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The Ecclesiastical Polity of the New Testament Unfolded

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The Ecclesiastical Polity of the New Testament Unfolded THE ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT UNFOLDED, and ITS POINTS OF COINCIDENCE OR DISAGREEMENT WITH PREVAILING SYSTEMS INDICATED. by SAMUEL DAVIDSON, LL.D. the ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT UNFOLDED, and ITS POINTS OF COINCIDENCE OR DISAGREEMENT WITH PREVAILING SYSTEMS INDICATED. by SAMUEL DAVIDSON, LL.D. LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, st. paul’s churchyard. 1848 Quinta Press Quinta Press, Meadow View, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, England, SY10 7RN The format of these volume is copyright © 2019 Quinta Press For proof-reading purposes the line breaks are in the same place as the original, hence the stretched text THE CONGREGATIONAL LECTURE, THIRTEENTH SERIES. THE ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT UNFOLDED. By the REV. DR. DAVIDSON. i london: blackburn and pardon, printers, hatton garden. the ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT UNFOLDED, and ITS POINTS OF COINCIDENCE OR DISAGREEMENT WITH PREVAILING SYSTEMS INDICATED. by SAMUEL DAVIDSON, LL.D. LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, st. paul’s churchyard. 1848 “Cedat consuetudo veritati.”—Augustine “Consuetudo sine veritate vetustas erroris est.”—Cyprian PREFACE. There are some phenomena in the religions world, which appear to discourage a timid writer, at the present day, from attempting to discuss the subject of the following Lectures. And when these symptoms dissuading from its examination are of a cheering aspect to the pious mind, it becomes a matter for serious reflection whether the topic should be publicly agitated. But yet the Author cannot believe that the religious sects now existing are better prepared, in reality, to amalgamate with one another, than they were half a century ago; or that an examination of the topic is likely to impede their future incorporation, should that incorporation be deemed desirable or near. It is possible, indeed, that the narrow-minded adherent of a party may magnify the importance of belonging to his own denomination so highly as to look on all others with an evil eye, or with profound pity, as if they were deeply involved in serious error; but the man who v vi the ecclesiastical polity of the new testament unfolded endeavours to rise above the views of interested partisans, will treat the subject in a more liberal spirit. While indicating his own preferences, he will be careful not to provoke the bitter recrimination of those who differ from him. A few years ago, the Author was led to investigate the New Testament in regard to its teachings on the disputed question of Church Government. Ever since that period, which forms an important epoch in his life, the subject has been seldom absent from his thoughts. He has revolved it in his mind with an earnest desire to know it fundamentally and fully. Had he been disposed to proceed per- functorily, he should have been satisfied with a shorter period of gestation, and consequently a shorter book; but a determination to search out every important part of the subject, prompted a slower and more cautious progress in arriving at results. If he knows himself aright he can honestly affirm, that he has sincerely endeavoured to ascertain the truth and to adduce it, irrespectively of its agreement or discordance either with the denomination to which he belongs, or with any other. By the production now submitted to the public, he has no selfish interests to promote—no self-exalting purpose to serve. On the contrary, he expects to be blamed for it by almost every section of the universal church, because, in some minute particulars, he happens to dissent from prevalent notions. preface vii It is necessary that the reader should distinctly remember the nature of the work undertaken, which is not to explain or defend the opinions and practices of any one denomination on the subject of ecclesias- tical polity, nor to identify the polity of the New Testament with modern Congregationalism; but to investigate the volume of inspiration with the view of unfolding its teachings, and to point out their agreement or discordance with the principles and usages of modern sects. For this purpose, the Author has endeavoured to keep his leanings in perfect subservience to the divine word; and he is not aware that they have misled him in his explanations. If they have done so in any instance, it has been unconsciously. The reader is therefore entreated to recollect, that the Lecturer stands before him, not as the advocate of Congregationalism in particular, but as an humble, and he trusts an honest, inquirer into the revealed will of God. If he expects to find the thorough defender of any other system than what is sanctioned by infallible authority, he will be grievously disappointed. Hence the Writer alone is accountable for the sentiments advanced. The opinions advocated, are not to be charged on the denomination to which he has the honour of belong- ing. They possess no official authority. The Lecturer is not an expositor of the prevailing sentiments held by the Congregational body. Many of his brethren would probably disagree with some of the statements. viii the ecclesiastical polity of the new testament unfolded At all events, they must not be held responsible for them. Whether true or false, the burden of them rests on the shoulders of him who makes them. It will not be out of place to remark, that the Lectures were written, in the first instance, without reference to any other book than the New Testa- ment. The conclusions were educed from it, irre- spectively of interpretations assigned by the expositors of systems. After certain results had been obtained, the works of others were consulted, for the purpose of learning t he modes of interpretation to which they are attached. These varying expositions were then incorporated in their proper places, with a refutation of them appended, wherever they appeared to require it. A few notes are annexed, consisting chiefly of passages which were found to coincide with the opinions of the Writer, after he had himself arrived at a full conviction of the correctness of the latter. If they serve no other purpose, they may at least be useful in teaching the admirers of learned men and weighty names, that the sentiments set forth are neither novel nor frivolous. Such as look for authorities in favour of the views propounded will see that they are not wholly wanting. Had the Writer been desirous to give his book the appearance of learning, many more annotations of a similar cha- racter, might have been added. But his wish was to preface ix free it as much as possible from the encumbrance of erudition, in order that every part might be perfectly dear to the apprehension of the unlearned reader. It is not meant exclusively for ministers of the Gospel, but for the intelligent and thoughtful of the people also, on whom he places large reliance in the promotion of healthful reforms. The Author can hardly cherish the hope of being exempted from considerable animadversion. He has counted the cost of manifold censure. Truth must not be sacrificed to usage or party. It is better to comply with the suggestions of conscience, than to please men. The favour of others, gained at the expense of conceding what conscience disallows, is too dearly purchased. But he is averse to polemics. He will not hastily allow himself to be dragged into controversy. So much of misrepresentation and asperity is mixed up with it, as to render it a most unprofitable and injurious employment. Neither is it worth while to reply to persons who nibble at minute particulars or things immaterial, while they are unable or indisposed to grapple fairly and fully with the main principles inculcated. As for those who condemn without reading, or affect to be witty at the expense of another, without so much as the semblance of calm and dose reasoning, or the power to prove any radical unsoundness in his production, they cannot expect to be noticed, especially when they write anonymously. Fair and manly criticism is a 3 x the ecclesiastical polity of the new testament unfolded as obvious, as it is generally acceptable to the candid interpreter of God’s holy word; while the sciolist is readily detected by the magnitude of his assertions in connexion with the littleness of his performances. The Author is glad to find, that the long-expected treatise of Dr. Wardlaw, on the subject of the church government, has just made its appearance, and he only regrets that it did not come to hand till this day, after the present work had been printed. Doubtless it has received luminous treatment from that able and elegant writer. For the Index and Analysis he is indebted to two of his young friends and pupils, Mr. J. Hodgson and Mr. N. Hurry, who kindly relieved him of this labour, in the midst of his other pressing engage- ments, and whom he thus publicly thanks for their seasonable aid. Lancashire Independent College, January 8th, 1848. ADVERTISEMENT by the committee of the congregational library. The “ Congregational Library” was established with a view to the promotion of Ecclesiastical, Theological, and Biblical Literature, in that religious connexion with whose friends and supporters it originated. It is also designed to secure a convenient locality for such associations as had pre- viously existed, or might hereafter exist, for the purpose of advancing the literary, civil, and religious interests of that section of the Christian Church to which it was appropriated. Without undervaluing the advantages of union, either with Evangelical Protestants, or Protestant Nonconformists, on such grounds as admit of liberal co-operation, it was never- theless deemed expedient to adopt measures for facilitating the concentration and efficiency of their own denomination.
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