diction, nor to inflict any civil penalties." Their power is wholly moral or spiritual, and that only ministerial and declarative." They possess the right of requiring obedience to the laws of Christ; and of excluding the disobedient and disorderly from the privileges of the Church. To give efficiency, however, to this necessary and scriptural authority, they possess the powers requi site for obtaining evidence and inflicting censure. They car call before them any offender against the order and government of the Church; they can require members of their own society to appear and give testimony in the cause; but the highest punishment to which their author. ity extends, is to exclude the contumacious and impenitent from the congregation of believers."

CHAPTER IX.

OF THE CHURCH SESSION.

I. THE church session consists of the pastor or pastors and ruling elders, of a particular congregation."

and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Luke xii. 13, 14. And one of the company said unto him, Master speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you' John xviii. 36.-My kingdom is not of this world.

See and consult Acts xv. from the 1st to the 32d verse.

• Matt. xviii. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Moreover if thy brother shall tres pass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 1 Cor. v. 4, 5. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are

II. Of this judicatory, two elders, if there be as many in the congregation, with the pastor, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.

III. The pastor of the congregation shall always be the moderator of the session; except when, for prudential reasons, it may appear advisable that some other minister should be invited to preside; in which case the pastor may, with the concurrence of the session, invite such other minister as they may see meet, belonging to the same presbytery, to preside in that case. The same expelient may be adopted in case of the sickness or absence of the pastor.

IV. It is expedient, at every meeting of the session, more especially when constituted for judicial business, that there be a presiding minister. When, therefore, a church is without a pastor, the moderator of the session shall be, either the minister appointed for that purpose by the presbytery, or one invited by the session to preside on a particular occasion. But where it is impracticable, without great inconvenience, to procure the attendance of such a moderator, the session may proceed without it.

V. In congregations where there are two or more pastors, they shall, when present, alternately preside in the

session.

VI. The church session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the congregation; for which purpose, they have power to inquire into the knowledge and Christian conduct of the members of the church;" to call before them offenders and witnesses, being members of their own congregation, and to introduce other witnesses, where it may be necessary to bring the process to issue, and when they can be procured to attend; to receive members into the church; to admonish, to rebuke,

gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. 1 Thess. ▼ 12, 13, and 1 Tim. v. 17.

Erek xxxiv. 4.

8

to suspend or exclude from the Sacraments, those who are found to deserve censure; to concert the best measures for promoting the spiritual interests of the congregation; to supervise the Sabbath-school and the various societies or agencies of the congregation; and to appoint delegates to the higher judicatories of the Church.

VII. Subject to the provisions of the Directory for Worship, the session shall have and exercise exclusive authority over the worship of the congregation, including the musical service; and shall determine the times and places of preaching the Word and all other religious services. They shall also have exclusive authority over the uses to which the church buildings may be put, but may temporarily delegate the determination of such uses to the body having management of the temporal affairs of the church, subject to the superior authority and direction of the session.

น

VIII. The pastor has power to convene the session when he may judge it requisite ;" and he shall always convene them when requested to do so by any two of the elders. The session shall also convene when directed so to do by the presbytery.

IX. Every session shall keep a fair record of its proceedings; which record shall be, at least once in every year, submitted to the inspection of the presbytery.

X. It is important that every church session keep a fair register of marriages; of baptisms, with the times of the birth of the individuals baptized; of persons admitted to the Lord's Table, and of the deaths, and other removals of church members.

1 Thess. v. 12, 13. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. See also 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15. 1 Cor. xi. 27 to the end.

Acts xv. 2, 6. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.-And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. "Acts xx. 17.

CHAPTER X.

OF THE PRESBYTERY.

I. THE Church being divided into many separate congregations, these need mutual counsel and assistance, in order to preserve soundness of doctrine, and regularity of discipline, and to enter into common measures for promoting knowledge and religion, and for preventing infidelity, error, and immorality." Hence arise the importance and usefulness of presbyterial and synodical assemblies."

II. A presbytery consists of all the ministers, in num. ber not less than five, and one ruling elder from each congregation, within a certain district; but in exceptional cases a presbytery may be organized within the boundaries of existing presbyteries, in the interests of ministers and churches speaking other than the English language, or of those of a particular race; but in no case without their consent; and the same rule shall apply to synods.

III. Every congregation, which has a stated pastor, has a right to be represented by one elder; and every collegiate church by two or more elders, in proportion to the number of its pastors.

IV. Every vacant congregation, which is regularly organized, shall be entitled to be represented by a ruling elder in presbytery.

V. Every elder not known to the presbytery, shall

The church of Jerusalem consisted of more than one, as is mani. fest both before and after the dispersion, from Acts vi. 1, 6. Acts ix. 31. Acts xxi. 20. Acts ii. 41, 46, 47, and iv. 4. These congregations were under one presbyterial government, proved from Acts xv. 4. Acts xi. 22, 30. Acts xxi. 17, 18. Acts vi. That the church of Ephesus had more congregations than one, under a presbyterial government, appears from Acts xix. 18, 19, 20. 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9, 19, compared with Acts xviii. 19, 24, 26. Acts xx. 17, 18, 25, 28, 30, 31, 36, 37. Rev. ii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery Acts xv. 2, 3, 4, 6, 22.-And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.-And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

produce a certificate of his regular appointment from the church which he represents.*

VI. Any three ministers, and as many elders as may be present belonging to the presbytery, being met at the time and place appointed, shall be a quorum competent to proceed to business."

VII. The presbytery has power to receive and issue all appeals, complaints, and references, that are regularly brought before it from church sessions, provided, that cases may be transmitted to Judicial Commissions as prescribed in the Book of Discipline; " to examine and license candidates for the holy ministry; to ordain, install, remove, and judge ministers; to examine and

a

с

* Acts xv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. xiv. 26, 33, 40.-Let all things be done unto edifying;-for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.-Let all things be done decently and in order.

Acts xiv. 26, 27. And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Compared with Acts xi. 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts xv. 5, 6, 19, 20. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise thein, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.-Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts xviii. 24, 27. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephcsus. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him. Compare Acts xix. 1-7.

1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Acts xiii. 2, 3. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away

Acts xv. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. 1 Cor. v. 3.