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Church (or Ecclesiastical) Government

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Reformation CDs 23 and 24 contains many classic Reformation books on biblical church government.


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FREE RESOURCES (Books and Articles)

Church (or Ecclesiastical) Government



The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics by Greg Barrow (Greg Price, Reg Barrow and Larry Birger) A modern classic defending divine right Presbyterianism, the attainments of the second Reformation, the Westminster standards and the Solemn League and Covenant! This book, of over 300 [8.5" X 11"] pages, is also offered as a cerlox bound photocopy [$14.98 US funds] or a Hardcover photocopy [$25.00 US funds].)

Biblical Church Government by Kevin Reed (Covers the basic principles of Presbyterian church government: (1.) scriptural church officers, (2.) church courts, (3.) confessional standards, and (4.) church membership. Second (expanded) edition. "This is the best short statement [of Presbyterian principles of church government] we have ever seen," noted the Banner of Truth magazine.)

Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London
(offsite)
FREE BOOK at
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13941

An Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland. By George Gillespie.


The Visible Church: Essence Versus Lawful Form by Larry Birger, Jr. (Discusses Calvin's and the Westminster Confession's view of the visible church, exhibiting the vital distinction between that which is necessary to the being of the visible church and that which is necessary for the well-being of the visible church. Clearly exposes the erroneous notion that the government of the church equals the church. Calvin listed this as a fundamental difference between Protestants and Papists, indicating that the multitude of churches in our current apostasy are (as to their form or constitution) daughters of the Roman Catholic whore (Rev. 17:5). Because they have not followed in the footsteps of the flock (Song 1:8), but instead are walking in the adulterous ways of their (constitutional) mother, these churches are schismatic. Birger concludes with 13 Scripture commands to separate from such denominations who themselves have separated from the company of the faithful.)

International Covenanted Reformation or Schism? (A Reply to Doug Wilson) by Reg Barrow

Of Uniformity In Religion, Worship of God, and Church Government by George Gillespie

Apostolic Presbyterianism by William Cunningham and Reg Barrow (Shows from Scripture how the Apostles practiced the divine right of Presbyterianism)

Proof That the Church is Often Obscured by Francis Turretin (Proves from Scripture that, throughout much of history, the church [visible and constitutional], is often found only in a very small remnant.)

Communion Catechism (1592) by John Craig "John Craig (1512-1600) was a Scottish reformer. Previously a Dominican Friar, Craig was converted to the Protestant Faith. The Roman Inquisition condemned Craig to death, yet he escaped and returned to Scotland. In 1560, Craig became co-pastor with John Knox in Edinburgh. Later, Craig became a chaplain to James VI. At the direction of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Craig composed this catechism, which was subsequently approved by the Assembly in 1592" (Kevin Reed).

The Decline of American Presbyterianism (A Book Review of Gary North's Crossed Fingers: How the Liberals Captured the Presbyterian Church) by Kevin Reed ("Last year, the present writer reviewed volume 1 of David Calhoun's history of Princeton Seminary. The first volume of Calhoun's narrative ended at a pivotal point in the history of Northern Presbyterianism: the reunion of the Old School and New School Assemblies in 1869. Realizing that a significant part of Princeton's story (as well as the story of the Northern Presbyterianism) was yet to be told, I eagerly took up volume two of Calhoun's narrative, shortly after the book was published. Unfortunately, the second volume, The Majestic Testimony, is a major disappointment. Readers who want to know what happened after 1869, in order to gain an understanding of the demise of Princeton (and Northern Presbyterianism) will require additional sources beyond Calhoun's second volume. Therefore, we are presenting readers with a combined book review, in which we will also draw attention to another important work, Gary North's Crossed Fingers: How the Liberals Captured the Presbyterian Church," notes Reed.)

Calvin, Close Communion and the Coming Reformation (a book review of Alexander and Rufus... by John Anderson [1862]) by Reg Barrow (Shows how Calvin practiced close communion and how the biblical view of this ordinance is intended to purify the individual, church and state. Refutes the Popish and paedocommunion heresies [regarding this sacrament], as well as all views of open communion. Also argues that Arminians, anti-paedobaptists, anti-regulativists, and all those who openly violate the law of God [and are unrepentant] should be barred from the Lord's table -- as a corrective measure ordained of God for their recovery.)

Corporate Sanctification: Holding Fast the Attainments of Reformation by John Brown (of Wamphray; Samuel Rutherford's Disciple) (An overview of the Covenanter doctrine of reformation attainments by one of the great Covenanter theologians. Helpful in dispelling false charges of Anabaptism and perfectionism laid at the feet of faithful Covenanters.)

Presbyterian Government in Extraordinary Times by Kevin Reed

What Is A Moral Person? How God Views the Church and the Nations by David Scott, John Cunningham, and George Smeaton (A clear and concise summary of the biblical doctrine of the moral person; i.e. that God regards churches and nations as moral entities separate from the individual members of which they are composed. No Christian can afford not to understand this vital teaching! In many ways this is a crux of the Covenanter position, underlying as it does upon the issues of separation, civil government, the Covenants, eschatology, etc.)

Saul in the Cave of Adullam: A Testimony Against the Fashionable Sub-Calvinism of Doug Wilson (Editor of Credenda/Agenda Magazine); and, for Classical Protestantism and the Attainments of the Second Reformation by Reg Barrow

Plain Reasons for Presbyterians Dissenting from the Revolution Church of Scotland. Also, Their Principles Concerning Civil Government, and the Difference Betwixt the Reformation and Revolution Principles (1731) by Andrew Clarkson (In this file you will find the complete table of contents, the preface and the first reason for dissent. Lord willing, other sections will follow in time. The table of contents is very valuable as it lays out in summary [and with a fair amount of detail] the whole scope of the book. It can serve as a kind of summary of second Reformation thought concerning the church, state, separation, schism, worship, civil dissent, church planting, opposition to idolatry and tyranny, and much more!)

Wholesome Severity Reconciled With Christian Liberty; or, the True Resolution of a Present Controversy Concerning Liberty of Conscience by George Gillespie (1644)

An Able & Faithful Ministry by Samuel Miller

The Ruling Elder by Samuel Miller

The Necessity of Reforming the Church (1543) by John Calvin

The Solemn League and Covenant by Alexander Henderson and others

The Six Points of the "Terms of Ministerial and Christian Communion in the Reformed Presbyterian Church by the Reformed Presbytery

The Scottish Confession of Faith (1560)

The First & Second Books of Discipline

Geneva Book of Church Order (1556)

The Order of Excommunication and Public Repentance adopted by the Church of Scotland in 1569

Paleopresbyterianism Versus Neopresbyterianism by Michael Wagner

The Unity of the Church by Thomas M'Crie

A Brotherly Testimony Against the Use of Instrumental Accompaniment In Public Worship by Larry Birger

FIRST TIME EVER, DOUGLAS' STRICTURES ON OCCASION HEARING NOW FREE ONLINE AT: http://www.reformedpresbytery.org/books/index.html

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FOR FURTHER STUDY:



SUNDRY MINISTERS OF LONDON

The Divine Right of Church Government (Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici), Wherein it is Proved that the Presbyterian Government, By Preaching and Ruling Elders, in Sessional, Presbyterial, and Synodical Assemblies, May Lay the Only Lawful Claim to a Divine Right, According to the Holy Scriptures, c. 1646, 1844 ed.
This is one of the all time classic defenses of the divine right of Presbyterianism. It also gives us a clear picture of the original intent of the English Presbyterians working at the Westminster Assembly (and is therefore very useful in determining the original intent of the Westminster Confession itself). It can be seen here that it was the strong conviction of the majority of English divines at Westminster that Presbyterianism is the only form of church government that is instituted by God in His Word. David Hall, (the editor of the Nap. Press edition), states, the book "was not written as a polemical tract, as if to prop up some moribund tradition; rather it is an exemplar of gentle and reasoned discourse." Published anonymously, during the sitting of the Westminster Assembly, because of the Erastian leaning Parliament's "gag rule," this work is considered by some as "an even truer record of the Westminster divines' views of government than the final (politically suppressed) standards" (Coldwell, Naphtali Press edition). Moreover, Hall goes so far as to state that "perhaps no single work is as illuminating for original intent [of the Westminster Standards] as this rare work printed contemporaneously with the meeting of the Assembly;" and that "acquaintance with the political and ecclesiastical events of the time narrows down the possible authorship of this (book, RB) to either (the) Westminster divines themselves, or sympathizers of the Westminster Assembly of divines (p. xvi). Hall also notes that Hetherington (in his masterful History of the Westminster Assembly
, p. 270) asserts that this book was the Westminster divine's answer to the English parliament's "nine queries" that were intended "to discourage their thoroughly Presbyterian views." Hall continues, "In the first comprehensive Scottish history of the Assembly, William Hetherington concludes safely: 'Judging from internal evidence, in matter, manner, and style, it appears most certain that this work at least embodies the substance of the answer prepared by the Assembly, somewhat enlarged and modified by the city ministers in whose name it was published.' Although Hetherington (who in a footnote wished for the reprinting of this very work as 'a very valuable contribution to the Presbyterian cause in the present day') initially infers that the work of the Assembly and the London ministers was merged, such that 'so much of the one was transfused into the other as to render then to all practical intents one work,' at the conclusion of his history he concludes with more certainty: "The Jus Divinum of the city ministers appears to me to be both virtually and substantially the Assembly's Answer to the Parliament, containing actually that very Answer as prepared by them; but with such additional amplifications in statement and illustrations, by the city ministers themselves, as might both render it more complete and fit for publication as a distinct work on the subject, and at the same time entitle them to publish it on their own responsibility'" (Hall, pp. xviii-xix, citing Hetherington, History of the Westminster Assembly pp. 270, 362). Furthermore, "not only do we have confirmation from numerous sources that the 2 December 1646 Jus Divinum reflects the Assembly's original intent, we also see along with that the undisputable historical notation that the Assembly considered itself bound by a jus divnum, not merely 'guided' by a nebulous jus hamanum. The difference is cataclysmic" (Hall, p. xxii). Moreover, in The Divine Right of the Gospel Ministry these same authors later give us a glimpse of how different their jus divinum presbyterianism is from much of what "presbyterians" today believe. "So strongly were they committed to this thorough-going jus divinum view that they stated the following 'four things that justly deserve to be abhorred by all good Christians: (1) An Universal Toleration of all Religions; (2) An Universal Admittance of all men to the Lord's Supper; (3) Universal Grace, that is, that Christ died equally for all, and that all men have free-will to be saved; and (4) Universal Allowance of all that suppose themselves gifted to preach without Ordination" (Hall, p. xxi). Moreover, Hall goes so far as to state that "perhaps no single work is as illuminating for original intent [of the Westminster Standards] as this rare work printed contemporaneously with the meeting of the Assembly." This photocopy edition contains the appendix which sets forth "Extracts from some of the best authors who have written on church government, concerning the scriptural qualifications and duties of church members; the sole right of gospel ministers to preach the gospel; the people's divine right to choose their own pastors; together with an abstract of the arguments of the great Dr. Owen (though a professed Independent) in favour of the Divine right of the office of the ruling elder." This edition also includes a preface, "The Editor to the Reader," written by the Cameronian "T.H" (Thomas Henderson) -- an Irish Reformed Presbyterian who was also the author to the forward of James Douglas' Strictures on Occasional Hearing. Henderson recommends this volume as "one of the best defences of presbytery which he has ever seen."
(Rare bound photocopy) 99.94-90%=9.99

(Hardcover photocopy) $29.00 (US funds)

Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London (offsite)
FREE BOOK at
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13941


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