CONTENTS.

CHAPTER FIRST.

THE PRINCIPLES OF REPUBLICANISM EXPLAINED, AND SHOWN

TO EXIST IN THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

Sec. I. Preliminary remarks,

II. The principles of republicanism,

III. The principles of republicanism found in the Jewish

IV. The principles of republicanism fully developed in

the Christian Church,

CHAPTER SECOND.

PRESBYTERY REPUBLICAN BOTH IN ITS DOCTRINAL AND

ECCLESIASTICAL SYSTEMS.

Sec. I. What denominations are included under the term

Presbytery, in the present argument,

II. Presbytery republican in its doctrines,

III. The framers of our ecclesiastical system designed that

it should neither be a monarchy, nor a democracy,

but a republic,

IV. All the principles of republicanism are found in our

Presbyterian system, .

V. Presbytery is republican in its doctrine of the ministry, 67

VI. Presbytery is republican in its doctrine of ordination.

X

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VII. Presbytery eminently republican in its office of ruling

elders. Objections answered,

VIII. Presbytery eminently republican, also, in its various.

ecclesiastical judicatories,

IX. Presbytery republican in several other particulars,

with testimonies in its favor,

X. Presbytery republican in its creeds; in its protection

of minorities; in the framing of its laws; in its

universal suffrage; and in its simplicity and oppo-

sition to all unnecessary forms, .

XI. Presbytery eminently republican in having originated

and secured in this country, the separation of

religion from politics, and of the Church from the

State,

CHAPTER THIRD.

THE REPUBLICANISM OF PRESBYTERY ATTESTED BY HISTORY.

Sec. I.

II. The form of government among the Waldenses, who

have always been thorough Presbyterians, was as

purely republican,

III. The republicanism of Presbytery fully developed by

the reformation,

IV. The republicanism of Presbytery illustrated from its

history in modern times in England,

104

105

108

. . 127

V. The republicanism of Presbytery demonstrated from

its history in these United States, .

CHAPTER FOURTH.

138

PRESBYTERY MORE REPUBLICAN THAN OTHER FORMS OF

Sec. I.

II.

CHRISTIAN POLITY.

The system of Presbytery more republican than the

polity of the Methodist Episcopal Church, . . . 148

Presbytery more republican than the Protestant Epis-

copal Church, .

III. The anti-republicanism of High-Churchism,

153

172

IV. The anti-republican character of Popery,

CHAPTER FIFTH.

THE LIBERALITY OF PRESBYTERY.

Sec. I. True liberality, as distinguished from bigotry and

latitudinarianism, explained,

II. The liberality of the Presbyterian Church, in her

general principles as to the nature of the Christian

Church,

III. The liberality of the Presbyterian Church, in her

doctrine of the sacraments,

IV. The liberality of the Presbyterian Church, in her

doctrine of ordination,

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202

215

224

227

V. The objection founded upon the persecuting principles

and conduct of Presbyterians, answered, . . 231

VI. The Presbyterian Church is at once liberal and

orthodox, .

239

VII. Testimonies in proof of the liberality of Presbytery, 242

VIII. The illiberal character of Romish and Anglican

Prelacy, .

254

CHAPTER SIXTH.

THE CATHOLICITY OF PRESBYTERY.

Sec. I. The catholicity of Presbytery in its ecclesiastical

system, in contrast with Popery and Prelacy, 271

II. The catholicity of Presbytery, in its doctrinal system,

in contrast with Popery and Prelacy,

CHAPTER SEVENTH.

. 287

THE SECURITY, SAFETY, AND EFFICIENCY OF PRESBYTERY, 295

ECCLESIASTICAL REPUBLICANISM.

CHAPTER I.

THE PRINCIPLES OF REPUBLICANISM EXPLAINED, AND SHOWN TO EXIST IN THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

SECTION I.

Preliminary remarks.

THE subject to which the attention of our readers is invited, is the republicanism of those ecclesiastical systems, which come under the denomination of PRESBYTERY, as opposed to PRELACY. All denominations who agree in holding to one order of ministers are properly presbyterian, and are, therefore, included under the term presbytery. And the question before us, is, whether there is any connection between ecclesiastical and civil governments, so as that the former, according to their nature, will exert a corresponding influence upon the latter; and if they do, whether the forms of ecclesiastical government, included under the term presbytery, are more congenial to republicanism, and promotive of it, than either prelacy or popery.

In entering upon this discussion, we wish it to be most explicitly understood, that we do not identify christianity, or the christian church, with any form of civil government. On the contrary, it is one of the fundamental principles of presbyterian faith, that the kingdom of Christ while in this world is not of it, but is entirely sepa