren: nor
did ihe Apostles ever claim any thing like
an exclusive power 10 cavern: or ever lnrm
themselves iuto u conference, or supreme
authority without, the presence. aud aid ni
the brethren. u an exclusive pomer on
the par, of the ministry had hren dcsi.nrd
ny Chris,, the Hea,i, and lawsiver nj the
church, il had surely been given 10 these
men. for lhcy merc chosen hy him out oi
the world. they were his constant hirnds
aud companions. john l5, ID ICY they
received their commission from him lo
preach The e"spel" "l hi. kingdom through
The " orld. talul. 26, Ia to 10Y aud Tor them
lac has reserved peculiar honor in the hing
| dom which is yet 90 come (Mai. - 2Sl
aud yet we read Of no such exclusive pow
er as is now exercised by ministers al ,"nic
churches, ever being given ty Christ I"
,husc men; aud sn lar wa, he from even
sauc,iouins such authority over The hrrlh
rem, that he rcbuhcd IL. aud in order la
crush spiritual domination in tie bud. in
those who soughi The mns'rrship among
hi, disciples. lie said. " lie iha, would be
greatest amuug you lrt INN be rs ilii!r
child" The Apostles too. were III lar
from assuming ihe snle power "I cov''n
meni III ihires religious, I" tue exclusion
uf the brethren thai like their Lord ana
nusler they exclaimed caIns: il. aud for
bid il in all those vino, Diolrephes like.
sought pre- cinincuce IN the Churc hes
Hear The advice Of Peer %, The Elders ul
HE churches generally. (and Peter vas
himself an Elder,) "Th. elders which ar.'
au,nng YOU (says hc) cXhor, Feed The
flock, ond be nuI IDS over Goh's heritage
Here vou lave The WORK ui The ministry
>p. cited. and all tyranny aud domination
expressly forbidden. Hear also what he
Apostle Paul saith in hi fr,, Epislie 20
the Church AT Corinlh " We exercise iIn
dominion over your ialiii ti.uush Apo.
ile>} Du, are helpers Of your joy" Aud
here. ii, ~ he case Of Peter, we Grd a
disclaliuing Of power over the church, bur
al the same Ime greater Than Peter or
Paul. has said, touching the spirit Of an,
b,.iou i'll the church: ..Oar is your mas
Ter even Christ, and all We are hre'hr. u"
Mat. 23.} Aud again, in hi, rcprm,f ii
he ten IN The case "I Zebrdce's children,
hear wha, ~ written: " lie called Them
in .,im and sad. We knuw lhaI the prince,
OF The Gcu,Ilrs exercise dominiun over
them, aud they that are great. exerri.c
authority upon them; hu, il shall moi be %
With you; lrt Hh"soevcr will I've ercat
among you. lc. him be Your munster !;
! and whOsOcveT will be chici among ynr
let him be your servant: Even rs the
Son of mnp (Chri>, hiU:seir) came uor 10
hr mini.iered unto. hui 10 minister. Mat.
20) II then Jesus Cb,ist himself forbid
the exercise 0i ministerial dom ni1n in the
church aud his Apostles cuuiemneh the
spirit Of lordship over G"d's heritage cx-
crcising no power over the faith of The
brethren themselves, but in all matters OF
government relating 10 The church acting
community with them; then il follows that
church. TO be i ScripluruI nnc must be
founded on The principles laid down and
acted upon by the APOSTLES, and not on
principles and practice, directly oppo>c'
~ them. where all the power is claimed
hy the priests, auG zone allowed tn Ihe
people.
The Billie only (says the excellent Chill
lingwurih) is lnc relig,oa Of rrnteSacts.-
And to every Pfoie-inu, (.ays Mr. Lracl
in his reply 10 Rev. x Watson on churcl
snvcrnmeurJ the Bible is the only. ant
ail srificieni rule oi faith and practice
and nn circumstances or miivcs can us:i
i'y departure in any sense lrun its ulnl
ilble teaching. And whnr is more is. 'ha
whatever disposition ,here may be in wei
mraning ;ersons 10 yield implicitly. il
Church affairs. To The assumed aaIhori,,
and management "f their ghosriy guides il
1.-The word and doctrine" ye, il is as con
,rary To the preccpls and examples of tl,,
New Testament inr then Ia do so. ns il i
FOR these "woul-he masters in lsrari' I,
claim ami exercise such an exclusive pow
er and authority over them. To ever