The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-19

1T was placed In the hands of the pastor
and elders. This body constituted the
Presbytery of the parish or parochial
Presbytery." This was the elemental
unit of provincial and national churches.
AS the Council of Jerusalem acted on
matters of interest to all the churches. it
Is the model of provincial Presbyteries
and national Synods and Councils. In
the parochial Presbytery-which we call
a Session and the Reformed churches of
the continent in Europe and in America
call a C0'aSastory-the pastor Cor pastors)
and elders were entrusted with the gov
eminent of the particular churches In
the Council of Jerusalem, we find apos-
ties and elders ); the apostles of course,
those who labored in word and doctrine,
holding the office of teachers, yet ranking
in government as Elders or Presbyters
| q Peter V: u. So our Presbyteries for
the government of a collection of church
es, comprise the same elements all are
Elders or Presbyters, but some also in
office are teachers, " laborers in word and
doctrine 1t has been admitted by two
distinguished clergymen of the Church of
Eng land, Dean Stanley and the Bishop of
Durham, that this government of the
church by Presbyteries was the primitive
government of the Christian church.
Abundant testimonies of the same pur-
port, both In former and present days,
could be quoted to the same effect
Now the rise of the Church Session, or
parochial Presbytery, shews that the pas
tor grew, as it were out of the body of
Elders, who ruled we'll and attained his
especial double honor by evincing
capacity to give religious teaching. Our
Form of Government is thus modelled af-
ter the principles and practices of the
primitive Christian church We have
four grades of government-the Session,
the Presbytery, the Synod, and the Gen
eral Assembly. But in no one have we
higher order or rank as ruler than that
of the Elder or Presbyter In ruling, tie
pastor and the elder stand on the same
platform. The pastor only differs in office
The formation of a Synod, larger
Presbytery," as our Book of Order calls
it, is only matter of conventional ar
rangement. So the formation of the
General Assembly IS only matter of
similar arrangement, or an expedient is
adopted, in both cases, so as to secure the
benefit Of review and control Of the larg-
er over the smaller body, and the farther
advantage of unity in action of the whole
Church. While the Synod consists of the
ministers of several Presbyteries and an
elder from each church, the General AS
sembly is composed Of the representatives
of the Presbyteries-bu there are in
equal numbers of elders and minister's
These conventional arrangements or ex-
pedients, however, though in form, the
result of human plans and devices of hui
man wisdom, are, as above seen, strictly
in accordance with the principles and
practice of the primitive church And
thus also among the Waldenses of Switzer-
land and Italy, the churches of the Rhine
and of Holland, as well as those of Eng
land and her colonies, of Scotland and
Ireland, we find running through all the
phases of government illustrations of the
same great fundamental principle of
truly seriptural order, the recognition of
that one only rank that of PSes6ytey or
Elder, showing the scripturalness of our
government as well as Of our name.
B. M. S.