Presbyterianism (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Presbyterianism

It will be seen that the distinction to which we have been referring is one which turns purely upon questions of church polity. Some of these indeed may be closely associated with points of doctrine, and in many cases it will be found that prin ciples of doctrine and polity easily act and react on one another Yet in the threefold distribution just referred to, we shall find churches under all the three, not only thoroughly agreed on certain fundamental doctrinal truths, but also accepting the same or similar Confessions. For example, Calvinists in doctrine may be found quite consistently placing themselves under a Prelatical, or a Congregational, or a Presbyterian form of church govern ment. Arminians may be met with under any of the three divisions. There is no reason Why those entertaining Baptist views should in their church polity be Congregationalists rather than Prelatists or Presbyterians In reference purely to matters of church polity are the distinctions made to which we here refer. The difference between these three may in general terms be stated to lie in the representation which they give respectively of the parties in whom church power is vested. In Prelatical churches the clergy rule, the church courts, both inferior and superior, being purely clerical. In Congregational churches, the members of the local church rule, there being no church courts proper as distinguished from the general meeting of the congregation. In Presbyterian churches, the representatives of the people rule in church courts variously graduated, and having'their membership drawn from both the clerical and the lay elements, ruling elders sitting with ministers of the Word in the exercise of the govern ment of the church.

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