Year: 1862

those Churches VINO take the


word Of God for their rule of faith
and practice, may incur tie wrath
of some presbytery, conference, or
County Association; but it is al.
ways, and in all circumstances,
"bctter to trust in the Lord than
to put confidence in man."


Let the Churches he Jealous Of
their liberties, and bear in mind.
that human nature is the same in
all denominations, and that it is as
capable of producing a race of
"ambitiOuS, domineering, and drs-
p0tic priests as erer.' Let him who
has an ear, hear what the Spirit
saith unto the Churches and let
the Scriptures alone be the stand
ard Of appeal in all that relates to
the government, efficiency, and
prosperity of the Church of Christ.


That elders, bishops, or pastors
have authority to expound and en-
force the law of Christ in His
Church is manifest from Heb. viii.
17-"Obey them that have the
rule over you, and submit your
selves; for they watch for your
souls as they that must give ac-
count" The pastors authority
in the Church is confined to the
and execution of the
law of Christ, in regard to the
Church as an associated body. To
explain the law of Christ in his
Church, and to call upon all the
Of the Church to obey
that law, is part Of the pastors
work. What the Scriptures COM
mand relative to Church govern
ment, the pastor has authority to
enforce; but he ought to be very
careful to show Tie Church, by ex-
planning the law Of Christ, that
what he cnjoins is according to the
revealed Will of God. The Church
government which we have traced
in the New Testament, is indica,
tive Of the great wisdom and ten
derness of the Head of the Church.
and it is adapted, If faithfully and
enforced, and cheer
fully obeycd, 20 promote the peace,
harmony, and prosperity of the
faithful in Christ Jesus. The fol
lowing remarks may assist the
reader in forming n correct opln-
ion on the subject of pastoral
authority in the Church of Christ :
/. Pastors, elders, or bishops.
have no authority to make any
laws for the Churches over which
they rule. They have no power
or authority to impose their opin-
ions on the people. They have no
powerto impose any pecuniary bur.
dens Oh their focks. They have
no power or authority either to
receive or exclude members. 2.
But it is evident, from the nature
of the office which they fill, that
they have considerable authority
in the Church but it is the people
themselves who invest them with
the right to exercise that authority.
Men receive their qualifications
and authority to preach the Gospel
from the Head Of the Church {; but
they receive the right to preach to
any particular Church from that
Church itself. Hence it follows
That elders or pastors have author
ity to preach the Gospel, as they


understand and believe it, to the


Church over which they preside.


Theyhave authority to reprove,


rebuke, and warn their people


whenever they may see any OF


them approaching the gulf OF


temptation, or danger in the way.
They have authority to baptize,
preside at the Lords Table, to call


Church meetings, to preside at
such meetings, and to call the at


tention Of the brethren to anything


which they may deem of sufficient


Importance to require their atten.


ton: they have also authority to


ordain office-bearers in the Church


of which they are the elders; but


not in any other Church, except
they should be invited to do 20.